Nolan Wells Update: Independent Autopsy Results Released by Family

Nolan Wells

News Blend 360

Wed, July 22, 2026 at 12:42 PM EDT

The family of Nolan Wells has shared the preliminary results from an independent autopsy.

At a press conference on Wednesday, July 22, the family's attorney, Benjamin Crump, stated that Nolan's cause of death was "undetermined pending investigation." Crump also mentioned that Nolan's date of death remains unknown.

"Preliminary findings… and this is significant," Crump continued, citing the autopsy report. "Focal area of red discoloration of the soft tissue at the back of the head – the occipital region."

However, there were "no lacerations of the overlaying skin nor fractures of the underlying skull, and the findings were labeled 'inconclusive' due to the "extensive decomposition and the absence of associated injuries."

As NB360 previously reported, Nolan disappeared during a July 4 boating trip to Horn Island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. Authorities indicated that the 18-year-old did not return to the mainland with the group he traveled with, and his friends claimed he decided to stay on the island after meeting a girl. However, his body was discovered face down in the water two days later on July 6.

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner also conducted an official autopsy, but those findings have not been released to the public yet. Toxicology testing is still underway, and officials noted that these results may take several weeks.

Nolan Wells

While there weren't any obvious or immediate signs of foul play, Bruce Lynd told NBC affiliate WDSU6 that "we asked for an autopsy (at) the state medical examiner's office so that they could do the full autopsy and be able to tell if there was any foul play or trauma."

Meanwhile, Nolan's parents, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, commissioned an independent autopsy.

"We had his body flown from Mississippi to Washington, D.C., because his family wanted to make sure that they had a doctor who had no ties to Mississippi law enforcement to do an independent examination of their son's body," Crump explained.

Nolan's friend, Tracestin Shephard, who was also on the trip, spoke to Good Morning America and claimed that he and his friends had been the target of online death threats.

"We did no wrong here, and we don't understand how we're getting so much hate behind us," Shepherd said during the July 13 episode of Good Morning America. "We all cared and loved Nolan, and nobody wanted to see Nolan die. Nobody wanted to see his life be taken so short."