The search for answers in the tragic death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells is intensifying. Attorney Ben Crump is shedding new light on the independent investigation his firm is spearheading following the teen’s heartbreaking passing after a July 4 trip to Horn Island.
Opening up about the case in an interview with Don Lemon, Crump didn’t hold back on the family’s frustration with the ongoing investigation. Crump also said the family of Nolan Wells believes messages were deleted from the 18-year-old cellphone. The parents are still waiting for clarity on whether foul play was a factor in their son’s death.
“They’re not telling the family anything about whether it was foul play or not,” Crump shared, noting that the family’s main goal is ensuring a thorough look into the circumstances.
“They’re not telling the family anything about whether it was foul play or not, and so that’s why the family is so desperate for answers because they’re saying, ‘We don’t want you to just wrap up this investigation and say, “Oh, well, it was just an accident,” and sweep it under the rug.’”
To get the truth, Crump’s team has taken matters into their own hands, arranging for an independent autopsy. The teen’s body was flown to Washington, D.C., for the procedure, with results expected this Friday.
There’s also a major red flag regarding Nolan’s cellphone. After learning that several messages were allegedly deleted, his parents are raising concerns. The device was with the three young men who returned from the island, while they claim Nolan stayed behind to chat with friends.
“They said it’s very improbable that Nolan would not have wanted his cellphone with him if he was going to stay on the island,” Crump explained.
As the investigation continues, Crump’s legal team is working around the clock to find out what happened.
“We have been staying up late with the family, talking to people who were there on the Fourth of July, trying to piece together what really happened to Nolan Wells, what caused a healthy young college athlete … to end up dead, washed up on the shore,” he added.
For now, the family “are still in disbelief.”
Nolan’s body was recovered Monday off Horn Island, two days after his mother, Christine Wonsley, reported him missing. As speculation swirls on social media, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department continues its investigation. Sheriff John Ledbetter is asking the public to come forward with any firsthand info, including photos or videos from that day, as the medical examiner’s office works to finalize autopsy results.