Wells family attorney reveals final text and autopsy details after grand jury clears friends

Key points

• Attorney Ben Crump stated Wells sent a 'Thank you' text to his aunt at 8:30 p.m. on July 3, the day before his disappearance.
• A 23-member grand jury in Jackson County ruled Wells' death consistent with drowning and found no evidence of criminal or racially motivated conduct.
• The family’s legal team highlighted that the state medical examiner’s autopsy found no water in Wells' lungs, airways, or GI tract.
• Wells' parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, maintain they do not believe their son accidentally drowned and are continuing to fight for justice.
• WLOX released correspondence showing the DA's office and the family's attorneys coordinated phone forensics and independent autopsy reviews from July to September.

Background

This case has been under intense public scrutiny since July 2026. Previous coverage noted that the family urged federal review and that the grand jury's recent no-true bill ruling cleared the friends involved in the boating trip. The family has consistently disputed the official findings, citing unexplained head injuries and the absence of water in the body.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post emphasizes the family's skepticism, highlighting the absence of water in Wells' lungs as evidence against accidental drowning and noting the 'undetermined' cause of death. WLOX focuses on the procedural transparency, detailing the extensive correspondence between the Jackson County DA and the family's legal team regarding forensic examinations and witness coordination. While the Post frames the story around the family's fight for justice, WLOX presents the timeline of cooperation between the DA's office and the attorneys.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing tensions between local law enforcement findings and family demands for transparency in high-profile deaths. The release of the final text and autopsy details by the family's attorney adds new dimensions to the public debate over whether the death was accidental or involved foul play.

What to watch

The family plans to continue their legal and public campaign for answers. The case could be reopened if credible new evidence emerges, as Mississippi has no homicide statute of limitations. The family's legal team may pursue further forensic reviews or federal involvement.