Parents of Nolan Wells seek answers at Black journalists' convention

The parents of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who died last month following a boat trip with friends, took their search for answers to the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists in Atlanta on Thursday.

Christine Wonsley described her son as a natural peacemaker and a source of encouragement to everyone around him. "He was the person who, no matter where you were in life, what was going on, he was going to be your biggest cheerleader," she said.

Wells traveled by boat with friends to Horn Island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast on July 4 but did not return with the group. His body was found two days later off the island's coast. He was the only Black person in the group that day.

An independent autopsy commissioned by the family was inconclusive, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The report found no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries, and described a "red discoloration" on the back of Wells' skull as inconclusive. The pathologist listed the cause of death as "undetermined" and said he could not rule out that "non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death."

Wells' parents say the tragedy is marked by conflicting stories and missing details. The day after his body was found, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said Wells' friends were cooperating and investigators did not suspect foul play.

Crump said the family's goal has remained consistent: "to have truth, transparency, and find out what happened to Nolan." He noted that Wells was a college athlete in good shape, and questioned how he could drown without anyone seeing anything, given the hundreds of people on the island.