Nolan Wells death cover-up claims grow as family demands Trump’s DOJ step in
Por Sophie Bates — – World RSS Feed
Nolan Wells death cover-up claims grow as family demands Trump’s DOJ step in
The family of Nolan Wells is continuing to release pieces of their independent investigation, as they push for transparency from local investigators and for federal authorities to investigate
Sophie Bates Thursday 24 September 2026 04:47 EDT
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Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is set to release a forensic analysis of Nolan Wells’ cellphone on Thursday, escalating calls for transparency just days after a Mississippi grand jury declined to bring charges in the 18-year-old’s death.
Attorneys for the family of the Black college student are demanding the public release of all grand jury investigative files and official autopsy records. While the grand jury reviewed both the phone data and autopsy findings before concluding its work last week, those details remain shielded from the public.
Wells was found dead two days after attending a July 4 island boat party with a group of mostly white friends. The death, occurring in a region with a deep history of racial tension, has fueled widespread suspicion and online speculation. Although local officials and several friends hoped the grand jury findings would resolve the case, the family is pushing federal authorities to step in.
Family questions account of last hours
Wells’ family has questioned why his friends left the island without him, claiming he chose to stay behind to talk to a girl. The family also raised alarms that Wells’ phone was left on a boat, noting he was an avid social media user who rarely went anywhere without it. They have expressed concerns that the device may have been tampered with, pointing to a lack of messages or recordings from his final hours.
open image in galleryThe grand jury report addressed those doubts directly, stating it was common for partygoers to switch boats or leave phones behind on crowded days. The panel explicitly cleared the friends of any wrongdoing and dismissed viral rumors that a distressed call to a sea towing service contained audio of an attack.
An attorney representing several of the friends said the grand jury’s findings lifted a heavy burden from his clients.
Autopsy disputes and calls for federal review
The grand jury concluded that Wells’ death was “consistent with drowning” and found no evidence of a fight. However, both Crump and Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, noted that neither the official state autopsy nor a secondary independent autopsy could definitively determine the cause of death. Both reports documented unexplained blunt force trauma to the back of Wells’ head.
According to the grand jury report, a witness testified that he saw Wells slip awkwardly off a boat on July 4, though he appeared uninjured and continued socializing afterward. The panel stated it could not determine if the fall caused the bruising, but concluded the injury was not fatal.
open image in galleryAt a news conference alongside representatives from the NAACP, Wonsley rejected the grand jury’s conclusions and demanded an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“What we have learned is that we still have no answers,” Wonsley said. “And the report reinforced the fact that Nolan was not given a thorough, transparent and honest investigation.”
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