Nolan Wells’ parents stood with civil rights attorney Ben Crump in Inglewood, California on Monday and renewed their call for a federal investigation into their son’s death, this time naming a specific agency: the National Park Service.
“We have not closed our case, and we refuse to close the chapter of Nolan Xavier Wells,” Crump said, standing alongside Nolan’s mother, Christine Wells Wonsley, and his father, Elmore Wonsley.
During the press conference, Crump read a letter from Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson to Jessica Bowron, the acting director of the National Park Service. California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who backs the family’s push but could not attend Monday’s event, also signed on. The letter asks the agency’s Investigative Services Branch, which is the Park Service’s own team of federal criminal investigators, to open a “prompt and exhaustive investigation” into Nolan’s death. “Nolan’s family deserves answers, and this matter demands and deserves your immediate attention,” the letter reads.
The National Park Service has a direct connection to the case. Nolan Wells disappeared on July 4 during a boating trip to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi coast. His body was found in the water near the island two days later. Horn Island is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which makes it federal land managed by the National Park Service and gives the agency authority to investigate what happened there. His parents also want the FBI involved.
The family is turning to federal agencies because the local case is closed. In September, a Jackson County grand jury returned what is called a “no true bill,” meaning jurors decided there was not enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime. The district attorney also said there was no evidence the death was racially motivated. The grand jury found Nolan’s death was consistent with drowning.
The autopsies are what keep the family’s questions alive. Both the state autopsy and an independent autopsy the family paid for list Nolan’s cause and manner of death as undetermined. The state autopsy found bruising on the back of his head and neck. The independent autopsy found a larger area of blunt force injury to the back of his head. Family attorney Liza Park has pointed out that the autopsies found no water in his lungs or stomach.
Days before Monday’s press conference, Crump’s team released a forensic analysis of Nolan’s phone showing it was last opened with facial recognition at 2:17 p.m. while he was on the boat, and that some Snapchat messages had been deleted. The examiner said he could not determine why the messages were deleted. Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath responded by asking the family’s team to hand any new evidence over directly rather than release it publicly.
This is not the first time members of Congress have stepped in. In August, the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel asking for an independent federal review. The Department of Justice confirmed it received the letter and said it was reviewing it.
Ninety three days after their son died, Nolan’s parents are still waiting for the federal government to take the case.
