Nolan Wells update: Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, teen's parents & others to hold presser as calls grow for federal review

Nolan Wells, a teen from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was discovered dead in the water on Horn Island on July 6. He had gone missing the previous day after a boat ride with friends on Independence Day. The search for the teen was halted following the discovery of a body by a park ranger. This incident has sparked calls for a federal investigation into the teen's disappearance and death.

Notable figures like attorney Ben Crump, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, and Nolan Wells' parents are set to hold a press conference on Thursday, August 13, to address these demands. The Congressional Black Caucus has also urged the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an independent review of the case, aiming to ascertain if a separate federal investigation, possibly involving a civil rights inquiry, is necessary.

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on July 7, but the results have not been made public by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Ben Crump noted that the family has yet to view the autopsy report. The results, including toxicology reports, remain undisclosed. An independent autopsy, commissioned by the family, concluded that the cause and manner of death were "undetermined" pending further investigation.

The report indicated that non-accidental factors might have contributed to or caused the death, but this possibility remains unconfirmed.