‘Cannot rule out foul play’: Nolan Wells independent autopsy preliminary findings released

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- On Wednesday, Attorney Ben Crump revealed the long-awaited preliminary report from the independent autopsy of Nolan Wells performed at the request of his family.

The report states that the cause and manner of death is undetermined pending an investigation. The date of his death is also unknown.

The autopsy revealed marked de-compositional changes. Crump said that the forensic pathologist meant the body was so decomposed that it was hard to tell if there were bruises on the skin. Due to the marked decomposition, the pathologist performed dissections that were not performed during the state’s autopsy to rule out possible blunt force injuries that could have been responsible for death. He did not find any fractures or deep tissue injuries.

“This was very important because he wanted to be very thorough and very transparent. Because transparency is the key to getting to the answers of why Nolan Wells is not with us,” said Attorney Ben Crump.

However, the forensic pathologist found a 12×8 inch focal area of red discoloration in the deep soft tissues overlying the occipital bone during a dissection of the back of Wells’ head. The report states the cause of the discoloration is unclear.

“We actually saw the pictures of it. It’s significant. You can’t help but notice why there is this dark red here in the back of his head,” said Crump.

The pathologist notes that the findings are inconclusive for damage that occurred at or around the time of death to the extensive decomposition and absence of associated injuries.

Crump also explained that parts of Wells’ throat did not arrive with his body for the independent autopsy. However, the pathologist says that is a common practice in forensic pathology.

“He was chief medical examiner for seven years in Washington, D.C. and he said that if they had concerns about their throat or any fracture or compression of the throat, they too would hold them back. He doesn’t know why they held the throat back, but he said the throat was not with the body of Nolan Wells when he received it in Washington D.C. to perform the second autopsy,” said Crump.

Without the throat, the pathologist stated he could not rule out injury to the neck as a possible cause of death.

“He said he would need to have the medical examiner in Mississippi allow him to review the throat. That’s why he says his autopsy is undetermined in an investigation. Remember, it’s about transparency,” said Crump.

In addition to the throat not being available for examination, the pathologist stated that he was unable to directly observe the airway, lungs, and stomach.

“We have heard from our call center people saying the body wasn’t waterlogged. Well, we need to know those things, but unfortunately, because the body has decomposed, and the organs have already been dissected. Those are things we can only get from the initial autopsy,” said Crump.

The pathologist states that in cases where a death happens in or around water, it’s important to find out how the person entered the water, and it’s especially important when the person could swim – which the report confirms Wells was able to swim.

Additional questions remain regarding Wells’ condition before entering the water or the circumstances that led to his death, but information like that is needed to determine a cause of death.

“Based on the examination of the body, he cannot rule out foul play,” said Crump.

Toxicology was not performed during the independent autopsy.

Crump said his team is waiting on the state’s toxicology report.