Ben Crump: Nolan Wells' cause of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

[00:00:00]So, Dr. Roger Mitchell, board certified forensic pathologist, uh, performed a preliminary report on the death of Nolan Xavier Wales. He conducted and and been presented this report on July 19th, 2026.

[00:00:23]Um, preliminary report, second autopsy, death of Nolan Xavier Wales. cause of death undetermined pending investigation.

[00:00:34]And we'll explain that as we go through the report this morning. The manner of death undetermined pending investigation.

[00:00:48]Statement of examination. This forensic pathologist was retained to perform a second autopsy examination on the body of Nolan Xavier Wales.

[00:00:59]Name of deceited Nolan Xavier Wales. Age 18 years old. Race black. Gender male.

[00:01:08]Date of death unknown.

[00:01:13]Second autopsy date was performed on July 10th, 2026.

[00:01:23]Preliminary findings and this is significant focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue of the back of the head. the occipital region. He said the ideology is unknown at this time.

[00:01:48]He said the body was received after the initial autopsy.

[00:01:53]He said the body had marked decompens decompensation.

[00:01:59][sighs] He said corona incision of the scalp, brain removal, Y-shaped incision of the anterior torso.

[00:02:12]And he talked about the organs being removed as is common [screaming] as is common accompanied in the body in the body cavity. And that when you have an autopsy, the organs are removed from the body and they are dissected and examined and then they are put back in a bag with inside the body. So when they're buried, their remains will all be with them. But in this occasion, if there's going to be a second autopsy, then the organs are put in the body cavity so the second pathologist could be able to examine the organs as well. [sighs] Very significant um for Dr. mentioned was that the anterior inner neck structures were absent, not received with the body.

[00:03:16]And we'll explain that in just a minute.

[00:03:21]Um, and then it talks about the additional perform the additional procedures performed during the second autopsy. And we'll go into the paragraphs on that there cuz he explains it better in his narrative. So where's the first page of the discussion? Not the diagram yet. You keep diagram over there.

[00:04:02]So he talks in the preliminary discussion opinion. This forensic pathologist identified several limitations during the second autopsy that create barriers to establishing a definitive cause and manner of death for Nolan Xavier Wales. And and that's important. He talks about the fact that we didn't get to see the body when it was first recovered like the medical examiner working for uh Mississippi would have seen it. He talked about the second autopsy performed on Nolan Wales revealed mark decompensation or changes.

[00:04:50]Mark decompensation can obscure the presence and absence of bruising on the skin surface, especially during a second autopsy examination. What he's saying because the body was so decomposed that you couldn't tell if there was bruises or abrasions on the body when he received it um on the 10th of July.

[00:05:21]>> [snorts] >> For these reasons, additional dissection procedures not performed during the first autopsy examination were performed to rule out potential blunt force injuries responsible for the death. These procedures included facial dissection, posterior head and neck dissection, dissection of the ribs, the pelvic dissection of the subcutaneous and deep soft tissue. Dissection of the back, the buttocks, the arms and legs deep. He did all of this to rule out things. He ruled out there were no fractures or deep tissue injuries identified. This was very important because he wanted to be very thorough and very transparent because transparency is the key to getting to the answers of why Nolan Wells is not with us.

[00:06:30]So he did that there and was very straightforward, very open, very open.

[00:06:43]He says, "However, dissection of the back of the head during the layered posterior neck dissection revealed a 12x 8 in focal area, a rare discoloration in the deep soft tissues overlaying the oipital bone."

[00:07:09]And he talked about how he found red discoloration when he cut open into the back of his head towards those oipital bone and he saw the red discoloration and we actually saw the pictures of it.

[00:07:36]It's significant. you you can't help but notice why is this dark red here in the back of his head. And so he was important to note that in his report.

[00:07:55]He said that ideology of this finding is unclear.

[00:08:03]There are no lacerations of the overland skin nor fractures of the underlying skull.

[00:08:12]These findings are inconclusive for permortal injury due to the body due to both the extensive decomposition and the absence of associated injuries.

[00:08:29]This finding, however, is significant enough to be highlighted in this preliminary report for further investigation.

[00:08:43]It is important to reiterate that the finding could not have been observed in the first autopsy because the posterior head and neck dissection were not performed.

[00:09:04]He said another limitation move back here. Another limitation faced by this forensic pathologist was the absence of the anterior internal neck structures.

[00:09:18]The trachea and the laryng cartilage, the thyroid horn and the hyoid bone were not received with the body.

[00:09:32]So he's saying that the throat was not received with the body when he got Nolan Wells body in Washington DC to perform the second autopsy.

[00:09:50]And so let's discuss that with what he said about that.

[00:09:58]He said it is assumed that the initial pathologist retained these structures for additional evaluation.

[00:10:07]He said the retention of the anterior neck structures during an initial autopsy is a common forensic pathology practice. He was chief medical examiner for 7 years in Washington DC and he said that if they had concern about throat or any fracture or compression of the throat they tooth would hold them back.

[00:10:32]He doesn't know why they held the throat back but he said the throat was not with the body of Nolan Wales when he received it in Washington DC to perform the second autopsy.

[00:10:47]He said, "Nevertheless, a posterior neck dissection performed without review of the anterior neck structures is incomplete.

[00:11:00]Therefore, this pathologist cannot rule out injury to the neck as a contributing a contributor or a cause of death." He said he would need to have the medical examiner in Mississippi allow him to review the throat. That's why he said his autopsy is undetermined pending investigation. Remember, it's about transparency.

[00:11:33]Because the initial autopsy rightfully removed and dissected each organ, there are additional limitations inherent in the second autopsy of Nolan Wales. The most significant of the limitations was the inability to directly observe the airway and the lungs for water and directly observe the stomach for gastric contents.

[00:12:04]He said it is very significant [sighs] as to what the initial forensic scientists who got to review the body when it was recovered.

[00:12:21]We have heard from my call center people saying the body wasn't water logged.

[00:12:27]Well, we need to know those things. But unfortunately because the body was decomposed and the organs have already been dissected, those are things we can only get from the initial autopsy. So therefore, again, the manner and cause of death is undetermined until further investigation. We are hopeful that the Mississippi Medical Examiner would give Dr. dementia a opportunity to see their photographs and their observations to the condition of Nolan Wells body closer in time to July 4th. That is very important and we have to continue to demand transparency. President Johnson.

[00:13:21][applause] In addition, the original toxicology results have not been received at the time of this report and we continue to wait for the toxicology to come back because again that will be part of the investigation into a Nolan Wells autopsy by Dr. Mitch. It is significant to note that it's many things that go into toxicology that only Dr. Mitch would be able to appine and apply and medical experts can apply and he feels the proper place to do that is before a grand jury in a courtroom. And so we would hope that the district attorney would present Dr. Mitchell before the grand jury as well.

[00:14:27][applause] We want all relevant information to be heard by the grand jury. [sighs] Lastly, in cases where a death has occurred in or around a body of water this this is important.

[00:15:01]Lastly, in cases where a death has occurred in or around a body of water with suspicion of drowning, [sighs] it is important to confirm how that person entered the water.

[00:15:20]This is the crux of the matter.

[00:15:24]This information is especially important for those deaths of persons who can swim.

[00:15:34]As in the case with Nolan Wales at the time of this report, this forensic pathologist does not know the condition of Nolan Wales.

[00:15:48]He did not know whether he was conscious or unconscious when he entered the water.

[00:15:57]He said that would be significant.

[00:16:00]He said he did not know whether he was forced into the water or unforced into the water. He said that would be significant.

[00:16:12]So he said the condition of Nolan Wells before he entered the water would be the crux of the matter. It would be of utmost importance to being able to determine a cause and manner of death.

[00:16:31]He said definitive circumstances of death are required to determine the manner of death.

[00:16:42]For these reasons, this pathologist cannot rule out and let me really call your attention to this. For these reasons, this pathologist cannot rule out if any intervening nonacal factors contributed to or caused the death of Nolan Wales.

[00:17:13]Understand?

[00:17:15]He said based on the examination of the body, he cannot rule out foul play. That is significant.

[00:17:26]with the following questions still outstanding.

[00:17:31]Number one, what were the circumstances that led to Nolan Xavier Wales entering the water?

[00:17:40]Number two, what was the body position when it was found? We know that a member of the United Cajun Navy said that he was spaced down and he was fully clothed.

[00:17:57]Number three, where's there water in the airway? [sighs] Remember he talked about the lungs and the airways where they filled with water.

[00:18:11]Number four, is there any evidence of injuries to the anterior neck structure?

[00:18:19]We got the autopsy without his neck. We got the body without his neck at the time of the second autopsy.

[00:18:28]Number five, is there any evidence of any inner cranial hemorrhaging?

[00:18:36]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.

[00:18:48]Number six was the composition of the what was the composition of the stomach contents? He talks about that being important because when was he found? How long had he been in the water? How long had it been since his last meal? All those things become relevant factors when you're trying to do a thorough and impartial autopsy.

[00:19:19]And number seven, what was what are the toxicology report findings?

[00:19:27]He said the best classification again for the cause and manner of death for Nolan Xavier Wales is undetermined pending investigation.

[00:19:38]This forensic pathologist reserves the right to review and incorporate additional forensic pathology information into his opinion as it becomes available. He says, "The above opinions are expressed to a reasonable degree of medical certainty." Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, July 19th, 2026.

[00:20:09]And we know that, as I said, this is only another part of the puzzle.

[00:20:16]And even though it tells us significant information, we still have more questions than we have answers at this time. And we will continue to press forward and persist Christine and Elmore with getting the answers to these questions because as you Yes. [applause] We will persist, persist, persist because as Christine and Elmore and Attorney Park and I talked this morning, we know that there are so many conflicting stories.

[00:21:04]The fact that she said him being found face down. The fact that we have other videos where people who have called said that is Nolan who is in some kind of uh dispute with others.

[00:21:25]We're looking at all of these things. is the fact that the GPS tracking of the boat is being questioned by many.

[00:21:36]We are trying to dot every eye and cross every tea because we understand that when our children lives are at stake, it matters. not just what happened, but what we do >> in the aftermath of them being taken away from us. And just like the NAACP stood up when another tragedy in Mississippi taking the life of young Emit Thiel, >> we will stand up for Nolan Wales.

[00:22:14][applause] Just like the NAACP and civil rights leaders stood up >> when another Mississippi sign was taken in Mega Evers.

[00:22:32]>> We will stand up for Nola Wales.

[00:22:37][applause] >> And just like too many of our young people, Trayvon Martin Yes.

[00:22:46]>> Michael Brown, >> Bana Taylor, >> Ahmad Aubrey, >> botham Jean, >> Terrence Crutcher, >> Stefan Clark, >> Sandra Bland, >> Ariana Jefferson, >> Sterling, Alton Sterling, >> Eric Gardner, George Floyd, the >> Tamir Rice, the young people >> who I was trying to focus on Gary. We stand up until we get the truth. Until we get justice for Nolan Wales. Justice for Nolan Wales. Justice for Nolan Wales. Justice for Nan Wales.

[00:23:37]Justice for Nan Wales. Justice for Northern Wales.

[00:23:55]We will ask if Christine and Elmore and President Johnson can jump come back and join us on the stage. And Traval, we will have you coordinate questions and answers for us or President Johnson or Attorney Park and I. I will say this as President Johnson comes to the stage. I was sharing this with him and Chairman Russell Christine Clark. Um God knows we wish we had you at the Department of Justice.

[00:24:25]>> [applause] >> Christine Clark, as I was sharing with President Johnson and um Reverend Al and others, this is so important that we continue to talk about Nolan Wales and what happened to him and that we get attention on him because in getting attention on him, it brings attention, Cliff Jones, to other cases that are not getting their attention as of yet. But I'm so grateful to Christine and Elmo because they said whatever we can do, not only to help our son, but to help these other young black boys who was killed uh November, the July 4th holiday.

[00:25:14]And and I want to take a moment before we answer your questions to talk about two other young black men, both 18 years old, who were killed in extraordinary ways that are very similar to Nolan.

[00:25:36]President Johnson, 18year-old Daniel Irvvin went on a fishing trip uh out on a fishing boat with two other young men.

[00:25:51]He was the only black.

[00:25:55]It is alleged that he end up accidentally drowning, >> but his two white friends, >> got his cell phone and threw it away, >> got his clothes and threw it away and then went and deleted all of their text messages with him and social media.

[00:26:21]Sounds familiar?

[00:26:26]and they've only been charged with tampering with evidence.

[00:26:31]And his mother is crying out that they should be charged with murder because if they will lie about his cell phone and his clothes and deleted messages, then they will lie about what really happened to Daniel.

[00:26:48][applause] And then there's the matter of President Johnson Christine Clark of 18-year-old Sterling Smith. I'm sorry, Tyler Smith.

[00:27:06]Tyler Smith on 4th of July was at a house party with about 10 other people. He was on the only black person at the house.

[00:27:23]He somehow ends up shot in the head.

[00:27:29]>> Dead.

[00:27:33]>> Some of the friends get rid of the gun.

[00:27:38]>> The police show up. They tell the police it was a accident. It was an accidental shooting. THAT THEY WERE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE.

[00:27:52]and Tyler Smith end up getting killed.

[00:27:58]And apparently Christine Clark, President Johnson, the police JUST TOOK THEIR WORD FOR IT.

[00:28:06]His mother and grandmother ARE IN SENSE.

[00:28:11]THEY ASKED THE POLICE, "DID YOU DO A GUNSHOT RESIDUE TEST on his hands?

[00:28:21]And the reason they said they had to call us like Daniel Urban's and Noah Nolan Wells family because the police told them, President Johnson, that there was no need to do gunshot residue on his hands or any of the other people in the house because I don't understand this logic, but they said if we they were playing Russian roulette then all of them would have gunshot residue on their hands so we don't need to do gunshot residue test.

[00:29:04]>> IT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.

[00:29:07]SO THEY are taking the word of these 10 people that your son just killed himself and you DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DOING any investigation or testing forensically anything. JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. NOW, CAN YOU IMAGINE IN ANY THREE OF THESE SCENARIOS HAD THE SURVIVORS BEEN YOUNG BLACK MEN AND THEY WERE WITH A YOUNG WHITE MAN AND HE ENDED UP DEAD? WHAT KIND OF INVESTIGATION WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN? WHAT KIND OF INTERROGATION WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN? WOULD THEY HAVE EVER BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY UNTIL THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED? BUT JUST LIKE YOU WOULD DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN, WE WANT YOU TO DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION for our children.

[00:30:09][applause] [cheering] We don't want ANYTHING SPECIAL. WE DON'T WANT EQUAL JUSTICE.

[00:30:19]EQUAL JUSTICE. [applause] And so with that, I'll turn it over to Travon to lead us in the final session.

[00:30:28]>> We have a few questions. We have my colleagues on either side with microphones. Please announce your name and your media outlet if you have any questions. We're going to be quick because we have other programming going on in real time. We'll go here first.

[00:30:42]>> Oh, thank you. Hi everybody. Samantha Chapman, ABC7 Chicago. um you just unveiled a comprehensive um outline of the independent report. Can you summarize for our viewers because there's a lot to take in, a lot of information. So in summary, can you uh succinctly tell us what we can take away from this report and also if you can provide more details about the neck?

[00:31:07]>> I heard a lot of people behind me gasping when that detail was mentioned.

[00:31:11]Yeah, let let me try to be very comprehensive. Um, as Dr. Dr. Roger Mitchell said that the focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue soft tissue of the back of the head the obsipa region is significant because he cannot determine why you have that red discoloration in the back of his brain. That's significant. He also talked about Mr. Williams if you could just the fact that as it's common practice 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 uh neck fractures or compressions to the neck. And he thinks that's significant to know at autopsy.

[00:32:21]The reason he says he would hold it back when he was medical examiner because he thought that there may have been some issues with neck fractures. The last thing that is significant is what we said before about him, the condition of his body when he went into the water.

[00:32:43]Was he conscious or unconscious? Was he forced or unforced into the water? He said those things are very significant.

[00:32:53]But he started off talking about this red discoloration in the back of his head is something that was of great concern to him. Thank you.

[00:33:07]>> We'll go here.

[00:33:11]>> Daryl Dart with Chicago speaks on V103.

[00:33:15]What specifically are you calling for from Mississippi authorities in terms of transparency, but more importantly investigations?

[00:33:30]We we and I I I know President Johnson uh is in the from the state of Mississippi and um the Mississippi Conference President is here. They're calling, as we are, for a fair, impartial, comprehensive investigation.

[00:33:53]When Nolan's parents heard the sheriff say, "There's no foul play at the beginning of the investigation." That is cause for concern.

[00:34:07]>> Major concern. you haven't even investigated, but you're saying no foul play. And so we want them to dot every eye and cross every tea. You know, we we had a meeting with the district attorney and we we expressed to them about our lived experiences.

[00:34:25]Our lived experiences, the fact and you know, they they said that's not what happens in her office. But we said we believe if the roles were reversed And there were three young black 18 year olds and there was a white 18-year-old who was with them and he ended up dead.

[00:34:52]We don't believe that those young black men would not have been interrogated to the full extent of the law. We believe that it would not have been a choice whether they were going to cooperate with law enforcement if their lawyers and them were going to cooperate. No.

[00:35:12]No. They would have been held until they gave answers. They would have been held until they explained the cell phone in their possession. They would have been held until their cell phones have been examined. AND SO WHATEVER YOU WOULD DO >> had the roles been reversed, we want you to do the same thing for no way.

[00:35:37][applause]