The investigation into 18-year-old Nolan Wells's death off the Mississippi coast

Active · last development Sep 24: “Nolan Wells pals’ attorney slams allegations of deleted messages: ‘They didn’t do it’”

What this arc covers

An 18-year-old was found dead off the Mississippi coast in July. His family retained a civil rights lawyer and commissioned an independent autopsy, which proved inconclusive. A grand jury found no cause for charges.

Photo from The Guardian, with Ben Crump to release findings from Nolan Wells' cellphone (Sep 24), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Jul 7, 2026 · 32 stories · 99 independent sources (counted once each) · 79 days

Part ofNolan Wells caseMississippiBenjamin CrumpAl SharptonNAACPAtlanta

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 24– 25Nolan Wells pals’ attorney slams allegations of deleted messages: ‘They didn’t do it’3 articles · 3 independent sources
1 left, 1 center, 1 right
Sep 24Nolan Wells' cause and manner of death 'undetermined,' state autopsy report finds9 articles · 2 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 24– 25Ben Crump to release findings from Nolan Wells' cellphone35 articles · 17 independent sources
2 left, 5 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 7 – 8Family of Nolan Wells, teen who was found dead off Mississippi island, retains noted civil rights lawyer56 articles · 17 independent sources
  2. Jul 8 – 13Family seeks answers after 18-year-old found dead off Mississippi coast27 articles · 24 independent sources
    1. Jul 8Mississippi family demands answers after teen goes missing on July 4th, body later found
    2. Jul 9Only center coverage:Nolan Wells’ body was found after a July 4 boat trip. His death has fueled speculation, grief and racial tension
    3. Jul 11A July 4 boat trip, an 18-year-old’s death and a family’s search for answers in the Deep South
  3. Jul 19 – 24Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells leave key questions unanswered278 articles · 59 independent sources
    1. Jul 19Nolan Wells' family, friends to gather at his funeral in Mississippi as death investigation continues
    2. Jul 20Nolan Wells, found dead after July 4 boat trip, to be remembered at funeral by the Rev. Al Sharpton
    3. Jul 21The results of the autopsy of Nolan Wells will be released Wednesday, the family's attorney says
    4. Jul 22Attorney for family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells presents results of independent autopsy
    5. Jul 23Nolan Wells autopsy report to be withheld until grand jury review, district attorney says
  4. Jul 30 – 31Nolan Wells family attorney says boat distress call from day he disappeared to be reviewed82 articles · 27 independent sources
  5. Aug 4 – 73 charged with threatening judge, witness and officials in Nolan Wells investigation71 articles · 25 independent sources
    1. Aug 43 charged with threatening witnesses, families after Nolan Wells’ death, feds say
    2. Aug 5Three people charged with threatening judge, witness and officials tied to Nolan Wells investigation
  6. Sep 22 – 25No Indictments, No Definitive Cause: Key Takeaways From the Nolan Wells Grand Jury Report101 articles · 60 independent sources
  7. Sep 24 – 25Ben Crump to release findings from Nolan Wells' cellphone35 articles · 17 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jul 6Jul 20Aug 3Aug 24Sep 7Sep 21

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jul 6, 20268145154
Jul 13, 202605132
Jul 20, 202613244294
Jul 27, 20264102138
Aug 3, 202629086
Aug 10, 202612015
Aug 17, 202617235
Sep 14, 202601111
Sep 21, 202614229147

24% left · 61% center · 15% right of 99 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 32 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2026

    Jul 7– 8Family of Nolan Wells, teen who was found dead off Mississippi island, retains noted civil rights lawyer56 articles · 17 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 0 right
  2. Jul 7– 10What is known about the death of Nolan Wells?8 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right
  3. Jul 8– 10Nolan Wells’ devastated family to demand urgent probe into teen’s death, release of all records: lawyer11 articles · 7 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 1 right
  4. Jul 8– 13Family seeks answers after 18-year-old found dead off Mississippi coast27 articles · 24 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 2 right
  5. Jul 8– 11A teen football player’s death has sparked scrutiny and speculation. Here’s what’s happening with the investigation18 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  6. Jul 8– 15TIMELINE: Here’s what we know about the disappearance and death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells11 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  7. Jul 9– 11Nolan Wells' mother pleads for answers as family speaks publicly for first time since son's death26 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 3 right
  8. Jul 10Investigation underway into death of Mississippi 18-year-old who vanished on July 4 boating trip5 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  9. Jul 13– 14‘Nobody would ever hurt Nolan:’ Friend of Nolan Wells speaks out after 18-year-old was found dead5 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  10. Jul 15Nolan Wells’ family, Ben Crump give updates, announce funeral services after meeting with DA’s office5 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  11. Jul 15– 16Attorneys for Nolan Wells’ family agree to joint inspection of teen’s recovered cellphone13 articles · 13 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  12. Jul 19– 24Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells leave key questions unanswered278 articles · 59 independent sources
    13 left, 21 center, 4 right
  13. Jul 202 weeks after a Mississippi football player’s death, many questions loom9 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  14. Jul 22Nolan Wells independent autopsy 'inconclusive' due to missing evidence, attorney says10 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  15. Jul 29Nolan Wells' mother subpoenas social media, tech companies seeking answers in her son's death11 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  16. Jul 30– 31Ben Crump to provide update on Nolan Wells case9 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  17. Jul 30– 31Nolan Wells state autopsy complete: Reports36 articles · 13 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 1 right
  18. Jul 30– 31Nolan Wells family attorney says boat distress call from day he disappeared to be reviewed82 articles · 27 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right

  19. August 2026

    Aug 4– 73 charged with threatening judge, witness and officials in Nolan Wells investigation71 articles · 25 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 0 right
  20. Aug 5– 6Mississippi nursing board closes anonymous complaint against Nolan Wells' mother15 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
  21. Aug 13– 14Nolan Wells’ family, attorneys call for federal review of his case at NABJ convention13 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  22. Aug 14Nolan Wells’ family legal team refutes claims of ‘uncooperative’ behavior in DA investigation3 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  23. Aug 17– 18NAACP joins legal team in death investigation of 18-year-old Nolan Wells4 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  24. Aug 17– 19Nolan Wells’ heartbroken mom shares message to tragic teen on what would’ve been his 19th birthday3 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  25. Aug 19Nolan Wells case: DA promises to present grand jury 'thorough' investigation in latest statement10 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  26. Aug 21– 22Attorneys for Nolan Wells’ friends threaten to sue the Rev. Al Sharpton for defamation19 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right

  27. September 2026

    Sep 17Attorneys demand ‘The View's’ Sunny Hostin retract Nolan Wells comments11 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  28. Sep 22– 25No Indictments, No Definitive Cause: Key Takeaways From the Nolan Wells Grand Jury Report101 articles · 60 independent sources
    13 left, 17 center, 9 right
  29. Sep 22A timeline of Nolan Wells’ disappearance, death and the unfolding investigation2 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  30. Sep 24– 25Ben Crump to release findings from Nolan Wells' cellphone35 articles · 17 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 0 right
  31. Sep 24Nolan Wells' cause and manner of death 'undetermined,' state autopsy report finds9 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  32. Sep 24– 25Nolan Wells pals’ attorney slams allegations of deleted messages: ‘They didn’t do it’3 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right