The family of Nolan Wells, a 19-year-old Black teenager from Mississippi, is calling for honesty and transparency in the investigation into his death. Wells' body was found on a barrier island off the coast of Mississippi on July 4, 2026, according to local authorities.
At a press conference in New York City on July 10, 2026, family members and their attorney, Ben Crump, urged law enforcement to provide clear answers. Crump stated that the family has not received sufficient information about the circumstances of Wells' death.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. As of July 11, 2026, no arrests have been made, and the cause of death has not been publicly released pending autopsy results. The sheriff's office has not commented on the family's allegations of a lack of transparency.
Wells was reported missing on June 28, 2026, after he failed to return home. His body was discovered by a boater on Horn Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The family has stated that Wells was not known to frequent the area.
