Ben Crump to reveal independent autopsy in Nolan Wells death
The civil rights attorney is expected to discuss a private autopsy after authorities reportedly said Wells drowned off Horn Island.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Ben Crump is preparing to announce the findings of an independent autopsy in the death of Nolan Wells, the young man found dead off Horn Island on the Mississippi Gulf Coast after disappearing over the Fourth of July weekend.
The announcement is set to come during an NAACP press conference streamed on YouTube on July 22, 2026, according to the organization’s event page. Crump, a civil rights attorney known for representing families in high-profile death investigations, has been working with Wells’ family as questions swirl around the case.
TMZ reported that Wells vanished during the holiday weekend and was found dead two days later off the coast of Horn Island. Authorities initially described the death as a drowning, according to TMZ.
Crump has challenged that early account. TMZ reported that he questioned whether Mississippi officials would fully disclose what happened, saying he was concerned the case could be minimized or pushed aside by authorities.
Wells’ family has also raised doubts about the official version of events. According to TMZ, his mother has alleged that messages were deleted from his phone after his body was found.
The case has drawn attention from several public figures. Reverend Al Sharpton and Tyler Perry are each offering $50,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in Wells’ death, according to TMZ and video aired by WLOX.
TMZ also reported obtaining video from Horn Island on July 4 that may show Wells during his final hours. The footage reportedly shows a man resembling Wells bending down to take a drink from a cooler.
The independent autopsy could become a key flashpoint in the dispute over what happened. No findings from that autopsy were detailed ahead of Crump’s planned announcement.
TMZ has also reported that Wells’ mother has made a legal move connected to his estate, a step that could allow her to bring a potential lawsuit over his death.
The FBI is also involved in a related matter, according to TMZ, which reported that the bureau is investigating alleged threats made in connection with the Wells case.
Officials have not been reported by TMZ as issuing a detailed public response to Crump’s concerns, the family’s allegations about the phone messages, or the rewards offered by Sharpton and Perry.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.