The death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has taken another heartbreaking turn after an independent autopsy failed to determine exactly how the Mississippi college football player died.
The preliminary findings, released by Wells family’s attorney, Ben Crump, concluded that both the cause and manner of death remain “undetermined pending investigation.” The independent pathologist said the advanced state of decomposition, along with the fact that a state autopsy had already been performed, made it impossible to reach a definitive conclusion.
Although the autopsy found no major fractures or severe external injuries, it did identify several unanswered questions that investigators say require further examination.
Among the findings was an unexplained area of red discoloration on the back of Nolan’s head, which doctors said could not be conclusively explained. The pathologist also noted that certain organs had already been removed during the original state autopsy, limiting the ability to determine whether drowning played a role in his death.
Toxicology results and the official state autopsy have not yet been released.
Wells traveled to Horn Island with a group of friends on July 4. But while the rest of the group returned home, Wells did not. His mother Christine Wonsley reported him missing after the holiday, and posted a public plea for help that quickly spread across social media.
On Monday July 6, a body was found on the island. The following day, Wonsley confirmed on Facebook that it was her son. Witnesses said he was “talking to a girl” before his disappearance.
While the investigation continues, officials do not suspect foul play was involved at the moment. On July 8, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said detectives work to determine exactly what happened to the 18-year-old.
Meanwhile, his family has questioned inconsistencies surrounding the case, including conflicting witness accounts and the circumstances in which his body was found.
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