Nolan Wells had no water in his lungs despite grand jury drowning verdict, family lawyer Ben Crump reveals

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026.

Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney representing the Wells family, has revealed that Nolan Wells, 18, had no water in his lungs at autopsy — a finding that contradicts a Mississippi grand jury's conclusion that his death was consistent with drowning. Crump also made public forensic cellphone data showing Wells last unlocked his phone through facial recognition at 2:17 p.m. on July 4, after which the device was transported by boat and car. The family rejects the accidental drowning finding and is calling for a federal investigation and full disclosure of grand jury materials.

Wells sent his final text — "Thank you" — to his aunt at 8:30 p.m. on July 3, and 282 pages of Snapchat messages exchanged within his friend group were retrieved from his phone.

Certain Snapchat messages were found to have been deleted, though forensic examiner Andrew Garrett said he was unable to determine the reason for their removal.

Wells, who was Black, vanished following a July 4 boat party on Horn Island attended largely by white friends; his body was recovered face down in the water two days later.