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Autopsy Leaves Cause Undetermined
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Nolan Xavier Wells found the 18-year-old’s cause and manner of death to be “undetermined” pending further investigation, with civil rights attorney Ben Crump announcing the preliminary findings Wednesday at the annual NAACP National Convention in Chicago.
“Nolan Wells' private autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation' The autopsy from the State Medical Examiner's office is pending”
The autopsy report, conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, described a “red discoloration” in the back of Wells’ skull as “inconclusive” and said the pathologist could not rule out the possibility that “non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death.”
Wells traveled to an island off the coast of Mississippi on July 4 with a group of friends, and his body was discovered two days later floating off the island’s coast.
Because an initial autopsy was performed by the medical examiner in Mississippi, Wells’ body arrived without organs or neck structures, and the report said that made it impossible to determine if he had suffered a neck injury or whether water had entered his lungs.
PBS reported the autopsy was conducted on July 10 and that it “did not determine the manner or cause of death for the Black teen,” while Crump said the pathologist could not rule out intervening non-accidental factors.
Crump Demands Transparency
Crump said the autopsy found no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries, but he told the crowd that “We have more questions than answers at this time,” as the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office had not released its own autopsy results.
The BBC reported that forensic pathologist Dr Roger Mitchell could not determine whether Wells was conscious or unconscious when he went into the water, and that the examiner said parts of Wells’ throat had been held back following the initial autopsy as standard practice.
NPR quoted Crump saying, “These findings are inconclusive ... pending further investigation,” and described the autopsy as unable to provide a complete forensic review because the body was not in a state that would allow it.
NPR also reported that NAACP President Derrick Johnson accused investigators of mishandling the case, saying, “We are accusing them of being derelict in their duties to follow up and to ensure that, regardless of what happened, there was a proper investigation.”
The BBC added that Wells’ mother Christine Wonsley said she was bothered that Wells’ mobile phone and car keys were found with his friends after they returned from Horn Island, and she felt “uncomfortable” about the police saying her son had accidentally drowned.
Case Heads Toward Next Steps
The independent autopsy’s limitations centered on what Mitchell could not directly observe, including “the inability to directly observe the airway and the lungs for water and directly observe the stomach for gastric contents,” and the report said the original toxicology results had not been received.
“Cause of Nolan Wells' death still unknown, initial results of independent autopsy show Warning: This article contains details about an autopsy result that readers may find distressing The cause and way in which Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells died after going missing earlier this month are still unknown following a preliminary independent autopsy”
ABC News reported that Crump said the forensic pathologist did not know whether Wells was conscious or unconscious when he entered the water, and Crump said the condition of Wells before he entered the water would be “the crux of the matter.”
The Clarion-Ledger said the manner of death and cause of death were both listed as undetermined, pending investigation, and quoted Wells’ mother Christine Wonsley saying, “The only question we have is 'What happened to our son?'.”
The Guardian reported that Wells was laid to rest in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, his home town, on Monday, and it said a $100,000 reward was being offered for information that could lead to an arrest and a conviction.
AP News reported that a reward of $125,000—jointly funded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, actor and producer Tyler Perry, and former NFL player Terrell Owens—was being offered in exchange for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with the death.
