Mississippi state autopsy report released by family of Nolan Wells, cause of death "undetermined"

What This is

• The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s autopsy lists Wells’ cause and manner of death as “undetermined.”
• A private autopsy commissioned by Wells’ family also found the cause and manner of death to be undetermined.
• Nolan Wells, 18, went missing after a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island, and his body was recovered on July 6.
• A Jackson County grand jury declined to indict anyone and said there was no credible evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
• The grand-jury report said the available evidence was consistent with drowning after reviewing witness testimony and digital evidence like GPS and cellphone data.
• Ben Crump released cellphone forensic findings and cited autopsy notes that he says raise questions about a drowning explanation.
• The district attorney has said there was no evidence the death was racially motivated, and authorities initially said there was no sign of a crime while the investigation continued.

Why This Matters

• When an official death finding stays “undetermined,” families can be left without closure and communities may keep debating what happened.
• Disputes over what evidence was reviewed or released can weaken trust in local investigators and prosecutors, even when a grand jury declines charges.
• Calls for a Justice Department review reflect worries about equal treatment in death investigations and whether local systems can fairly handle cases that draw intense public scrutiny.