The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office has finished the official autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, though the results remain private. Authorities will present the autopsy and case materials to a grand jury once the sheriff's department completes its investigation. A family-commissioned private autopsy returned an undetermined finding pending further review, and investigators are analyzing a distressed towing call for additional evidence. The family's attorney plans to hire audio experts to further examine the recordings.
Mississippi State Autopsy Completed in Nolan Wells Case; Findings Awaited as Investigation Continues
Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A man places a photograph of Nolan Xavier Wells in front of the podium before a news conference during the 117th NAACP National Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, on July 22, 2026.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office has completed the official autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, officials said, but the agency has not released the findings. Investigators plan to include the autopsy report with the full case file when it is presented to a grand jury after the local sheriff's department completes its probe.
Wells vanished following a Fourth of July boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Gulf Coast. He was last seen on the island and his body was recovered several days later. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office said convening a grand jury is standard protocol for most unnatural or suspicious deaths and does not necessarily indicate criminal charges.
Private Autopsy and Ongoing Review
The family commissioned an independent autopsy that preliminarily listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined pending further investigation. The family's attorney said the private pathologist cited multiple limitations that prevented a definitive conclusion.
Audio Evidence Under Scrutiny
Investigators are also examining a distressed call placed to a local towing company during the incident. The recording contains a caller saying he wanted to "get this boat unsank and towed back," adding that everyone aboard was unhurt and that "nobody here is over the age of 21." Sea Tow later said its services were not needed because the boat received help from another source. Authorities are conducting their own forensic review of the audio to determine whether it contains further clues.
Family attorney Ben Crump said the family has copies of the recordings and plans to retain consultants and audio experts for additional analysis. Officials continue to gather evidence, review witness statements and withhold the official autopsy results pending completion of the investigation.
Legal Filings and Public Statements
A separate legal filing, described as a cease-and-desist, has sought to curb certain public claims related to Wells' death. Details of that filing have not been widely released. Authorities have warned against speculation that could impede the investigation.
Photo caption: A photograph of Nolan Xavier Wells placed before a podium during a recent event. Photo by Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images.
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