Story perspectives

Mississippi teen death autopsy undetermined; tech subpoenas, $125K reward

8/1/2026

Summary

Medical Examiner Undetermined

Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office completed Nolan Wells’ autopsy on July 7 and sent the report to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. said the exam could not rule out foul play, noted red discoloration on Wells’ skull and listed the death as undetermined.
Investigators said decomposition and missing neck and lung tissues prevent determining whether Wells was conscious before entering the water.

Summary

Ben Crump Leads

Ben Crump announced the Wells family secured the July 4 distress-call audio and hired experts to analyze it.
Subpoenas were issued to Life360, Snap, Meta Platforms, TikTok and WhatsApp demanding Nolan Wells’s data within 21 days.
A $125,000 reward pool was pledged for information by Rev. Al Sharpton, Tyler Perry, Terrell Owens and Dr. Benjamin Hudson.
Federal authorities arrested California resident Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce on an interstate threat charge after he threatened Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole.

1 of 2

Medical Examiner Undetermined

Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office completed Nolan Wells’ autopsy on July 7 and sent the report to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. said the exam could not rule out foul play, noted red discoloration on Wells’ skull and listed the death as undetermined.
Investigators said decomposition and missing neck and lung tissues prevent determining whether Wells was conscious before entering the water.

1 / 2