The Nolan Wells death case in Mississippi remains unresolved after a preliminary independent autopsy failed to determine how the 18-year-old died. Wells disappeared earlier this month after a boating trip to Horn Island, and his body was later found in the water near the island two days after he did not return with friends on July four.
Jackson County sheriff’s officials have said they do not suspect foul play, but Wells’ family pushed for their own examination because of what they described as serious unanswered questions about how he ended up alone on the island and what happened next. On Wednesday, family lawyer Ben Crump said the early findings do not rule out foul play.
Crump said the exam found some red discoloration on the back of Wells’ head, but the cause has not been determined. Forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell noted there were no skin wounds or skull fractures in that area. Crump also said the body was too decomposed to tell whether Wells had bruising, and that Mitchell could not determine whether he was conscious or unconscious when he entered the water.
That question is central to the family’s concerns. If Wells drowned, Crump said, the key issue is how he got into the water and whether he was conscious at the time. The autopsy report also said parts of Wells’ throat had been preserved after the first examination, which is standard when there are concerns. Because of that, Crump said the pathologist could not rule out injury to the neck as a contributing factor or cause of death.
