Independent autopsy: Nolan Wells cause of death ‘undetermined’ 

By Ariyana Griffin
Special to the AFRO

The independent autopsy results of 18-year-old college freshman Nolan Wells were revealed July 22 at a livestreamed press conference during the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago. The results were reported by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.

The release of the results came just days after Wells’ funeral. The ceremony was held at Center Pointe Church in Mississippi on July 20, with hundreds of mourners gathering to celebrate the life of the popular teen who was found dead in early July after attending a Fourth of July party with others.

Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., the 126th president of the National Medical Association, the largest and oldest group of Black physicians in the United States, performed the independent autopsy and ruled the cause of death as undetermined, pending investigation. This preliminary autopsy was performed on July 10, after the initial autopsy performed by Mississippi’s medical examiner on July 7.

Dr. Mitchell shared that during the initial autopsy the throat region was removed, preventing him from ruling out damage to the throat. The body was also already in a state of decomposition, making it difficult for Dr. Mitchell to also rule out other markings on the body.

The state of Mississippi has yet to release their autopsy findings. 

Crump explained how the independent autopsy described head trauma, with the report detailing  “a 12-by-eight inch focal area of red discoloration in the deep soft tissues overlaying the occipital bone.”

“We stand for justice no matter who it convicts or it acquits – we stand for transparency because we have eyes that can see,” said Crump “We don’t need government officials having to narrate it for you and me. We can see it for ourselves. Transparency, that leads to the truth.”

Christine Wonsley, Wells’ mother, spoke during the July 22 press conference.

“Losing a child, it truly breaks your heart. It is a pain that is just…you can’t measure it…specially someone like Nolan, who brought so much joy and, and light, and life to everyone,” said Wonsley. “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.”

Wells’ father, Elmore Wonsley, said that “every day is a challenge.”

“We’re gonna miss our son,” he said during the conference. “We just want honesty. We want to know what happened to our son, because the things that you’re telling us, that’s not the character of our son.”

Wells’ body was found in Mississippi on July 6, two days after going missing on a boating trip with friends to celebrate Independence Day on Horn Island, an island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Over 300 young adults were in attendance at this party, yet there are still questions looming about Wells’ disappearance and cause of death. 

“Nolan was found face down, fully clothed. Well, that’s significant to us because the last time we saw him on the videos, he was without a shirt. So at what point did he put on a shirt? Somebody saw something. Somebody knows something,” said Crump. “There were almost 300– 400 people. Somebody knows something.”

The investigation into Wells’ death is ongoing. 

Contributions from the Rev. Al Sharpton, Tyler Perry and Terrell Owens totaling to a $125,000 reward is available for anyone who has information on what happened to Wells that can lead to an arrest and conviction. 

Those with information are urged to call 888-991-1772.

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