Mississippi’s public safety commissioner said there is “no indication” at this time that race played a role in the death of Ocean Springs teenager Nolan Wells as investigators continue working to determine how Wells disappeared and was later found dead after partying with friends on Horn Island.
Wells visited the barrier island, about 10 miles offshore from his hometown, with friends on July 4. He did not return to the mainland and was reported missing by his mother that night. A multiagency search of the island ended on the morning of July 6 when Wells’ body was discovered by a park ranger.
Since his death, social media has been filled with theories and allegations, particularly after law enforcement released the last known photo of Wells showing the Black teen with a group of white friends. A video that has not been verified or publicly released by law enforcement has also circulated, purportedly showing an altercation on the island, which was crowded with holiday boaters when Wells disappeared.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell provided an update on the investigation during Wednesday’s episode of Mornings with Richard Cross. During the interview, Tindell addressed the social media speculation, urging people to stop spreading rumors because they could hamper the investigation into Wells’ death.
“What I would tell folks is when you get on social media and you rant and rave and you intimidate and you create false narratives, there’s going to be the possibility that witnesses don’t come forward because they don’t want to be part of that,” Tindell said.
Tindell, who lives in nearby Gulfport and has teenage children, said the racial makeup of Wells’ friend group “reminds me a lot” of his own children’s friends. Combined with what investigators have uncovered so far, he said, there is no evidence race was a factor in Wells’ death.
“I have no reason to believe that, and I don’t think anybody would have a reason to believe that unless they’re just being racist in their hearts and looking at a picture with a Black kid and three white friends,” Tindell said.
“At the end of the day, I’ve got teenagers that age and they’ve got plenty of friends of all races, colors, and sex,” he continued. “And they love them all and don’t pay attention to all that.”
As the investigation continues, Tindell said law enforcement is not ruling anything out – whether drowning, foul play, or another possibility – and remains focused on finding answers for Wells’ family and friends.
“My heart is bleeding for the family and friends of Nolan who have suffered a tragic loss and, by all accounts, was just an outstanding young man with a bright future and well-respected and loved by really everybody that I’ve talked to that he touched,” Tindell said.
“We all want answers, and I know the family certainly does. If I put myself in their shoes, I would certainly have questions and I would want answers,” he continued. “We’re going to continue to do this investigation, try to figure it out, and try to give the family as many answers as we can.”
Autopsy update
Wells’ body was transported to the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy was performed Tuesday. Tindell said the Department of Public Safety is now waiting for the findings.
“Right now, the autopsy report is still pending,” he said. “You have to wait for toxicology reports and blood samples and other things we send off to other labs to be analyzed and come back. That’s the stage we’re in right now – waiting for those results.”
The autopsy was performed by Dr. Stacy Turner, whom Tindell called “probably the best state medical examiner we’ve ever had in the state of Mississippi.” He said the findings could shape the direction of the investigation.
“She’s going to look through this and see what the autopsy uncovers. Then, we’ll present that to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department,” he said. “Some of the [results] will be made public, and the family will certainly have an opportunity to see it and what they do with it from there is up to them.”
Wells’ family has already taken custody of his body and flown it to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy, according to family attorney Ben Crump. During a Wednesday interview with former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon, Crump said the family is frustrated that investigators have not determined whether foul play was involved in Wells’ death.
“They’re not telling the family anything about whether it was foul play or not,” Crump said. “And so that’s why the family is so desperate for answers because they’re saying, ‘We don’t want you to just wrap up this investigation and say, “Oh well, it was just an accident,” and sweep it under the rug.’”
During a separate interview with ABC News on Thursday, Crump said he and Wells’ family also have concerns about Wells’ cellphone, alleging it made it back to the mainland with “deleted messages.”
Crump said he expected to receive the results of the independent autopsy Friday.
Judge, mother of one of Wells’ friends issues statement
The mother of one of the young men seen in the last confirmed photo of Wells has spoken publicly in an effort to “dispel some rumors with facts” surrounding the teenager’s death.
Ashlee Cole, a local chancery court judge, released a lengthy statement Wednesday, saying her son and other friends of Wells left Horn Island on July 4 after their boat experienced problems with its bilge pump. Wells chose to remain on the island, Cole said.
“Our family, along with the community, grieves the loss of Nolan Wells. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nolan’s family. Our son, Warren, loved Nolan dearly,” Cole said. “Unfortunately, I feel that it is appropriate for our family to dispel some rumors with facts based upon the social media attention that is being diverted away from the Wells family and their loss.
“…Warren was interviewed by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and cooperated fully. He saw Nolan last at around 3 p.m. on July 4. They left around 4:30 p.m. when the boat was taking on water and they had an issue with the bilge pump. Nolan made a decision to stay on the island and return inland with another group of friends.”
Cole said she deactivated her Facebook account earlier this week after allegations that she and her family were trying to “impede the investigation” and “hamper the family and law enforcement’s quest for answers.” She addressed those claims in her statement, noting that she graduated from high school with Wells’ mother and saying no one in her family would ever do such a thing.
“Yes, I deactivated my Facebook. Given the heightened emotional state of social media right now, I fear for the safety of my child and my children,” Cole continued. “My husband and I have six children and we covet their privacy. We do not believe it is appropriate for our minor children’s photographs to be circulated throughout the internet, presenting potential threats to their safety.
“I graduated high school with Christine Wells-Wonsley. We are from the same community. I have the utmost respect for her and all of the Wells family. We mourn the loss of Nolan with them. Our prayers have been and will continue to be with them.
“…Yes, I am a judge. I also value transparency. I apologize if anyone was offended that I deleted my social media. There were no nefarious motivations in my deleting my social media. Social media has a lot of positives, but a whole lot of negatives. We live in a world of click-baiting. Sad, but true.”
According to law enforcement, investigators have also interviewed several of Wells’ other friends, along with the last woman he was seen speaking with before his disappearance. Anyone with information about Wells’ disappearance or death is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at (228) 769-3065 during normal business hours or (228) 769-3063 after hours.
Wells was set to turn 19 next month and played football at Southwest Mississippi Community College after graduating from Ocean Springs High School.