The family of Nolan Wells on Wednesday released the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s autopsy report on the 18-year-old’s death. It found that the cause and manner of death are “undetermined.”
This conclusion matches the findings of the private autopsy commissioned by Wells’ family, which preliminarily ruled his cause and manner of death as “undetermined pending investigation,” with the independent pathologist acknowledging multiple limitations in the report.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department released this photo during the search for Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, in Mississippi.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department
“Losing a child, it truly breaks your heart … especially someone like Nolan, who brought so much joy and light and life to everyone,” Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, told reporters in July.
“The only question we have is, what happened to our son?” she said.
An undated photo of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was believed to be recovered after going missing on July 4, 2026.
Courtesy of the Wells Family
The circumstances surrounding Wells’ death garnered national interest after the college football player went missing on the 4th of July after going on a boat trip with friends to Horn Island. Officials said it appeared Wells stayed behind on the island after his friends left.
The teen’s body was recovered on July 6, and authorities said they suspect he drowned.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said there was no initial indication of a crime, but he stressed that investigators were “working diligently to determine exactly what occurred.”
Ledbetter also said the sheriff’s office welcomed the family’s independent investigation.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.