Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old from New York, died during a boat trip to celebrate the Fourth of July on an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. His body was found two days later, and his family is seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Investigation and Autopsy

Wells’ family has commissioned an independent autopsy and plans to employ experts to recover deleted messages from his cellphone. The family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, said they do not trust Mississippi authorities to conduct a fair investigation due to the state’s history of racial tension.

The sheriff’s office has said that Wells’ friends were cooperating and that investigators do not suspect foul play. However, Crump pointed out discrepancies in the friends’ stories, including that Wells did not have his cellphone or keys with him when he was last seen.

Family’s Concerns

Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, expressed their concerns and frustration with the investigation. They want to know what happened to their son and why he did not come home. The family has received support from various individuals, including actor and producer Tyler Perry, who is helping to pay for Wells’ funeral.

Wells was a peacemaker who did not like division, and his parents schooled him in history and talked to him about navigating racial tensions in the South. He was an elite athlete who played wide receiver on the football team at Southwest Mississippi Community College and had aspirations of playing at a high-level Division I program.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.