Nolan Wells family legal team disputes DA investigation claims

The legal team for the family of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black student-athlete, is refuting allegations of non-cooperation in the investigation into his death. Wells was reported missing after a July 4 boating trip and his body was discovered near Horn Island, Mississippi, on July 6.

Attorneys, including Ben Crump, stated that the family remains willing to facilitate a forensic examination of Wells’ phone at the Digital Forensics Lab at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. However, they claim the District Attorney’s office issued a demand for the device with less than 48 hours' notice while the parents were out of state. The legal team noted that a formal forensic protocol regarding data access, chain of custody, and preservation has yet to be agreed upon by both parties.

Friends of Wells have shared accounts of their last interactions with him, while the family has called for greater transparency. An independent autopsy was unable to determine a definitive cause of death or rule out foul play due to physical limitations, though law enforcement initially suspected drowning. The family has expressed concerns regarding racial injustice and has sought an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.