The family of Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old college football player found dead on Mississippi’s Horn Island in July, is renewing calls for a continued investigation after an independent autopsy concluded that his cause and manner of death should remain “undetermined” and identified unexplained blunt-force injuries to the back of his head and body. The family’s legal team, led by attorney Ben Crump, argues that significant questions remain unanswered about injuries identified during both the state and independent autopsies. Crump emphasized that the bruising on the back of Wells’ head remains unaccounted for, and it is still unknown why Wells remained on the island instead of returning with his friends, and how he ended up in the water.
The Jackson County Grand Jury Report, released late Monday night, concluded that no criminal charges are warranted at this point. The grand jury found that Wells chose to remain on Horn Island to socialize, as was not uncommon for people to do on holidays. However, Crump argued that unanswered questions surrounding the blunt-force injuries should have remained central to the investigation. Instead, they argued the evidence remains inconclusive and requires further investigation. The family’s legal team is now urging the Department of Justice to open an independent federal investigation into Wells’ death, arguing that significant questions remain unanswered despite the grand jury’s decision.
Wells sustained the injury to the back of his head, but the exact cause of injury remains uncertain. The independent autopsy’s conclusion of “undetermined” contradicts any suggestion that the case is closed. The family’s legal team insists that the unexplained blunt-force injuries, coupled with the circumstances of Wells’ death, demand a thorough federal review. They argue that the grand jury’s finding does not address the critical questions raised by the autopsy findings.
As the family continues to seek answers, the call for a federal investigation underscores their determination to uncover the truth. The case remains open in the eyes of Wells’ loved ones, who believe that justice has yet to be served. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on whether it will take up the case.
Shimanta Das 
