Key facts
- Nolan Wells, 18, was found dead on July 6 after a boating trip.
- His parents, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, expressed concerns about the investigation's urgency and inconsistencies.
- Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton are supporting the family's call for answers.
- The Jackson County Sheriff does not suspect foul play.
- The family, along with Lucy McBath and the Congressional Black Caucus, has requested a federal review of the case.
The parents of Nolan Wells, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, along with civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton, spoke at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Atlanta regarding the death of their 18-year-old son. Nolan Wells was found dead on July 6, days after he went missing following a boating trip with friends. Social media speculation arose that the perceived lack of urgency in the investigation might be due to Wells' race, as he was Black and his friends on the trip were white.
During the convention, Wells' parents detailed the harrowing days of searching for their son, describing what they called a lack of urgency from law enforcement and inconsistencies in information provided by some of his friends. Wells-Wonsley recounted calling multiple agencies, including the Mississippi department of marine resources, the Coast Guard, the Ocean Springs police department, and the Jackson county sheriff’s department, with each initially stating the case was outside their jurisdiction. Eventually, the Jackson county sheriff’s department took the case, but Wells' parents felt there was no urgency, noting that no search boats were reportedly on the water that night.
The family, accompanied by Wells' high school football coach, conducted their own search the following morning. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has stated that he does not suspect foul play and that the individuals on the boat are cooperating. However, the family continues to demand answers, as the state has not released the autopsy report pending a grand jury convening, and an independent autopsy commissioned by the family was inconclusive.
Ben Crump emphasized that the family's focus is on obtaining the truth and ensuring a fair investigation. Lucy McBath and members of the Congressional Black Caucus have joined the call for a federal review of the case, urging the US Attorney General and FBI Director to launch an independent investigation. The family is seeking prayers for truth as Nolan Wells' 19th birthday approaches.