Independent Autopsy Finds Nolan Wells' Cause of Death Undetermined Amid Calls for Transparency
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Nolan Wells has found the cause and manner of his death to be undetermined, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a board-certified pathologist, and was funded by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. The report, released at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, noted 'red discoloration' in the soft tissue on the back of Wells' head but found no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries. The autopsy did not include a toxicology report, and parts of Wells' throat were not attached to his body for examination. Wells, an 18-year-old Black teenager, disappeared after a Fourth of July boat trip with friends on an island off the coast of Mississippi. His body was found floating off the island's coast two days later. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office also conducted an autopsy but has not yet released its results.