Nolan Wells autopsy shows no water in lungs; phone data deleted after death

Key points

• State and independent autopsies both classified Wells’ death as undetermined, finding no water in his airways, stomach, or lungs.
• Forensic expert Andrew Garrett confirmed that Snapchat data was deleted from Wells’ phone between his last use at 2:18 p.m. and when his parents retrieved it.
• The Jackson County District Attorney, Angel Myers McIlrath, stated that the grand jury received a complete investigation and that the family’s legal team withheld full phone data from prosecutors.
• Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed grief and frustration, stating she could not accept the accidental drowning conclusion given the lack of water in her son’s body.
• The family’s legal team, led by Ben Crump, called for public transparency and urged anyone with information about Wells’ death to come forward.

Background

Nolan Wells disappeared after a Fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi, in 2026. His body was found two days later. Previous coverage highlighted that drownings in the area are rare and that the family had requested a federal review after local authorities cleared his friends. The grand jury recently returned a no true bill, finding no evidence of criminal conduct, which prompted the family to release new forensic and medical evidence to challenge that conclusion.

How outlets are covering it

The Wells family’s legal team, led by Ben Crump, argues that the absence of water in Wells’ lungs and the deletion of phone data indicate that the grand jury’s accidental drowning conclusion is incorrect. They emphasize that the family cooperated with investigators but faced communication breakdowns regarding the phone examination. In contrast, Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath defends the grand jury’s decision, stating that the family’s legal team strategically withheld full phone data and created a misleading public narrative. McIlrath asserts that the 'deletion' activity was from other Snapchat users, not physical access to the phone, and that the family had an open invitation to present evidence to the grand jury but chose to 'grandstand' instead.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tension between local law enforcement and families seeking transparency in high-profile deaths. The conflicting accounts regarding phone data and autopsy findings have intensified public scrutiny of the investigation process. The release of these details may influence whether federal authorities or other independent bodies review the case, given the family’s claims of a lack of transparency and the public’s interest in the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death.

What to watch

Dr. Roger Mitchell, who conducted the independent autopsy, is scheduled to discuss his findings and compare them with the state medical examiner’s report in a separate news conference next week in Atlanta. The Wells family’s legal team has called for anyone with information about Nolan Wells’ death to come forward, while the District Attorney’s office has demanded that the family provide any new evidence of a crime immediately.