An attorney for the family of Nolan Wells announced in Chicago that an independent autopsy found the teen’s cause and manner of death were “undetermined” pending investigation.
But the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy couldn’t rule out foul play, said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who released the preliminary report Wednesday morning at the annual NAACP National Convention held at McCormick Place.
“The condition of Nolan Wells before he entered the water would be the crux of the matter,” Crump said, listing factors such as whether the teen was unconscious or if he was forced into the water. “It would be of utmost importance to being able to determine a cause and manner of death.”
The 18-year-old disappeared following a Fourth of July holiday boat trip with friends on an island off the coast of Mississippi. When his friends got back to shore, Wells wasn’t with them. A park ranger found his body floating off the island’s coast two days later.
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The independent autopsy, conducted July 10, also found “red discoloration” in the soft tissue on the back of Wells’ head, Crump said. The report found no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries, however, Crump added.
The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a board-certified pathologist who didn’t attend the news conference, and paid for by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. It didn’t include a toxicology report.
There were several limitations in conducting the autopsy, Crump relayed, including that parts of Wells’ throat were not attached tohis body for the autopsy as well as decomposition that could obscure bruising.
“We still have more questions than we have answers at this time,” Crump said. “We will continue to press forward.”
The Mississippi state medical examiner’s office also conducted an autopsy but has yet to release the results. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said initial interviews suggested Wells chose to stay on the island and that his friends believed he would get a ride with someone else.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Wells’ death has led to rampant speculation online and calls from Black leaders for transparency from local authorities. Wells, who was Black, had traveled to the island with a group of high school friends, all of whom are white.
“We’re accusing (investigators and local officials) of being derelict in their duties to follow up and to ensure that, regardless of what happened, that there was the proper investigation,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said at the Wednesday news conference.
The NAACP adopted a resolution last week calling on authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, to “complete an in-depth and openly transparent review” of the teen’s death.
Wells’ parents also spoke briefly at the news conference. His mother, Christine Wells-Wonsley, said the pain of losing her son is immeasurable. She said he brought joy and light to everyone he met.
“There’s so many people out in the public asking all of these questions, but the only question that we have is what happened to our son,” she said. The teen was laid to rest earlier this week in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
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“It is our hope that our local authorities will do what they need to do, because us having the preliminary autopsy results and hearing nothing from them, it’s heartbreaking and it’s concerning,” she added.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.