Mississippi agency says Nolan Wells records were released by mistake
Marine officials say records tied to Nolan Wells’ death investigation were mistakenly disclosed as prosecutors seek to keep the case file sealed.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
A Mississippi state agency says records connected to Nolan Wells’ death investigation were released by mistake, and the local district attorney has now told the agency to stop disclosing protected material while the case heads toward a grand jury.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources acknowledged the mistaken release in a written response to a public records request from TMZ. The agency did not say which documents were disclosed or identify who received them.
According to the agency, Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath later notified officials that Wells’ death remains an active investigation and will be presented to a grand jury.
McIlrath told the department that its role in the search for Wells, along with help it gave the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, falls within that investigation. On that basis, she said the material is exempt from public release.
The district attorney asked the Department of Marine Resources not to release any additional protected information, according to the agency’s response. The department said it is now withholding the requested records.
What happened on Horn Island
Wells disappeared from Horn Island during a Fourth of July boating trip with friends, according to prior reporting by TMZ. His body was found in the water two days later.
Authorities have said they believe Wells drowned and have not found evidence of a crime, TMZ reported. An official cause and manner of death have not been released.
TMZ also reported obtaining video from the gathering that appears to show Wells in swim trunks on the back of a boat. The outlet said the footage is believed to be the last image of him alive.
The case has remained under scrutiny as investigators and the family wait for more answers. The latest records dispute shows that at least part of the government file is being treated as investigative material while prosecutors prepare to take the matter to a grand jury.
Family autopsy raises more questions
An independent autopsy commissioned by Wells’ family found a large red area on the back of his head that could point to a possible injury, according to TMZ’s report on the findings. The independent examination did not determine the cause or manner of death, which remain pending.
Family attorney Ben Crump said the independent examiner still needs to review Wells’ throat, lungs and original autopsy photos before reaching conclusions about what happened.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ admission does not identify what was released before the district attorney stepped in. For now, the agency says the remaining records sought through the public records request will stay sealed because the death investigation is still open.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.