The cause and manner of death of teen Nolan Wells came back “undetermined” in the independent autopsy report conducted by his family’s legal representation. An investigation into the teen’s death is ongoing, and the doctor who performed the autopsy wrote in the report that foul play was not ruled out. 

Autopsy Findings

Wells’ family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, revealed the autopsy’s findings on Wednesday at a news conference for the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The independent autopsy is the second one performed thus far on the victim, and it found red discoloration on the back of his head.

The report had a few gaps because of missing body parts and incomplete procedures, according to Crump. “This is only another part of the puzzle, and even though it tells us significant information, we still have more questions than we have answers at this time,” he said.

The autopsy report, which was performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist, Dr. Roger Mitchell, did not include a toxicology report. It was conducted on July 10, 2026, six days after Wells disappeared and four days after his body was found along the northwestern shore of Horn Island on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd performed the first autopsy on the 18-year-old football player, but the results have not been released. Lynd said Tuesday that they are currently waiting on the medical examiner’s office to complete its toxicology report before making any conclusions. 

Mitchell was unable to determine whether Wells was conscious when entering the water or how he got into it. Crump said the victim’s condition before ending up in the water was the “crux of the matter,” saying, “It would be of utmost importance to be able to determine a cause and manner of death.”

Because the state’s autopsy “rightfully removed and dissected each organ,” Mitchell could not “directly observe” Wells’ lungs or stomach for water during the independent autopsy. Crump also noted that due to the level of decomposition of the victim’s body, Mitchell was unable to determine if there was bruising, and said in the report that there were no lacerations or fractures to the body.

Football Player Goes Missing

Nolan Wells was last seen on July 4, 2026, with friends in the afternoon. He was on the island, which can only be reached by boat, celebrating America’s 250th. According to his friends who were present that day, they left early because their boat began taking on water. Wells let them know he would catch a ride back with the others.

His mother reported him missing that same night when he did not return home, and a U.S. park ranger found his body two days later. There is little to no other information surrounding the circumstances of his death, and the number of holes in the case has been concerning many.

Crump noted that in the autopsy report, Mitchell wrote that parts of Wells’ throat were not in his body at the time of his review. “Therefore, this pathologist cannot rule out injury to the neck as a contributor or a cause of death,” Crump said, asking that officials share the state autopsy with them.

The Family Wants Answers

Wells’ parents, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, said at the NAACP Convention that they just want answers. “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,” Wells-Wonsley said.

The reason the family had an independent autopsy done is due to the lack of response from state authorities. “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 said. “Which again is why we are here, why we have asked for this help.”

Wonsley added, “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. We know our son.”

Reverend Al Sharpton, former NFL player Terrell Owens, and famous producer and actor Tyler Perry have offered a combined reward of $125,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the death of Nolan Wells, according to Crump in Tuesday’s release.

Funeral Service

A funeral service was held at Center Pointe Church, and Wells was buried in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on Monday. His mother spoke on who her son was as a person, and afterward a celebration of life ensued with Wells’ family, friends, and teammates.

“Nolan had such a gentle, calming spirit about him. He had a way of making people feel seen, welcome, and valued,” Wells-Wonsley said at the funeral service. “He could lift your confidence with just a few words and make you feel like you belonged.”