Nolan Wells’ Family Calls For an Independent Autopsy as Concerns About His Final Moments Grow

The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has ordered an independent autopsy as investigators continue working to determine what caused the Mississippi college football player’s death after he disappeared during a Fourth of July outing on Horn Island.

We previously told you that civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Wells’ family. He announced on Wednesday (July 8) to journalist Don Lemon that the teen’s body would be transported to Washington, D.C., for an independent examination. The move comes as the family continues to search for answers while the official investigation into Wells’ death goes on. The state medical examiner has not released a final cause or manner of death.

Wells, a student-athlete at Southwest Mississippi Community College and a former Ocean Springs High School football standout, was reported missing after traveling with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, on July 4, as we previously reported. Authorities said he was last seen around 3 p.m. before the group returned to the mainland without him. His mother reported him missing later that night, prompting a large-scale search involving local, state and federal agencies.

A National Park Service ranger discovered Wells’ body in the water near the island’s northwest end on Monday (July 6). Officials later confirmed his identity through dental records, according to the Clarion Ledger. Investigators have said drowning is suspected, but no official cause of death has been released pending autopsy and toxicology results. Authorities have also stated they currently have no evidence of foul play.

RELATED: The Devastating Details of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Untimely Death Revealed in Autopsy

Crump said the independent autopsy is intended to provide the family with greater clarity and ensure a transparent review of the evidence. He also raised questions about Wells’ final hours, citing conflicting witness accounts regarding whether the teenager intended to remain on the island or return to the boat with his friends.

Crump additionally said the family has concerns after discovering deleted messages on Wells’ cellphone, though investigators have not publicly linked those concerns to any criminal activity.

“The family is concerned about that,” he told ABC News. “We’re going to have an independent autopsy. We have investigators talking to witnesses that have no alignment or no allegiance to the state, and that’s important.”

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department has called on anyone who was on Horn Island on July 4 to submit original photos, videos and firsthand witness accounts that could help investigators establish a complete timeline of events. Officials emphasized that even seemingly minor details may prove vital as the investigation continues.

Results from the independent autopsy are expected soon, while findings from the official state medical examiner, including toxicology testing, could take several weeks before they are finalized.