Attorneys for Nolan Wells’ family said Wednesday they will inspect the 19-year-old’s cellphone with the local district attorney’s office as the Mississippi death investigation continues.
The agreement follows the family’s claim that messages appeared erased before the phone was returned after Wells vanished during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island.
Ben Crump said District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath also committed to present the case to a grand jury once the investigation is complete, a step the family says could bring an impartial decision.
Wells was reported missing shortly after midnight on July 5 and his body was recovered the next day near the island, where nearly 200 people had gathered; autopsy results are still pending.
The case has drawn wider scrutiny because Wells was among very few Black attendees at the gathering, prompting calls for an independent investigation from the Congressional Black Caucus and other supporters.
With two autopsies done and phone messages missing, what truly happened to Nolan Wells on Horn Island?
His friends left him behind but took his phone. Will forensics reveal a tragic accident or something more sinister?
Nolan Wells’ Death: Grand Jury Review, Cellphone Clues, and the Fight for Transparency in Mississippi
Overview
The investigation into Nolan Wells' death is moving forward with a grand jury review, where Attorney Ben Crump has emphasized the need to examine all witnesses and evidence, including law enforcement's actions. In Mississippi, grand juries of 15 to 25 citizens decide if there is enough evidence for an indictment. A major focus is Nolan's cellphone, which his family recovered from a friend's home on July 4. The phone's contents and timeline are central to understanding what happened, as the family and investigators work to resolve unanswered questions and ensure a thorough, impartial process.