An unbiased post-mortem preliminarily discovered that Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells‘ trigger and method of loss of life are “undetermined pending investigation,” household legal professional Ben Crump introduced Wednesday, because the investigation into the 18-year-old’s loss of life continues.
Wells’ dad and mom, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, were desperate for answers and despatched the teenager’s physique to Washington, D.C., for the unbiased post-mortem.
An undated photograph of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose physique was believed to be recovered after going lacking on July 4, 2026.
Courtesy of the Wells Household
The official post-mortem report from the State Medical Examiner’s workplace in Mississippi remains to be pending, in line with Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. As soon as that report is full, it is going to be supplied to the native coroner.
“Dropping a toddler, it actually breaks your coronary heart,” Christine Wonsley stated at Wednesday’s information convention. “It’s a ache that’s, simply, you possibly can’t measure it. Particularly somebody like Nolan, who introduced a lot pleasure and lightweight and life to everybody.”
“The one query we’ve is, what occurred to our son?” she stated.

This undated photograph supplied by the household reveals Nolan Xavier Wells along with his mom, Christine Wonsley.
Household through AP
Wells went lacking on the 4th of July after occurring a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, in line with authorities. It seems Wells stayed behind on the island after his associates left, officers stated.
The faculty soccer participant’s physique was recovered on July 6, and authorities stated they think Wells drowned. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated there was no preliminary indication of against the law, however he burdened that investigators are “working diligently to find out precisely what occurred.”

Nolan Wells in his soccer uniform throughout the summer time/fall season of 2024 at Ocean Springs Excessive College, the place he was a senior.
Ocean Springs College District
“Nolan Wells’ household deserves a radical and factual investigation, and that is precisely what they will get,” he instructed ABC Information final week.
Ledbetter additionally stated the sheriff’s workplace welcomes the household’s unbiased investigation.
At Wells’ funeral in his hometown of Ocean Springs on Monday, his mom stated his household and associates “will miss every part about him.”
It is a growing story. Please verify again for updates.
ABC Information’ Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
