Nolan Wells' family demands answers about US teen's death after boating trip

Nolan Wells' family demands answers about US teen's death after boating tripTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, Watch: Family of Nolan Wells says they distrust law enforcement's investigation into son's deathByBrandon DrenonPublished10 July 2026, 16:35 BSTUpdated 7 hours agoThe family of Nolan Wells, a Mississippi teenager who was found dead after going missing last weekend, is demanding answers about what happened to him.Wells, 18, did not return with friends from a boating trip to Horn Island on 4 July and his body was found in the water two days later. The Jackson County Sheriff's office said "no foul play was suspected" but is calling on the public to come forward if they have any information. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump - who has been hired by the family - said there have been conflicting witness statements. He added that he has ordered an independent autopsy to be carried out.Image source, Christina Wonsley/FacebookImage caption, Wells played American football at Southwest Mississippi Community College"The family has distrust of the Mississippi law enforcement officials giving them a fair investigation where their black son ended up dead after going out on a boat with three young white men," Crump said during a press conference on Friday. The emotionally charged event held in New York City was also attended by Al Sharpton and Wells' parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley. "We just want to know what happened and why our baby didn't come home. That's our biggest thing," Christine Wonsley said through tears. "We just want an honest and thorough investigation." An initial autopsy was carried out earlier this week, but the results have not been released. Dental records confirmed the body was Wells, Jackson County coroner Bruce Lynd told the BBC's US news partner CBS News. Crump has questioned what he says are...