18岁非裔青年诺兰·韦尔斯在密西西比湾沿岸离奇身亡，其家族律师本·克朗普宣布将于周三上午在全国NAACP大会上公布独立验尸结果 [1]。
韦尔斯于7月4日在霍恩岛附近与朋友外出时失踪 [2]，两天后其遗体在岛屿海岸被发现 [1]。独立验尸由前NFL球员科林·卡佩尼克支付费用 [1][2]。密西西比州医学检验官办公室已进行官方验尸，但尚未公开结果 [1]。
根据独立尸检医生罗伯特·米切尔的报告，韦尔斯的死因被列为"待定" [2]。尸检发现头骨后部有"红色变色"，但被描述为"不确定" [2]。克朗普表示验尸"未发现骨折或深层组织损伤的证据" [2]，但指出"不能排除非意外因素导致或促成死亡" [2]。克朗普还引用目击视频显示韦尔斯曾与某人争执欲要回手机 [2]。
该案围绕多个悬而未决的问题引发全国关注。杰克逊县警长约翰·莱德贝特表示初步调查表明韦尔斯"选择留在岛上" [1]，但未发现犯罪迹象 [2]。民权领导人艾尔·夏普顿在悼词中质疑执法部门为何"在调查前就说没有犯罪" [1]。
针对此案的悬赏金总额为12.5万美元，由夏普顿、泰勒·派瑞和特雷尔·欧文斯共同资助 [1][2]。
An independent autopsy in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells will be released Wednesday morning during the NAACP national convention, according to the family's attorney Ben Crump. [1] Wells disappeared on July 4 during an outing near Horn Island along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and was found dead two days later on the island's shore. [2]
The independent medical examiner, Robert Mitchell, listed the cause of death as "undetermined." [2] Crump stated that the autopsy "showed no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries" but cautioned that "non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death" cannot be ruled out. [2] The examination also identified "red discoloration" at the back of the skull, though this was described as "inconclusive." [2]
Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick funded the independent autopsy. [1][2] A reward of $125,000 has been established to encourage information about the case, with contributions from Rev. Al Sharpton, Tyler Perry, and Terrell Owens. [1] Sharpton separately pledged $100,000 in reward money, with $50,000 sponsored by Tyler Perry. [2]
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated that preliminary interviews indicated Wells chose to remain on the island. [1] The sheriff's office has found no indication of criminal activity. [2] However, Sharpton questioned why "law enforcement said there was no crime before the investigation even started." [1]
Crump referenced witness video showing Wells in a dispute with another person over a phone. [2] The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office conducted an official autopsy whose results have not yet been released. [1]