Independent Autopsy Leaves Questions Unanswered in Death of Nolan Xavier Wells

CHICAGO (BAMM Network) — An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells has been unable to determine how the Mississippi college student died, adding new questions to a case that has drawn national attention and intensified calls for a transparent investigation.

Elmore Wonsley, center, speaks next to attorney Ben Crump, left, and Rev. Al Sharpton during a memorial service for Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old found dead after taking a July 4 boat trip with friends, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Ocean Springs, Miss. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced the preliminary findings Wednesday during the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, saying the independent forensic review concluded that both the cause and manner of Wells' death remain "undetermined." 

The autopsy, conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, found no fractures or deep tissue injuries. However, the report noted an unexplained red discoloration on the back of Wells' skull that investigators said warrants further examination. Due to the condition of Wells' body and the absence of several organs removed during the state's original autopsy, Mitchell wrote that he could not rule out the possibility that "non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death."

"This does not close the case," Crump told attendees. "It underscores why a full, transparent investigation remains necessary."

Wells, an Ocean Springs, Mississippi, native and football player at Southwest Mississippi Community College, disappeared July 4 after traveling with a group of friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Authorities said the group returned to the mainland without him. His body was discovered two days later.

Christine Wonsley speaks at a news conference about the results of an independent autopsy of her son, Nolan Wells at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

The circumstances surrounding Wells' disappearance have fueled widespread concern. His family has questioned why his phone and keys reportedly returned with friends while he did not, and why he was not immediately reported missing. They have also expressed concerns about inconsistencies in witness accounts and have called for investigators to release additional evidence as the case moves forward.

Mississippi authorities have previously said they do not currently suspect foul play, though the investigation remains active. Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath has agreed to present the case to a grand jury once investigators complete their work.

The independent autopsy was funded through support from former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's organization. Meanwhile, prominent figures including the Rev. Al Sharpton, filmmaker Tyler Perry and former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens have helped raise reward money now totaling $125,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction if a crime is determined to have occurred.

Nola Wells Autopsy

The case has become a rallying point for civil rights leaders, who say unanswered questions surrounding Wells' death demand continued public scrutiny.

"We owe Nolan Wells, his family, and every citizen nothing less than a complete, impartial, and transparent investigation," the Mississippi NAACP said in an earlier statement supporting the family's call for answers.