Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath urges patience as investigators work to determine the cause of Nolan Wells’ death.

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced that the official autopsy report for 18-year-old Nolan Wells will be withheld until a grand jury can review the findings. The teenager was found dead off the coast of Horn Island on July 6 after going missing during a Fourth of July boating trip. While a preliminary independent autopsy conducted by Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. labeled the manner of death as "undetermined," the state’s official investigation continues to seek clarity. The family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, requested the independent exam because the initial findings did not fully explain how the college football player died. McIlrath stated that the administration of the investigation must prioritize accuracy over speed, noting that the pressure for immediate answers does not change the work required to examine every lead. Meanwhile, Nolan Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, urged the public to focus on the primary question of what happened to her son as the community awaits a final conclusion.

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