Family Demands Answers in Death of Mississippi Teen Nolan Wells
Two weeks after Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old college freshman from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was found dead on Horn Island, his family continues to seek answers. Wells disappeared on July 4 after a boat trip with friends and was found dead on July 6. The investigation by local authorities is ongoing, and the family has retained attorneys Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton.
What Happened on Horn Island?
On July 4, Wells and a group of friends took a boat to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf coast. About 300 young adults were gathered for a "last hurrah" before returning to college or work. Wells's friends, phone, and keys returned that day, but he did not. His body was found two days later. The exact cause of death remains unclear, and an autopsy is pending.
Racial Concerns Raised
At a July 10 press conference in New York, Christine Wonsley, Wells's mother, addressed racial undertones in the case. She said, "Me and his dad had conversations with him all the time, not just about the importance of understanding our history as Black people, but also the importance of how you have to move in certain spaces." Crump added, "We are in Mississippi. These were three young white men. Nolan was the only young Black man. Had the roles been reversed, we know this investigation would be going differently."
Conflicting Accounts
Ashlee Cole, mother of one of Wells's white friends and a Jackson County chancery judge, denied hindering the investigation. She said her son was interviewed by the sheriff's office and alleged that Wells left the island with a separate group. However, Crump stated that a young woman said Wells decided to return with his friends. Wells's father, Elmore Wonsley, expressed skepticism: "We always taught him that if you go with a group, you stay with a group... So why would he split from the group?"
Phone and Key Evidence
Wells's phone was tracked via Life360 to the home of one of the boat riders. When retrieved, messages had been deleted. His mother said, "When we opened Snapchat, there was nothing... We found that very concerning." Wells's keys were also found at the home of one of the men pictured with him. Crump noted that an investigation of the phone would be done jointly with local authorities.
Ongoing Investigation
The Jackson County sheriff initially said "no foul play was suspected," but Crump called that premature. The Congressional Black Caucus demanded a "full, transparent, independent and timely investigation." Wells's body was flown to Washington, D.C., for an autopsy funded by Colin Kaepernick. A state autopsy is complete but results are not released. Funeral services are set for July 13 at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, paid for by Tyler Perry.
