Family of Mississippi teen who died after July 4 trip to call for transparency, deeper investigation

The family of Nolan Xavier Wells, the Mississippi teen found dead after a July 4 boat trip to an island off the Gulf Coast, plans to seek greater transparency and a deeper review at a news conference Friday. Wells, 18, traveled by boat to Horn Island, Mississippi, with friends on July 4 but did not make the return trip that afternoon. His body was discovered early Monday morning, more than a day later, after his mother reported him missing around midnight into July 5, according to Jackson County Sheriff’s Office statements. Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney retained by the family earlier this week, said the family has concerns about the investigation and intends to conduct an independent autopsy. Sheriff John Ledbetter said investigators don’t suspect foul play, but urged people with witness information or video from the beach island, about 10 miles off Mississippi’s coast, to come forward. An official autopsy was completed Tuesday, though results could take weeks. Wells attended Southwest Mississippi Community College and played wide receiver.