Ben Crump offers new details of independent investigation into Nolan Wells’ death
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old who died after celebrating Independence Day on Horn Island, offered some details of the independent investigation Wednesday.
Speaking at the Jackson County Courthouse after a meeting with District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath, and with Wells’ parents Christine and Elmore Wonsley at his side, Crump said that there will be a “mutual investigation” of Wells’ cellphone.
The cellphone, which is presently in the hands of Crump’s independent investigators, will be shared with the county and federal agents investigating Wells’ death.
Attorney Eric Hertz, a member of Crump’s team, indicated a desire for greater cooperation between witnesses and the independent and official investigations.
“Some of the people that I spoke to are not talking with law enforcement here,” Hertz said. “We’re going to be trying to get them to cooperate with each other.”
The law firm is receiving anywhere from 50 to 100 calls a day from people who were on Horn Island on July 4 or who are familiar with individuals who were there.
“We remain steadfast in trying to determine the truth about why Nolan is dead,” Crump said.
“We know in America, in the South, certain people are investigated differently, and we shared that with her (McIlrath),” Crump said. “ We didn’t, you know, ask that she understand our perspective, but we said we should mutually try to understand each other’s perspectives, where we’re coming from, and we agree that we will try to do that.”
McIlrath weighed in on the case Tuesday, saying that her office is “offering support to law enforcement.”
In addition, McIlrath said Tuesday: “This case is being treated as a priority and upon the conclusion of the investigation, the findings will go before a grand jury, which is our standard operating procedure for deaths that are not natural deaths.”
Once a death investigation is completed, the findings are presented to a grand jury to determine if any criminal wrongdoing occurred. McIlrath reiterated that the investigation remains “active and ongoing.”
Wells, 18, of Ocean Springs, was reported missing after he did not return home from a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island. Wells, who was Black, traveled to the island with the three white friends who have cooperated with investigators.
The family said Nolan Wells’ services Monday include visitation from 9-11 a.m. Monday at Center Point Church, with the funeral service to follow. The church is on Highway 57.
A celebration of life will follow the funeral service at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. His mother said she wanted all of her son’s past and present teammates to attend.
This breaking news story will be updated with further details from today’s news conference.
This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM.
