Special Report: Nolan Wells Independent Autopsy Results Are In

Summary

Special Report: Nolan Wells Independent Autopsy Results Are In

The Breakfast Club – July 22, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: Amy Brown (Front Page), Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump

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Episode Overview

This special edition of The Breakfast Club centers on breaking news regarding the death of 18-year-old college football player Nolan Wells. After weeks of speculation and unanswered questions, the show covers the newly released preliminary findings from an independent autopsy commissioned by Wells’ family. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, alongside forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, presents the report, which raises even more questions about the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Independent Autopsy Findings (02:17–06:39)

• Amy Brown introduces the story, underlining that the independent autopsy has not provided clear answers about Wells’ cause or manner of death, leaving critical questions unanswered.
• Ben Crump reads from Dr. Roger Mitchell’s report:
  • “Cause of death undetermined pending investigation. The manner of death undetermined pending investigation.” (03:07)
• Missing Neck/Throat Tissue:
  • The independent pathologist could not examine Nolan’s throat/neck because it had been removed during the first autopsy. This significantly limits determining if neck injuries were a cause.
  • Crump notes: “He was missing his throat when they received the body and he wants to know why they held it back... he would want to examine it if there were neck fractures or compressions.” (03:37)
• Condition of the Body:
  • Unanswered questions include whether Wells was conscious when he entered the water, and if he was forced or unforced into the water.
• Significant Physical Findings:
  • “This red discoloration in the back of his head is something that was of great concern to him [the pathologist].” (03:37)

2. Inconsistencies and Unanswered Questions (04:34–06:39)

• Clothing Discrepancies:

  • Crump highlights that Wells was found fully clothed, while earlier photos showed him only in swim trunks: “The last time we saw him on the videos he was without a shirt. So at what point did he put on a shirt?... Somebody knows something.” (04:46)

• List of Outstanding Investigative Questions (Crump, 05:11):

  1. What were the circumstances that led Wells to enter the water?
  2. What was his body position when found?
  3. Was water present in the airway?
  4. Any evidence of injuries to the anterior neck structure? (Impossible to tell because the neck was missing at second autopsy.)
  5. Any intracranial hemorrhaging?
  6. What was in his stomach? (How long had he been in the water since his last meal?)
  7. Toxicology report findings.

• Potential for Foul Play:

  • Crump: “For these reasons this pathologist cannot rule out if any intervening non accidental factors contributed to or caused the death of Nolan Wells... he cannot rule out foul play.” (06:18–06:39)

3. Background and Next Steps (06:39–07:32)

• Case Recap by Amy Brown:
  • Nolan Wells disappeared on July 4th after a boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi; his body was found two days later. The investigation is ongoing, with the state autopsy and more forensic evidence pending.
• The family’s request for the independent autopsy stemmed from believing “too many questions remained unanswered.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Crump, on autopsy limitations:
  “He was missing his throat when they received the body... he would want to examine it if there were neck fractures or compressions to the neck and he thinks that's significant to know at autopsy.” (03:37)

• On clothing discrepancy:
  “The last time we saw him on the videos he was without a shirt. So at what point did he put on a shirt?... Somebody knows something. There were almost 300, 400 people. Somebody knows something.” (04:46)

• On open investigative questions:
  “What were the circumstances that led to Nolan Xavier Wells entering the water?... Is there any evidence of injuries to the anterior neck structure? We got the body without his neck at the time of the second autopsy.” (05:11)

• Crump's summary of doubt:
  “For these reasons, this pathologist cannot rule out if any intervening non accidental factors contributed to or caused the death of Nolan Wells... he cannot rule out foul play.” (06:39)

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 02:17–03:37: Amy Brown introduces the independent autopsy details and Ben Crump presents critical findings.
• 03:37–04:34: Discussion on the missing throat in the autopsy, potential signs of trauma, and the red discoloration on the back of the head.
• 04:46–05:05: Clothing inconsistencies and public call for information by Crump.
• 05:11–06:39: Crump outlines key investigative questions and emphasizes inability to rule out foul play.
• 06:39–07:32: Case recap and summary of ongoing investigation by Amy Brown.

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Takeaways

• The independent autopsy commissioned by Nolan Wells’ family raises more questions than answers, particularly because of missing throat tissue and evidence gaps.
• No clear determination yet of cause or manner of death; foul play cannot be ruled out according to Dr. Mitchell and Ben Crump.
• Discrepancies in the clothing and handling of the autopsy fuel further suspicions.
• The investigation remains open and continuing, with both the official state autopsy and additional evidence still pending.

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For continued coverage, follow "The Breakfast Club" and join the community conversation on social media.

Transcript

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[Amy Brown]

I'm Amy Brown, and Today is Wednesday, July 22nd. And this is a special edition of Front Page with new developments and the investigation into the death of 18 year old Nolan Wells after weeks of questions, Nolan Wells family has the first findings from an independent autopsy. But instead of proving clear answers, the report raises new questions about what happened to the 18 year old college football player. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump stood alongside Wells parents Wednesday to release the preliminary findings from an independent autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, president of the National Medical association. According to Dr. Mitchell's report, which attorney Crump presented during today's press conference, investigators still have not determined exactly how Nolan Wells died. Here's part of what Crump had to say.

[Ben Crump]

Cause of death undetermined pending investigation. The manner of death undetermined pending investigation.

[Amy Brown]

The report also raises questions about Nolan's neck. The independent pathologist said he could not rule out injuries to the throat or neck as the cause or contributing factor in Nolan's death because that portion of the autonomy had already been removed during the original autopsy, making it impossible to examine independently.

[Ben Crump]

He was missing his throat when they received the body and he wants to know why they held it back. He's not drawing any conclusions, but he said he would want to examine it if there were neck fractures or compressions to the neck and he thinks that's significant to know at autopsy. The last thing that is significant is what we said before about him, the condition of his body when he went into the water. Was he conscious or unconscious? Was he forced or unforced into the water? He said those things are very significant. But he started off talking about this red discoloration in the back of his head is something that was of great concern to him.

[Amy Brown]

Crump also highlighted another detail from the investigation saying Nolan was reportedly found face down and fully clothed, despite photographs from earlier that day showing him wearing swim trunks.

[Ben Crump]

Well, that's significant to us because the last time we saw him on the videos he was without a shirt. So at what point did he put on a shirt? Somebody saw something. Somebody knows something. There were almost 300, 400 people. Somebody knows something.

[Amy Brown]

The report also identifies several questions investigators say still need answers.

[Ben Crump]

Number one, what were the circumstances that led to Nolan Xavier Wells entering the water? Number two, what was the body position when it was found? Number three, where is there water in the airway? Number four, is there any evidence of injuries to the anterior neck structure? We got the body without his neck at the time of the second autopsy? Number five, is there any evidence of any intracranial hemorrhaging? He said that is going to be very significant things that he could not observe at autopsy that the initial medical examiner would have been able to observe. Number six, what was the composition of the stomach contents? How long had he been in the water? How long had it been since his last meal? All those things become relevant factors. And number seven, what are the toxicology report findings? For these reasons this pathologist cannot rule out if any intervening non accidental factors contributed to or caused the death of Nolan Wells. Understand he's saying based on the examination of the body he cannot rule out foul play.

[Amy Brown]

And as you may remember, Nolan Wells disappeared after a fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi. Others on the trip returned to shore without him. Two days later his body was recovered in the waters near the island. His family commissioned the independent autopsy after saying they believe too many questions remained unanswered. The examination was performed in Washington, D.C. after Wells body was transported there at the family's request. The investigation remains active and officials are still awaiting additional forensic evidence, including the state's official autopsy report, before determining exactly how Nolan Wells died. I'm Amy Brown and this has been a special breaking news edition of Front Page. Follow the podcast for more continuing coverage and let us know your thoughts on today's developments by joining the conversation on social media.

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