Nolan Wells Family Orders Independent Autopsy After 18-Year-Old's Death as Attorney Cites Boat Altercation

Q: What did the independent autopsy reveal about the athlete left behind by his friends on a remote island?

It had not publicly revealed any findings in the material provided. The reporting says Nolan Wells’ family arranged an independent autopsy in Washington, D.C., because they questioned the initial suggestion that he drowned accidentally. Attorney Ben Crump said the purpose was to determine whether Wells had physical injuries beyond drowning, especially given allegations that he was left on Horn Island, that his phone was taken and messages deleted, and that there had been an altercation on the boat. But the available news and supporting material do not disclose the independent autopsy’s results. They only say the examination was planned and that findings were expected later. The official state autopsy and toxicology results were also still pending at that stage, while investigators said the case remained active and they were still trying to determine exactly what happened. So, based on the information provided, there is no confirmed public account of what the independent autopsy revealed.

Q: After his friends wiped his phone, what did investigators uncover about the altercation before his mysterious death?

Investigators and the family’s representatives have not publicly said they recovered specific evidence of the altercation from Nolan Wells’ wiped phone. What emerged instead was that messages had been deleted from the device before it was returned, raising suspicion, while separate accounts pointed to an argument involving Wells shortly before his death. According to attorney Ben Crump, students recorded an altercation on the boat in which Wells and another person were yelling at each other, and there were reports that a video of that confrontation was circulating. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office also said it was seeking original photos, videos, audio, and witness accounts from the northwest tip of Horn Island, especially anything showing an argument, disturbance, or unusual activity. So far, the key finding is not that the phone itself revealed the altercation, but that deleted messages on the phone became a concern while investigators pursued other evidence suggesting Wells was involved in a recorded dispute before he disappeared. Authorities have said the case remains active and they are still working to determine exactly what happened.

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 9

Nolan Wells' family will send the 18-year-old Mississippi teen's body to Washington for an independent autopsy after rejecting investigators' preliminary view that he accidentally drowned.
Ben Crump said students recorded Wells yelling with another person on the boat before he vanished on July 4, and he alleged Wells' phone was taken off Horn Island and returned with deleted messages.
A body believed to be Wells was recovered Monday after friends returned from the undeveloped island without him; Sheriff John Ledbetter said investigators were told Wells chose to stay behind.
Jackson County authorities still say they see no evidence of foul play but stressed the case remains active, asking anyone near Horn Island's northwest tip for photos, videos or accounts of arguments or unusual activity.