HOT TOPICS | BREAKING: Nolan Wells Autopsy Results Released!

Good morning, everybody.Welcome to an early version of Hot Topics.We're going to be on today because we are expecting the preliminary autopsy results to be released.As you know, or may not know, Ben Crump, who's the attorney for the family, put out a press release yesterday saying that they were going to release the autopsy findings.There it is right there.Read it to you real quick.

But I want to tell you, make sure you hit the like and the thumbs up.Right now it does affect the algorithm.More people become aware of our conversation and our channel, and that's very important to the health of this channel and community.Good morning to you, Spa Radiant.Good morning, TJ Walker.I remember that show, TJ Walker.

Let me know where you're streaming from.So Ben Crump to announce preliminary findings from independent autopsy on death of Nolan Wells, and also the NAACP adopts a resolution calling for an in -depth, transparent investigation.The nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney, Ben Crump.It says we'll join the family of Nolan Xavier Wells, uh, at a news conference on Wednesday, which is today at the 117th NAACP national convention.Crump will announce the preliminary findings of an independent autopsy conducted on behalf of the family.And we know it's Nolan Wells, 18 years old.

And so, uh, we can show there's a feed that's up right now that you'll see, uh, Uh, that's going to go and there it is in double ACP press conference.It's going to happen momentarily.And today, yeah, today is the 22nd.And so we're, um, awaiting that.So again, uh, make sure you hit the like and thumbs up.Uh, and we're waiting for this just like you are grateful.

rising everyone.That's what Jamie says or I am.Gee, I don't know.I can't read these names.My eyesight is not that good anymore.Um, so grand rising to everyone.

We're on a little bit early, so we're going to go straight through.And, uh, as, as the thing says, breaking awaiting Nolan Wells autopsy results.So they said it was going to be at nine o 'clock.central time, excuse me, eight o 'clock central time, correct team.And then yes, which is nine o 'clock Eastern.But as you know, these things are not like clockwork.

And so we'll tell you about some of the things that we have learned yesterday.A couple of breaking news things happened yesterday that we are still following up on.And that was a video that they believe is is the last image or the last images of Nolan Wells and that he was on the back of a boat on Horn Island on the 4th of July and they said it was this video was taken around 2 .23 in the afternoon according to the metadata.And again, that's the last images they believe of Nolan Wells.And so we shall see they're still investigating it according to TMZ that video if you have the video put it up and if not just pull put me up for so we have TMZ we spoke to them yesterday.That's this is a that's the still shot of it.

There's the video.And so that should be helpful in the investigation.Perhaps Ben Crump today in his press conference will discuss that.We'll talk about what this video means, if that is indeed Nolan Wells.I know that this is in the hands of law enforcement already.Charles from TMZ said, according to their reporting, that the investigators have this tape and they're trying to figure out if it's him and perhaps that'll help with the timeline.

But, you know, for them, look, you know, folks are asking why are they releasing this?Why didn't they just release it already and they're waiting for so long?What does it indicate that they are taking so long?to do it, and then pause it right there, Andy.One is that the convention is this week.As a matter of fact, I was supposed to be there this week, but my family is in town and so I couldn't make it, I had a family obligation.

I was supposed to be there right now, finishing up a panel.So we'll see.I mean, this is a huge convention.It's the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP, which is a renowned civil rights and human rights organization.And so this, if you pull it up, I don't know if you can make it a little bit bigger, Andy, but if you pull into that picture right there on the back of that boat, see there's a young, there's a person bending over.appears to be a black man in the swimsuit that looks like the swimsuit that's on the boat, the picture of him on the boat with the white kids.

And he is getting a drink or doing something.They said it looks like he's in a cooler getting a drink, but we don't know what he said.I don't know what he's doing.I don't see a cooler, but sometimes those coolers are built in.I think they're built into the back of the boat, right?So there it is.

And it looks like the same swimsuit in that photograph that we'll get.There it is right there, that photograph.And so that should hopefully, provide them with some information.Now, so the question has been why are they doing it this way sort of piecemeal or making it this, you know, big announcement instead of announcing it.You know, if you speak to attorneys, they have differenttakes on this.

Either there is maybe the toxicology report, you know, we'll see there's something that they may want to get ahead of, or it doesn't really provide much to help advance the story of what happened to him.Good morning.So here is the press conference.

We'll get started with the press conference in roughly two minutes.If everyone can take their seats, we'll get ready to get started in roughly two minutes.Thank you.

Okay, two minutes for the press conference.We're at the two minute mark, so 9 .17 or 8 .17 there.So it should be, you know, there'll be about 20 minutes late, which for us is unusual because we're always on time.When we're not on time, we're usually getting our stuff together for you.Either we have a technical issue or something that we have prepared, the news has changed and it's breaking.And that's the beauty.

And I don't know, and some of the, I don't know if you want to call it, it's not really a curse, but the hindrances of doing a live show, which I think there's more positive than not, is that if the news changes, we have to like do it right away, especially if it's before we go on, we got to make sure that we have all the elements and everything ready.And all the folks who are going to talk to us and all the experts, um, who are going to discuss what's happening in a moment, I'm going to bring in a doctor here who can explain to us, um, sort of what this means.And it's going to listen to this press conference.Um, and that doctor is, let me get sure that I'm in the right thing.here.That doctor is Dr. Freda Fisher.

And she is a friend of the show.And she has expertise in what is it necropsy, Dr. Fisher, let's put her up.Dr. Frida.See, I forget what your expertise is.And I should have had everything in front of me.But basically, she's an expert in everything.

Good morning, Dr. Good morning.I want to know.I'm doing okay.I want to know when they say preliminary, what does that mean?What are we looking at here?

That means on the initial examining of the body, looking at the gross findings, meeting the findings that you can see pretty largely, you're able to make an early determination of what likely causes of death are.However.The final autopsy is not able to be presented until you've done everything, including toxicology, seeing if there are any drugs, looking for evidence on the most microscopic of levels.Sometimes testing will take weeks or months before you can get the final.And so you'll note that when Lindsey Graham passed away, they gave us a preliminary autopsy report.The medical examiner did from D .

C.really quickly.within 24 hours, I believe, and usually within 24, 48 hours, they can give you something preliminary.And when there's something obvious, like with what Lindsey Graham had, an aortic dissection, that huge artery, the largest artery in your body, they're able to say, but still they're going to look at toxicology.And so sometime down the road, we'll get a final result.So we're getting what's preliminary, but what it means is that results could change or new information could add to the evidence to help to really understand the true cause of death in Nolan Wells.

What's what took so long with this one?Because you said with Lindsey Graham, it was within 24 hours.Why is this one taking so long?And I can only speculate.

I can only speculate.However, you know, we're, we're getting from my understanding, the independent autopsy, meaning already, the people who had the body first, the Mississippimedical examiners, they've already had weeks, at least since July 6.And so in a standard situation, they already would have had a preliminary result.And so while I don't know the facts of why it's taking so long, I can only imagine that there's something outside of the medical examiner's control, because very likely early on, they have something preliminary.And so be it on political legal reasons, having something to hide, I don't know, I can only speculate, I can say it's not normal for a preliminary result not to be back after what two weeks.

And as far as I know, the the authorities in Mississippi are saying, as they're about to get started here.They're saying that they believe it's accidental, but they have not really released any of their autopsy results.Correct.I have not heard any.

I have not heard any.And I've been checking right up to the minute.So popping on here.And it was really something because you'll recall even that that officer led better already said that things appeared to be accidental very soon after no one's body was found.He said, Yeah, from from our understanding, he chose to stay on the island.without his phone.

And so it sounds like they had made, at least some people from the ones who presented, that they had made some conclusions well before having any data whatsoever, which is concerning, which is concerning to make such a statement.It seems accidental before we had any facts of the case or any autopsy.But even in listening to someone who was on a show who's with the Cajun Navy, there was someone, what's his name?Oh, gosh.Someone who's with him saying that he looked like it could be accidental.I'm hearing that, but I'm waiting to see some evidence to deal with facts.

You mean someone with the Cajun Navy?Is that what you're saying?

Yes.And he was actually on Nancy Grace a day ago.

Yeah, I know.We had we interviewed one person.Yeah, and there's another person who's with the Cajun Navy as well.Look, I think the family has said all along, and we've said this as well, whatever it is, it is what it is.But the family deserves transparency.And I think the American people deserve to hear from the public servants about what happened because this is News is about the public interest.

And if you're a public servant, then I think you serve the public and also obviously you serve the family and the victim and everyone in the investigation.

So yeah, Tara was Tara was your Navy saying that, you know, we don't know, it seems like it's accidental.It's not.uncommon for people to go on the island with one group and then leave one another he's like that's not uncommon, but of course, he got pushed back saying, but it is, but is it uncommon to leave your phone away from you, you know, so I just.

That is uncommon.Yeah, so many unanswered questions.Hey, Andy, if you can put up the you know, the freeze version of that photo as we wait.And I know look, doctor, you deal with this.I deal with this.I was a lifeguard.

You know, I have a very healthy respect for water.I love the water, but I have a very healthy respect for water.I do not like to be intoxicated or even tipsy when I'm on the water.And if you look at that photograph there, right or this freeze frame, just let it stay there.I don't like these situations.Right.

And I'm out of the water.I've been on boats since I was a kid, I have a boat, I just, you know, maybe if there's a friend, a friend group, and maybe we have tie up, you know, our two boats together.But when you get past like two boats, and you get past like, six, seven people, I'm like, Hmm, this is too many people to keep an eye on.And, you know, the drinking and whatever, because in a

in an instant on the water things can turn tragic absolutely and i'm sure you see drownings all the time in your profession absolutely and unfortunately we know that young black people are disproportionately affected by drowning deaths but even adults we don't recommend certainly that adults are you know drinking while they're on the water and so once you get a group of of kids essentially even if they're young adults they're they're less than 25, their frontal lobes haven't developed, their decision making, their risk, their impulse control is going to be down.And so there's so many factors that could have happened.And, you know, and as Nolan's parents have said, they just want the truth.They want honesty.I've heard people say, you know, you guys were saying it's raised and what if you're wrong?What if you're wrong?

We didn't say that.Nobody said that.

We just want answers.

But we did say that race is an issue in this country, obviously in Mississippi.Look at the history.If you want to know something, just look at the history of it.And that's why people were suspicious and curious.That is why that this, this whole story.Um, has gotten so much attention is because that's the first thing that people said socially, that was the public interest in this story.

Initially, they thought he was the only black guy with white, you know, with a whole bunch of white friends.And he was not the only one, but there were a few.It's mostly, this is mostly a white gathering, right?And so when you see this picture, people have had their opinions about it.And that's what we have been reporting on.Um, the thing is, I would, Eddie glad now, glad.

And I were talking recently and I forget who it is.It says, um, everything in America is not about race, but everything in America is about race.Um, and let's listen to this press conference now, NAACP 117th convention, and they're about to announce Ben Crump.And there you see Derek Johnson, who is the president of the NAACP, standing with the glasses on.

Good morning.

You see the mom, Christine.

My name is Trevon Williams, senior vice president of marketing communications with the NAACP.We are here because a demand was made, a demand for transparency, a demand for answers, and a demand for ultimate justice on behalf of Nolan Wells.And that demand must be honored.For that, we are honored to pause even for a moment to respond accordingly here at our national convention.Momentarily, you will hear from renowned civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who will provide updates on the findings of the independent autopsy that was conducted in the death of Nolan Wells.Immediately following that, we will take questions from credentialed media.

We will attempt to answer as many questions as we can.However, we want to be respectful of the fact that we do have additional programming that is going on to conclude our convention today as well.So we're asking that all press and media, if you're asking questions, please be concise.Give your name, give your media credential, and we'll go from there.But before he comes, we will have the leader of the NAACP, President Derrick Johnson, to give opening remarks.President Johnson.

Good morning.Good morning.Far too often, our young people are confronted with challenges.And many jurisdictions and states don't take those challenges serious.We cannot allow another individual, particularly a young black man's death, go uninvestigated.We have seen this happen over the years, not only in Mississippi, but across the country.

It is unfortunate that our young people only seek to enjoy life.and as a result of participating in activities no longer have life.For the NAACP, we take this and many other cases serious because every person matters.I want to thank the Mississippi State Conference, particularly Aletra Perryman for working with the family and supporting the family on the onset.because it's difficult to lose a loved one is even more difficult to navigate a process when all eyes are on you and the pressure of balancing between grieving and navigating is upon you.And so for the ACP family, this is our role is to step in to support when families have an issue like this and the local officials seem not to hold people accountable.

It's unfortunate when you see news reports and law enforcement officials are repeating what individuals are saying as opposed to investigate the individuals who gave you the information because you don't know who was involved or not involved.And so narrative matters in this case.And we're saying that in in Northern Wales situation, the narrative should not be it was an accident before there was an investigation.The narrative should not be the words of individuals who went on a boat to the island with him, but they came without him, but with his cell phone, and you don't investigate those individuals.We're not accusing anyone of anything other than the state of Mississippi and local officials.We're accusing them of being derelict in their duties.

to follow up and to ensure that regardless of what happened, that there was the proper investigation so that this family and that community could be assured that if anyone was involved, they will be held accountable.And if it was truly an accident, that the families will have the necessary answers that any family deserve in this situation.I want to bring to the podium Attorney Benjamin Crump, a friend of mine who have stepped in to take the case and in support of the family to ensure that they get the answers that they deserve and that local officials and anyone involved will be held accountable to this family, to that system, because we are all parents, siblings to loved ones who should not be confronted with this reality.Attorney Crump.

Thank you very much.President Derrick Johnson, for your leadership, for the leadership of the Mississippi Conference of NAACP, and being there during the Homegoing Services to help the family go through what no parents want to go through.Thank you to Chairman Leon Russell, my longtime mentor from Florida, who helped raise so many of us.Thank you for always being there, Chairman Russell.As President Johnson said, I'm Attorney Ben Crump representing the family of Nolan Wells, but it's not just me.It is a team effort of incredible, dedicated lawyers and investigators and paralegals.

Attorney Lisa Park, attorney who you'll hear from in a few minutes, attorney Eric Hertz, attorney Gary Buchan, attorney Camila Moore, Cliff Jones, Jared Preston, Allen Williams, a whole team of people who are committed, as I said, President Johnson, on this ferocious search for the truth of what really happened to Nolan Wells.But before we begin to discuss the intricacies, the preliminary findings, the independent autopsy, we think it would be appropriate for you all to hear from the people who knew Nolan Wells best, so they can thank you themselves and tell you about the trials and tribulations that they have been enduring since July 4th.July 4th would never be the same for them.I bring to the podium Nolan Wells' mother and father, Christine and Elmore.Please give them a warm NAACP welcome.

First of all, I want to saythank you all so much.Thank you to President Johnson as well as Chairman Russell.This has been a difficult journey.Losing a child, it truly breaks your heart.It is a pain that is just, you can't measure it.

especially someone like Nolan who brought so much joy and light and life to everyone.You don't find too many genuine people like him.So to lose that light at such a young age under these circumstances has been absolutely difficult, which is why we've gone this route.There's so many people out in the public asking all of these questions.But the only question that we have is what happened to our son.That is the only question.

We have consistently been degraded by the public.There's been questions about our parenting, our GoFundMe, this, that and other.I've been called a racist.I am a health care provider and I take my job very seriously.I love everyone.And it's just, it's been difficult for us, but we are leaning into our faith, leaning into one another, also leaning into all of you.

There are not enough thank yous, not enough appreciation for what you guys have done for us.And we do, we love you from the bottom of our heart.Thank you.And so it is our hope thatlocal authorities will do what they need to do because us having the preliminary autopsy results and hearing nothing from them, it's heartbreaking and it's concerning, which again is why we are here, why we have asked for this help.So again, thank you all so much for your support.

We appreciate you, we really do.

Every day I wake up, It's a new challenge.Knowing that a part of me I will never talk to, I will never hold, I will never play around with or get mad at is not here anymore.Nolan brought a lot of joy to our family.He was the most, he was the wittiest one out of everyone.The clown.He loved to put in the work because he wanted to be the best.

He wanted to make me and his mother proud and we were so proud of him just for Being the person that he was, he was loving.All his teachers knew him, but loved him.He walks in the room, his aura, you're automatically drawn to it.Never met an enemy, and if there were, they would eventually be friends, because they would eventually bond.It's going to be hard.He should be at football practice right now.

Calling me out to practice.Dad, I made this player, I made that player.I get a text with three or four videos of him doing this, making, running this route, making this block.And what you think, what you think I should do.And I will give my honest, because I always tell them, if anyone is going to be totally honest with you, it's going to be me.And it's not because I'm being mean, but people outside your family are going to tell you what you want to hear.

I'm going to tell you what you need to know to make you better.Um, it's going to be hard for our family from from here on out.Um, like I said, every day is a challenge.We're going to miss our son.And like my wife said, we just want honesty.We want to know what happened to our son, because the things that you're telling us, that's not the character of our son.

We know our son.I understand, you know, our children would do things that, you know, they were kind of dumbfounded sometimes, but the things that we're being told, there wasn't no.So please keep us in your prayers.Keep them in your prayers.and we're gonna keep pushing and fighting until we find answers.Thank you guys for your love and support.

Thank you so much, Christine and Nolan.I have Christine and Elmore, Nolan's mother and father.Before we start to go over the preliminary findings from the independent autopsy, we will hear from attorney Lisa Park to tell you about who was the forensic pathologistwho conducted the autopsy.Attorney Lisa Park.

Thank you.Dr. Roger Mitchell could not join us today, but we felt it important before we reveal and unfold this report that you understand who conducted this autopsy.Dr. Roger Mitchell is a physician and board certified forensic pathologist.with two decades of experience.He currently serves as the President of the National Medical Association, which is the oldest and largest group of Black physicians in the U .S.

Most recently, he also served as President of Howard University Hospital, Chief Medical Officer of the Howard University Faculty Practice Plan, and Chair of the Department of Pathology.Before joining Howard, he served as Chief Medical Examiner for Washington, D .C.from 2014 to 2021, and is later as Interim Deputy Mayor for the Public Safety and Justice.Dr. Mitchell has conducted and managed thousands of autopsies and is nationally recognized for his work at the intersection of medicine, public health, and justice.And for this case, we sought out the very best and we are proud to be working with the very best.

best.eight in the morning this, I mean if people could see how many people are gathered here, they would say you all are truly blessed to have the support of America, Christine and Elmore.And I want to thank the media for covering this matter because they don't always cover when our children are taken away from us in highly unquestionable ways.And I do understand there's a lot of news going on in America today.And I woke up to them saying LeBron James is going to announce where he's going to play basketball next year.Very happy that the media said this story is just as important as just as important.

and I'm sure LeBron James and Rich Paul and you know Stephon Carey and Draymond Green, Jalen Brown, Embiid, Maxie, Giannis, Bam and many other players in the National Basketball Association will all agree that our children's lives are far more important than where lebron or any other player will play next year and so that's why i thank you all for being here because this news is as important as any news in the united states of america finding out why is nolan wells dead and i want to thank you all who have called the call center.I want to thank Reverend Al Sharpton.I want to thank Mr Tyler Perry.I want to thank Mr Terry Owens for putting up the $125 ,000 reward for anybody out there who have information So we can get to the truth of what happened I mean any videos and we've gotten so many videos President Johnson from that day from young peopleand we want them to have the courage to come forward with the pictures.What you heard, I know people say there were a lot of disturbances out there.

Some believe it involved Nolan.All of those things are important to get to the truth of what happened.The fact, yeah, the fact, Christine, that the United Cajun Navy, are so forthcoming.The fact that they told us, we haven't heard from any of their local officials, that Nolan was found face down, fully clothed.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.So Scott X, we're, we're trying to just make sure people understand that you can call the Nolan Wells tip line.Uh, at bencrump .

com.We will gladly listen to you take any information as we try to put together this puzzle of what happened to Nolan Wells and today we're gonna add some more parts to this puzzle because my legal team and I we stand for truth no matter who it implicates or who it exonerates.We stand for justice no matter who it convictsit acquits.We stand for transparency, because we got eyes that can see.And we don't need government officials having to narrate it for you and me.

We can see it for ourselves.Transparency, that leads to the truth.The truth is the foundation for accountability and justice.And that's all we're seeking, as Christine and Elmore said, from day one.So with that, and Christine and Elmore, if you all want to sit, we're about to go through this autopsy.And I know it may be a little emotional.

Thank you.You're welcome to stay.As we begin to present the preliminary findings of the autopsy, we want to especially thank Mr. Colin Kaepernick for not thinking it robbery.To pay for the autopsy.Let's go with the first one.So where's the real one and autopsy will be provided?

Um for the media press at bencrump .com and so mr. Jones keep that I don't need this one.I just need this one here So put this up.So dr. Roger mitchell board certified forensic pathologist, uh performed a preliminary report on the death of nolan Xavier wells, he conducted and presented this report on july 19th 2026.Preliminary report second autopsy death of Nolan Xavier Wells.Cause of death undetermined pending investigation and we'll explain that as we go through the report this morning.

The manner of death undetermined pending investigation.Statement of examination this forensic pathologist was retained to perform a second autopsy examination on the body of Nolan Xavier Wells.Name of decedent, Nolan Xavier Wells, age 18 years old, race black, gender male, date of death unknown.Second autopsy date was performed on July 10th, 2026.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.

He said the body was received after the initial autopsy.He said the body had marked decompensate cup decompensation.He said Corona incision of the scalp, brain removal, Y shape incision of the anterior torso.And he talked about the organs being removed as it's common as it's common.company 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're put back in a bag with inside the bodySo 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.Very significant for Dr. Mitchell was that the anterior inner neck structures were absent Not received with the body and we'll explain that in just a minute 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 because he explains it better in his narrative.So where's the first?page of the discussion not the diagram yet you can keep diagram over there he talks in the preliminary discussion opinion this forensic pathologist identifies several limitations during the second autopsy that create barriers to establishing a definitive cause and manner of death for Nolan Xavier Wells and that's important he talks about the fact that we didn't getto see the body when it was first recovered, like the medical examiner working for Mississippi would have seen it.

He talked about the second autopsy performed on Nolan Wells revealed marked decompensation or changes.Marked 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 on the 10th of July.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 tissue, cutaneous and deep soft tissue dissection of the back, the buttocks, the arms and legs.

The, 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 get in, to the answers of why Nolan Wells is not.us.So he did that there and was very straightforward, very open, very open.He says, however, dissection of the back of the head during the layered posterior neck dissection revealed a 12 by eight inch focal area of red discoloration in the deep soft tissues overlaying the occipital bone.

And he talked about how he found red discoloration when he cut open into the back of his head towards the occipital bone and he saw the red discoloration and we actually saw the pictures of it 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 he said etiology of this finding is unclear there are no lacerations the overlaying skin nor fractures of the underlying skull.These findings are inconclusive for perimortem injury due to the bodydue to both the extensive decomposition and the absence of associated injuries.This finding, however, is significant enough to be highlighted in this preliminary report for further investigation.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.He said another limitation, move this back here, another limitation faced by this forensic pathologist was the absence of the anterior internal neck structures.

The trachea and the laryngal cartilage the thyroid horn and the hyoid bone were not received with the body.So he said the throat was not received with the body when he got Nolan Wells body in Washington DC to perform the second autopsy.And so let's discuss that with what he said about that.He said, it is assumed that the initial pathologists retained these structures for additional evaluation.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 seven years in Washington, D .C., and he said that if they had concern about throat or any fracture or compression of the throat, they too will hold them back.He doesn't know why they held the throat back, but he said the throat was not with the body of Nolan Wells when he received it.in Washington D .C.

to perform the second autopsy.He said, nevertheless, a posterior neck dissection performed without review of the anterior neck structures is incomplete.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.

the initial autopsy rightfully removed and dissected each organ there are additional limitations inherent in the second autopsy of Nolan Wells.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.He said it is very significant to Where the...initial forensic scientists who got to review the body when it was recovered.We have heard from our call center people saying the body wasn't waterlogged.Well, we need to know those things.

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. Mitchell an 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.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 Nolan Wells autopsy by Dr. Mitchell.It is significant to note that there's many things that go into toxicology that only Dr. Mitchell would be able to opine upon and medical experts can opine upon.

And he feels the proper place to do that is before a grand jury in a courtroom.And so we would hope the district attorney would present Dr. Mitchell before the grand jury as well.We want all relevant information to be heard by the grand jury.Lastly, in cases where a death has occurred in or around a body of water.Lastly, in cases where a death has occurred in or around a body of water with suspicion of drowning, it is important to confirm that person entered the water.This is the crux of the matter.

This information is especially important for those deaths of persons who can swim.As in the case with Nolan Wells, at the time this report, this forensic pathologist does not know the condition of Nolan Wells.He did not know whether he was conscious or unconscious when he entered the water.He said that would be significant.He said he did notknow whether he was forced into the water or unforced into the water.

He said that would be significant.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.He said, Definitive circumstances of death are required to determine the manner of death.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 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 that is significant with the following questions still outstanding 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 We know that a member of the United Cajun Navy said that he was face down and he was fully clothed.Number three, where's their water in the airway?Remember he talked about the lungs and the airways where they fill with water.Number four, is there any evidence of injuries to the anterior neck structure?We got the autopsy without his neck.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 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.And number seven, what was, what are the toxicology report findings?He said the best classification again for the cause and manner of death for Nolan Xavier Wells is undetermined pending investigation.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.And we know that, as I said, this is only another part of the puzzle.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, we will persist, persist, persist because as Christine and Elmore and Attorney Parker and I talked this morning, we know that there are so many conflicting stories.The fact that she said him being found face down.

The fact that we have other videos where people have called said that is Nolan who is in some kind of dispute with others.We're looking at all of these things.The fact that the GPS tracking of the boat is being questioned by many.We're trying to dot every i and cross every t because we understand that when our children livesare 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 Emmett Till we will stand up for Nolan Wells just like the NAACP and civil rights leaders stood up When another Mississippi son was taken in mega Elvis, we will stand up for Nolan Wells.And just like too many of our young people, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Terrence Crutcher, Stephon Clark, Sandra Bland, Atiana Jefferson, Sterling, Elton Sterling, Eric Gardner, George Floyd, 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 Wells.Justice for Nolan Wells.Justice for Nolan Wells.Justice for Nolan Wells.Justice for Nolan Wells.Justice for Nolan Wells.

Christine and Elmore and President Johnson can come back and join us on the stage and 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, God knows we wish we had you at the Department of Justice now.Christine Clark, as I was sharing with President Johnson and Reverend Al and others, this is so important that we continue to talk about Nolan Wells 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 Elmore because they said, whatever we can do, not only to help our son, but to help these other young black boys who was killed November, the July 4th holiday.I want to take a moment before we answer your questions to talk about two other young black men Both 18 years old, extraordinaries that are very similar to Nolan.President Johnson, 18 year old Daniel Irvin's went on a fishing trip out on a fishing boat with two other young men.

He was the only black 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.Sounds familiar?We've only been charged with tampering with evidence 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 Irvin's.It's the matter of President Johnson, Christine Clark, of 18 year old sterling smith i'm sorry tyler smith 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 he somehow ends up shouting the head deadof the friends get rid of the gun.

The police show up.They tell the police it was an accident.It was an accidental shooting, that they were playing Russian roulette and Tyler Smith ended up getting killed.Apparently, Christine Clark, President Johnson, the police just took their word for it.His mother and grandmother are incensed.They asked the police, did you do a gunshot residue test on his hands and the reason they said they had to call us like daniel urbans 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 tests.It makes no sense whatsoever.So they are taking the word, these 10 people that your son just killed himself.And you don't have to worry about doing any investigation or testing for physically anything.Just take our word for it.

Now, can you imagine?in any three of these scenarios, had the survivors been young black men, men, ended up dead?What kind of terror can you see?Well just like you would do a gation for your children, we want you to do a children.We just want equal justice.Equal justice.

And so with that, I'll turn it over to Trevon to lead us in the final session.

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.

I want to say we're here with Dr. Freda Fischer and also Monique Cressy, attorneys joining us, and we're going to do a summation right after this.So we can bring Monique in, but we'll continue to listen.

Can you summarize for our viewers, because there's a lot to take in, a lot of information.So in summary, can you succinctly tell us what we can take away from this report?And also, if you can provide more details about the neck.I heard a lot of people behind me gasping when that detail was mentioned.

that the focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue soft tissue of the back of the head the occipital 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 neck fractures or compressions to the neck and he thinks that's significant to know an autopsy.The reason he said 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.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 a great concern to him.Thank you.

We'll go here.

Darrell Dennard with Chicago Speaks on V103.What specifically are you calling for fromMississippi authorities in terms of transparency, but more importantly, investigations?

We and I know President Johnson is in from the state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Conference president is here.They're calling, as we are, for a fair, impartial, comprehensive investigation.When Nolan's parents heard the sheriff say there is no foul play at the beginning of the investigation, that is cause for concern, major concern.You haven't even investigated, but you're saying no foul play.And so we want them to dot every i and cross every t.You know, we we had a meeting with the district attorney and we we expressed to them about our lived experiences, 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.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 no they would have been helduntil 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 Nolan Wells.

We have time for one more question and then we're going to have a prayer with our Religious Affairs Committee with the family.One more question here.

I'm Tiffany Walden with the Tribe in Chicago.I know that we're talking about a transparent investigation, but for families and people who are watching, can you kind of give a breakdown or a timeline to the best of your ability of the contact that you've had with Mississippi authorities or Ocean Springs authorities or the Cajun Navy, have you all talked to them?Do they call you after the initial autopsy?Is it just radio silence from them?Do you have to call them?Can you kind of walk us through that process?

The last time we actually spoke with local authorities, which would be the Sheriff's Department, was I think a day or two after his body was found.That was only initiated by me. I sent him a text message.I was like, hey, this is Christine, Nolan's mom.I just want to see if there are any updates.Basically, he called back.There were no updates.

He's like, we're still interviewing.And again, my concern and also my husband's concern was it was not even an hour that his body had been removed.And the sheriff came out and said, this is, you know, accidental drowning.We don't think there's foul play.Again, that is why we're doing what we're doing and why we'rethe way we are.

Because I sat there and asked them, please take this case as if this is your child, your family member, your whatever.And they promised that they would.But when you make statements like that straight out the gate, that's an issue.We did meet with the DA.She did promise, you know, transparency and all of this, you know, all of that.However, damage has already been done because now that's the narrative that's being pushed by the general public, who, again, know nothing really, only what they're hearing from other people.

So in addition to that, it's all these things coming up.And at the end of the day, like I said before, any parent that would be in this situation, you would do anything, anything to find out what happened to your child.

and that is what we're here to do.It is very important to note that this narrative, this suggestion that it was an accidental drowning, nothing to see here, is troubling even if that's the case.There were 300 to 400 people out on Horns Island.You mean to tell me nobody saw anything?Nobody can tell us anything about what happened to one of the few black people that were out there on that island that day.It just doesn't add up.

The fact that they're saying Nolan said that he would stay behind, but yet an 18 -year -old kid would not want his cell phone if he was going to stay behind.The fact that, yeah, you have the young lady saying that,said he was going to get back on the boat with the boys and then the boys saying no he said he was gonna stay behind and talk to her if that was the case don't you believe Nolan would have said that Give me my cell phone, I'm going to stay behind.Give me my car keys, I'm going to stay behind.It's not adding up.And so we're going to keep fighting and digging until we get the answers, the transparency, the truth, the accountability, and justice for Nolan Wales.

Justice for Nolan Wales.Justice for Nolan Wales.

We're going to have our religious affairs committee join us quickly so we can have a quick word of prayer with the family.And that will conclude our press conference formally.

All right, so we'll just watch that.So that is the press conference announcing the preliminary findings of the autopsy report for Nolan Wells.I'm gonna bring in the experts now.I'm gonna bring in Dr. Frieda, triple board certified medical doctor with certifications in nephrology, internal medicine, obesity medicine, and pediatrics, and a friend of the show, Monique Presley, attorney and legal mind, also a friend of the show.They both join us now.So thank you both for joining.

It was an emotional press, or I would say briefing or update, whatever you would like to call it.Doctor, let's talk about stuff.You know, I hear occipital and rear the head and bruising and all of that.What did you hear?of that?Take us through what you heard.

Is there anything concerning?I saw you shaking your head at some point at some points.

Good morning.So many things are concerning.First, I want to say kudos to the medical examiner, Dr. Roger Mitchell.He was brilliant in his presentation, professional.He stuck to the facts.He did not jump to any conclusions.

However, he did give explanations and differential diagnoses of what the possibilities were.He was honest about the limitations of his exam since his was the second autopsy.Okay, he was honest about the limitations, and he was also open about the questions that were left.And so, with the initial report, you know he shared that the cause of death the manner of death are undetermined.These are the things that stuck out to me, Don and Monique.that lesion on the back of the head.

So occipital region, yes, that's in the very back of the head.And there was a red lesion, 12 centimeters by eight centimeters, I believe.And we don't know the cause, though he did dissect it, Dr. Mitchell did, but it makes you think of the possibilities.Could there have been blunt force trauma?Was this a bruise?Is this just a postmortem finding, meaning did just, you know, blood and fluid collect there after his death?

There are key things he also mentioned there he said that there was no fracture, but the most important, most important missing information from that red lesion on the back of no one's head is that we don't know what the brain show, did he have an intracranial hemorrhage, was there a trauma that caused him to bleed, and was that the cause of death we don't know, therefore, it's undetermined, but I do love the way Dr. Mitchell shared what he could determine what he couldn't determine, because again, he had the second autopsy, someone had Nolan's body first and Mississippi medical examiners.The other thing that Iwas of the greatest significance to me, almost jumped out of my seat, because I'll tell you, right before coming on with you, I had a discussion with my father, Dr. Freddie McCray, who's a retired general and peripheral vascular surgeon, who has done autopsies, who's been in medicine for decades.And so we were just kind of chit -chatting about autopsies, the way that our father and daughter conversations go.And when I said to him, I said, I'm really curious to see that hyoid bone.And he was like, yeah, I want to see the anterior neck.

Anterior means the front of this part.And so he was like, yeah, I want to see what the anterior neck showed so we can see if there's any ligatures.And so we were talking, so that was the main thing I was listening for, okay, the anterior neck.And so to find that there was an absence an absence of the part of Nolan's body that could have given us some of the most critical information, whether it said that harm was done or no harm was done.I was looking to see the hyoid bone, because had it been displaced, had it been broken, then that could be consistent with some type of a choking or pressure on the neck or an asphyxiation.And then had the hyoid bone been completely intact, that would give us different information.

extremely significant information, and I find it highly suspicious that that very critical part of the medical examination is missing.

The neck is missing.

Also, like I said, I want to see, you know, are there ligature marks?Was there something around his neck?Was there bruising?All of that could have been answered by giving us the information of what's going on with the larynx, the trachea, all of the breathing apparatus in the front of the neck.It's missing.We need answers.

This is suspicious, and belongs, you know, from the very beginning, we had the officer saying oh yeah it looks like it was a drowning it looks like it was a drowning.We should have been able to find the information because had there been a drowning, there reallybeen evidence of fluid water going into that anterior neck, we're missing and going into the lungs, a water filled lungs.However, had Nolan already been deceased before his body hit the water.that epiglottis, that connection between the throat and the lungs would have been closed, and his lungs would not have been filled with water.And so we need to know what the lungs show.

And a medical examiner, a pathologist, will be able to tell the difference between, say, drug overdose, which you know you hear all kinds of internet sleuths talk about.We would have been able to tell the difference.But it's not just what was found, it's also what was not found.Dr. Mitchell went through and said that he carefully dissected the buttocks, the legs, the chest, the arms.He was so detailed and he let us know what he did not find, that he did not find any broken bones, no fractured bones, that he did not find any evidence, at least in this post -mortem state, of any bruises.And so I appreciate that because it lets us know that this is not some biased gotcha moment, let me only tell you things that are intriguing to the media, he went through and systematically did what a, an excellent pathologist will do.

He'll tell you all of the findings.And so now we have a bruise in the back of the head.We have a missing neck.We don't know the condition of the lungs.And also we don't we already were at a disadvantage because it was 4th of July or 6th or the 6th of July.We're not sure when he passed away, but that the water would have been warm in Mississippi that would have accelerated decomposure.

And so this was an examination done with many limitations.But Dr. Roger Mitchell, the medical examiner, did a superior job with the information that he had in the way that he'd lined it up.He lined it up and so that we can all understand the story that's being told and the story that is missing from Nolan Xavier Wallace.body.

So do you agree with the inconclusive that was stated today?

I absolutely do.I absolutely do.And it also gives you a certain manner of respect for the pathologist because he's not someone who's speculating or jumping to conclusions.He's honest about the limitations.More importantly, he's honest about the findings.

Monique Presley, I want to bring you in.As you're watching this, you're an expert.You have used obviously autopsy reports in court.And what is your takeaway from what you heard from Ben Crump today and in this report?

I have used them in court.I have observed them, unfortunately, any number of times.And I just, I want to make sure I agree with the bulk of what Dr. Freda is saying as our medical expert here on the show today.I just want to be clear that the neck portions that have been held back are not missing.Dr. Mitchell stated that the reason that they likely have not been turned over from the state, that it's normal, even in his practice, to hold those portions for further examination when they release the remainder of the body to the family so that the family can go forward with their homegoing celebrations, interment, whatever is planned.But the state likely still has those portions.

And frankly, the state has not been willing to release its examination because they don't have toxology reports.And because they have told the public and the family that the investigation, their examination is not yet complete.So what I wish, because...

So Monique, just real quick, because I think they said that it was, I think he said at the top, you guys correct me if I'm wrong, that the findings that he was reading from was from July 19th.So they've had this.I think he said this was done on July 19th.19th.Yeah, yeah.So that goes along with what you're what you're saying.

I just wanted to back that up.Because this was a couple of just a 22nd right now.You know, right?Yeah, yeah, right.

And I mean, and I could understand they would, you know, want to do it after the funeral that that makes sense.But, you know, For him to not have certain pieces that he needs in order to have a conclusive investigation is because that those elements are still under review and under investigation by the state.What I wish since today was largely inconclusive.We have more questions than we have answers.What I wish is that he was able to have the 1st autopsy lots of times when we.end up ordering independent autopsy examinations.

It's a different circumstance slightly than this, where there is something that has been ruled out by the initial autopsy.And for whatever reason, it's found to be suspicious, or we need more detail, or we have recalcitrant examiner's office that isn't giving any more information.It looks like what they did was not enough.And so you have to go to another examiner get an independent autopsy if you're able to, if the family is able to, and you get more and you're able to compare.I see a bruise here now.There was not a bruise on the first day, so maybe this happened postmortem.

I don't see skin abrasion here.Do you have the full neck examination?I have a toxology report.So the things that Dr. Mitchell was saying, I've interviewed Dr. Mitchell.I've deposed Dr. Mitchell.I have nothing but respect for him.

Go Bison.But some of the things that would be asked, right, as he said in his report is if you are dealing withsomeone who could swim, you would want to know what condition they were in when they hit the water, whether they were forced into the water or whether they put themselves in the water.So you can't even figure out whether he was swept up by a current or whether he was hit over the head and knocked off a boat.None of those things are real to us right now, Don.None of those are in the land of facts.

And so, I think what the attorneys wanted to do on behalf of the family is give as much transparency as they could as soon as they could, but it has not resulted in any answers.So, even for instance, where what could be a subdural hematoma.I've handled medical malpractice cases where patients have died, where it was not even realized that that was happening to them until it was too late.And what we would need to know, one of the things Dr. Mitchell says is that the skin shows that there was no external bruising so it does not we don't have anything right now that would show for instance that he was hit in the back of the neck and it made a bruiser right below the head we don't have anything to support that nor do we have anything to support that there was injury to the bone there but we have something that that is showing in the tissue for which we don't have an explanation.So I caution today the same way I always do.I heard people in the room who were screaming when It was read in the report that that organs because they just didn't have an understanding that that is a natural part.

That is a correct part of the process to do an examination and that the organs were not missing.They were then returned.They were bagged and returned.And all of that is horrible to have to hear for a first time.But it certainly is something that can cause people who are very interested in this case to jump to conclusions.And I'm glad at least that it was explained that the things that were done were things that have to be done in order to get to the answers.

So may I ask this?How long does it usually take for tox reports?

Well, I'll let Dr. Frida go first.

It that can take weeks, it can take months.That's the part that many times, most of the media, most people have tuned out because the preliminary autopsy report most often will give the usually it's correct, the very likely diagnosis.So it could be weeks, it could be months.So I don't know.They're going to look at all the different organs, and there are going to be many things that they test for.And so we don't know.

And Don, that's why if you think about any kind of famous cases where people are waiting on official cause of death, whether you think of Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson or any any person where there was a suspected drug involvement.And I am not saying that that is what is the case here.I am saying when you're waiting to figure out whether it is a rule out or whether it is a determinative factor, many times we find that out a month after the fact, sometimes two months after the fact.I can't remember the name of the person from the Friends cast who died and it I think it was like six months.Yeah, before there was an official determination.And so when and what was the name Perry?

Matthew Perry.

Matthew Perry.And so sometimes you're just waiting on a rule out and you have enough from everything else you've seen for a cause of death, but we are in the blind here entirely because we don't have the rest of the state's official autopsy results.And, and, you know, it's, Media is media, but if you're going to ask a question, then ask, what have you been told about the official autopsy?You know, I mean, that's the question I thought was going to be in the room.But but it wasn't the question in the room.

Have you heard anything about the official autopsy?Okay, what do you know?What do you know?What do you know?Yeah.Yeah.

I would have wanted to know, did they share what they found on the interior neck so far, they don't need toxicology to tell us what the hyoid bone looks like.If the trachea that windpipe that had been damaged, if there were ligature marks, there should be photographs even from the original medical examiner.That is the piece that does not sit well with me.Why don't we know in a preliminary, they would have observed the gross appearance of the interior neck.And so I'm anxiously awaiting those answers.

So I want to do guys, if you can stick around for a little bit, because we're taking phone calls, because there are so many people who have questions about this.So we just opened them up.But if you have, if you're at that tier of our membership here, where you can take a phone call, I would love for the experts to be able to answer some of the questions if you guys are okay with that.Um, because I had lots of questions listening.I was like, well, I don't, what does that mean?What does that mean?

What does that mean?And by now, even if it is, I know this is a strange question, but even if it is, um, uh, inconclusive, people have experienced with these things medically or legally from what you are, the information that you have now, what does that say to you?What does that, what would that mean in a court of law?What would that mean medically?you haven't seen any of these things?Because you go through a checklist and you go, okay, it's not this, it's not this, it's not this, or it's this, it's this, it's this, it's this.

You can sort of come to a conclusion about where this is going if you know what I'm talking about.So first, the physician.I don't know if that is a dumb question or if it's one that's pertinent.

if you can kind of see where it's going based on what was presented.I'm going to say, you still can't exactly see where this is going, because I also want to just deal with facts.The one thing that we know is that from the very beginning, with the Mississippi officials putting it out there, oh, it seems accidental.Oh, he chose to stay on the island.From the very beginning, they lost the objectivity.And so right now, all that I got from the medical examiner's report was that he was doing his best to bring the objectivity and the facts back into the case.

And as far as where it's going, it doesn't necessarily seem like he's leaning one way or the other, but he's letting you know what he needs.For example, yes, he told us that it's significant that there was the red lesion in his occipital region, the back of the head, no one's head.He didn't say, oh, it's probably blunt force trauma.Oh, somebody probably punched him.He just said what it was.and he said, Dr. Mitchell, and he said what he needs to rule it out.

So for me, he's not trying to lead us.He's not trying to lead us.He said there are no fractures.So we know that he didn't get into an accident or anything that would have broken his ribs.And so for me, I feel like separating myself from the attorneys, but just going with the medicine and the medical examiner, I feel like all he did was present a roadmap and left it for the professionals and for the forensic attorneys and for the detectives.They can take it from there, but he gave us the blackout.

white of what the body said and how the body talks.

Okay.Uh, let's bring in Roger Alexander Jr. calling from Clarksville, Tennessee.Uh, good morning, Roger.

Hi, good morning.Um, um, I, I have, I mean, there's so many questions that I have about this case.Um, and I have so many mixed feelings and emotions about it because it's really sad and it's, but my, my question is, Does, and I know this is Mississippi, but do you think that they're trying to hold this out until the, until the flames of the story kind of fizzle out and then they release like the toxicology and what happened to his throat?When I heard that the throat was missing, sorry, a little emotional, I'm sorry.When I heard that that was missing or that he didn't get a chance to see it, that I was enraged about that.Like, I just, I just want to know why.

Or do you think that they're just trying to cover it up I cannot.

Thank you, Roger, look I can't attest to a cover up or not I just think that we're here for answers.And as Ben Crump mentioned, you know in his post.giving of the autopsy, you know, that there have been, we have to look at the circumstances, the history of where it happened and what happened.But again, not exactly sure because it's inconclusive.I don't know if there's a coverup.I think that they're being careful about information now, especially since this story has gained so much national and international attention that they want to make sure that it's accurate.

So I think people are holding their cards.I feel like maybe the investigators are holding their cards to see what theindependent autopsy, you know, what it reveals, and then vice versa.The independent folks may have been holding out to see what the other folks reveal, but I don't know if it is indeed, you know, a legitimate effort to cover up.Would you guys agree with that?I mean, Monique, usually people don't want to give their cards away.

They don't want to get too far ahead of things before there's a 100 % conclusion about what's going on, the toxicology reports, and on and on and on.That's just my assessment as someone who's been covering this for a long time, these types of stories.

Right.And I don't know if we have, I took a screenshot of it, but I don't know if we have the part in Dr. Mitchell's report where he explains, just to what your caller is asking about, he explains what he believes is happening with the portions that he was not provided with the portions of the throat, not that they are missing, but that he often in his examination, Holds those back for further review and that it's, it's very meticulous.It takes a long time.So we don't know yet what the result of that is going to be.And he does explain that in his report.I can't say.

People say just in the South, I'm not even gonna give the South the only bad reputation here.I don't trust, I think you verify and then trust where investigations are concerned when black life is involved.And that's in any state, in any city, it is necessary to ensure because the data shows that our death, that our trauma is not taken as seriously in this country.period.It's not geographical.So that doesn't mean that there's a cover up going on right now in Mississippi.

It doesn't meanthere isn't, or that it would be any different if it was in New York or someplace else.We only have the information that's available to us right now.But what I can say to you is that the amount of time that this has taken so far is not, it's not extremely long, like this is not an exceeding long time for a suspicious death, for there to be water involved, because that makes it harder Um, to get to results and I know Dr Frida can talk more about that than I can, but a lot of things that would be undisturbed for a medical examiner.They're, they're dealing with the effects of water as they're doing the examination.So.

that does take a longer time.And that's why you heard even from Dr. Mitchell, inconclusive, inconclusive, he's saying, I see this, but I don't know why this is. I see this, but I can't say the cause.And so, but they didn't even share the pictures with him because their examination is not yet done.And that also is common.I was with the D .C.

Office of the Attorney General.Dr. Mitchell and I did not overlap.I was gone before he came.But I was there for many years, and we would cooperate.in investigations, independent autopsies, things like that, but our findings were not released until they were conclusive, until they were final.Even if the final was inconclusive, until we got to that answer, nothing was released.

Standby.Dr. Frida, I want to hear from you about the water and the complications because I think you want to say something about that.But you know what I've forgotten to do this whole show?I've got to get a word in from our sponsors.So we're gonna hear from Dr. Frida and more calls.Give me one minute.

We're back in just a moment of word from our sponsors.

This episode is sponsored

by BetterHelp.Now, here's something that I have learned.Life doesn't ask you if you're ready.It just keeps coming.And sometimes what it brings feels too heavy to carry by yourself.That's one of the reasons that asking for help really matters.

It's not weakness, it's one of the healthiest decisions that you can actually make.BetterHelp's 2026 state of stigma report found that 85 % of Americans believe getting support is a wise decision, yet 74 % say society still discourages people from doing it.Those two numbers shouldn't both be true.BetterHelp makes getting started simple.The therapists are fully licensed.They'll match you with someone based on your needs.

And if it isn't the right fit, you can switch anytime.With more than 30 ,000 therapists and over 6 million people served, they've helped a lot of people take that first step.So if you have been thinking about talking to someone, maybe today is the day.Get 10 % off of your first month at betterhelp .com slash Don Lemon.That's betterhelp .

com slash Don Lemon.You ever finish a book and immediately think, I wish more people would read this.Well, that's how I felt about Bullies, Parasites, and Slaves, Replacing Exploitation with Mutual Care by George Koch.The book asks a simple question.Why do so many systems reward exploitation instead of cooperation?George Koch draws on history, real world examples, and his own experience as a technology executive to explain how many of us end up underpaid, overworked, and discouraged from questioning the system.

But what I like most is that he doesn't stop with the diagnosis.He offers another way to think about building a society based on mutual care instead of exploitation.Whether you read it in paperback, digitally, or listen to the audiobook, it's worth your time.And if you genuinely can't afford it, guess what?It's available free.Go to BPS online or text BULLY to 511.

That's bully bu ly to 511 511.Text fees may apply.All right.And thank you to our sponsors.They keep us posted.They keep us powered.

Dr. Frida.Can you hear me?

Yes, I hear you.

Okay, you want to respond water complicates it?

Yes, yes.So, to Monique's point, the water would definitely make it more difficult to examine a deceased body because the water would cause a bloating or swelling of the body.It could cause skin slippage, water can make it more difficult to assess if there's ecchymosis or bruising.Okay, so it can distort the way that the skin looks.And in I definitely want to be careful I don't want to be grotesque, but with Nolan being found in water, there's aquatic life right there's there's living creatures who perhaps may have, you know, aided in the initiation of decomposition, they could have been starting to ingest his remains.I don't want to be grotesque, but just him being in the water and with marine life around, fish or other marine life that could distort.

And it's very different from a body being found in the winter in a home in dry land.And so that is an excellent point that does make the medical examination more challenging.

Okay.Um, let's see.We have someone else on the line did not leave a name, but they said they're from mobile and they want to discuss.I'm interested in getting you guys option on the tow boat.Um, none of our experts can answer that, but let's take your question real quickly and I'll see if I can answer it.I don't know your name.

You didn't leave it.And turn, please turn the volume down on your, whatever you're watching on who's who's.

Okay.I'm sorry.Let me send the volume down.Yes, sir.

Okay.

Thank you guys for taking my call.My question was more or less the, what seems weird to me was the, the, they got told out and when they, when they were told out, uh, they, the call and all this I think has to be you know things move quickly so you know conversations can move quickly you know mom something that happened the mom is so high up in Mississippi the conversation that came in from the boat with everybody else okay you know like those that that Nancy pointed out that was that was not uh that was weird to say when you were you're calling and then the boat started at a normal speed and then it speeded up once it got close to the shore.I'm just asking did anybody maybe track where that that towboat have where that towboat has been?Yes ma 'am.What's your name ma 'am?Whitney.

Whitney, okay.So listen, we've covered this, I think like a week or so ago, maybe a little bit longer.Some of the things that you're mentioning, I know you said Nancy, I would assume you mean Nancy Grace, but those are these are old details.There is a call log and information from I'm not sure if it's a Coast Guard or CTO, where they called for a tow because the bilge pump in the boat was not working and they were taking on water.So there is a tracking of the boat.So that's not new information.

That information has been out there for at least a week and a half.And we actually showed the tracking of the boat and played the call.So yeah, everything that you have mentioned has been covered andhas been explained.They fixed I believe the bilge pump and the boat went out another time to return to Horn Island to pick up other people.But obviously, Nolan Wells was not on that boat.

And so you were listening to, I think it was either the Coast Guard or, or I think it was Coast Guard and then they call for Cito and Cito is, you know, I have CTOE for my boat.It is a service that is like AAA for cars.And if you have a problem on the water, you call them up, they come grab you, they tow you into shore, and then they tow your boat where it needs to go.And so that's the explanation for that.So there's nothing strange or fishy about that.And again, that information is almost two weeks old.

So look, I appreciate that Nancy's on this story, but we've been covering these details that Nancy's going over and they've been explained for two weeks.But great, she's bringing to a larger audience.So thank you very much for that.Go ahead.Did you want to say something, Dr. Frieda?

I was going to say, Nancy, broke, it said breaking news, but what she broke, you broke, like you said, two weeks ago.And so again, I do appreciate her eyes being on there, because I know she has even a different audience.But I know that's the confusion.What she said was breaking.Don Lemon had already broken.And yeah, glad more eyes are on the case.

Monique Green is on the phone now calling from Stockton City, California.Monique, what do you what would you like to say?

Hey, Don.First of all, it's Monique Delaney from Sassoon City, California.I'm one of your legends.And my question is...

I guess the AI who had ever picked up the audio thought it was green.But hi, Monique Delaney.How are you?

Hey, Don.My question or really just a statement is probably more for Dr. Frida.I understand aboutnot wanting to release a result that, you know, you're not finished with with the toxicology report and all of that.But what I don't understand is the initial findings, like physical findings outside of toxicology, why can that not at least be shared with the parents and with other people involved?I just don't understand why they're waiting so long.

I find it cruel when you have parents who are concerned about what is going, what happened to their baby, that you could not at least report some sort of preliminary finding the way they just did with this autopsy outside of toxicology.Like, why is toxicology so important as to what happened to this young man?

Why is the toxicology important?Well, that would be important because you may have heard with some of the people making speculations, they're saying, oh, maybe the guys were drinking, or maybe they had some drugs, and maybe he passed out.Speculation.And so a toxicology report would rule that out or rule that in.And so toxicology definitely is a very vital part of the information in order to fully understand why Nolan Wells passed away.As far as why more information is not being presented right now, From a medical perspective, I don't totally have those answers, because I know what you don't want to do is jump out and give false information from me as an individual and as a physician.

There are certain things that are somewhat black and white, like the way that Dr. Mitchell was able to say defensively, there were no broken bones, no fractures.There were no signs from his exam of contusion.There are certain black and white things that I do believe, I would love to have been shared, especially with the community.that apparently is still being examined.So I don't have the answer on why they're not bringing it out.And I don't want to speculate or say that it's a cover up because I don't know that either.

And Monique, perhaps you have some more information as to other reasons why they might be holding back at least the gross observations, the initial examiners.

Right, and what we should be careful about is we don't know that the information hasn't been provided to Nolan Wells family.We don't know that the information hasn't been provided to the attorneys or that they haven't been given and that they haven't been given what they believe happened.I think it's probably the opposite.I think that whatever, as you heard Mrs. Winsley talk about, how just shortly after her son's body was found, the sheriff was prematurely jumping out there and saying that it was likely an accidental drowning and that that shouldn't have been done without there being a thorough investigation.But what we don't know is what that investigation has yielded so far or how much of that information has been shared.Whatever they were told, a determination was made to get an independent autopsy while we're waiting on official public results.

But that doesn't mean that they don't know anything.

Okay, well, thank you both.And I want to thank the callers as well.But as we've been on for quite some time, and we've got a lot to do here.So callers Tony and Dallas, we'll get to you and please call back.And also our rain who's called before.Thank you.

We'll get back to you.We have a whole show, our legend show tomorrow.And we'll take some phone calls and we'll take your feedback.But I got to tell you, Monique and Dr. Frieda,this has been some of the, this has been one of our highest, if not the highest engagement that we've had on this network with so many people concurrently watching.And I just want to say, this is what you get on this program.

We mentioned Nancy, we're not, we're not, there's no shade, but we've been doing this since the day, right?Since the day after or the day we found out that he was missing.And then I came back from my trip.But from the very beginning with a we started with a member of the Cajun Navy.And as we were on with the member of the Cajun Navy, the mom was getting waiting at the shore.to find out if the body was indeed her son's and as we found out when we were speaking with him that she found out in that moment so from the very beginning of this when it happened we have been covering this Monique and I have been covering this we've been having disagreements about the media and the cadence of updating and all those things so it's been a very lively conversation and a moving conversation that evolves organically over time, even on the show.

So this is what you get.I just want to point out and show you our memberships.Andy, if you can go in and then Dr. Freedom, Dr. Monique and Dr. Monique, she is Dr. Monique, Dr. Lawyer Monique.I'm gonna start calling her DL, too.She's gonna be the third DL.But click on the DonLemon .

com because Dr. Lawyer Monique is gonna be on there.Maybe it should be DL plus DL plus DL.That's at the beginning of this.You click on that box, and then it'll show you where you can get membership and where you can go and find DL Hughley and I, which we're going on tour starting September 11th in Fort Lauderdale, and we're going all over the country.So get your tickets.But once you go past that, if you go back to DonLemon .

com and then click close, I just wanna show you guys how you become members.go on to the YouTube page, it looks like a play button or an arrow, and if you are not subscribed, just hit the subscribe button, it's free, it doesn't cost you anything, nothing, you know, no obligations, just hit subscribe, and then you can follow me.the notification button if you want the notifications for our shows.Also next to that, which is really important, or just as important, maybe even more, is a join button where you can become a member.And I want to tell you guys right now, if you want to see what it's like to be a member of the show, it is 100 % free now.I'm not doing this, YouTube is doing this.

You get it 100 % free for one month, and then seven days before your membership expires, your free membership, they will notify you.And once they notify you, you get to make a decision about what you want to do.So this is how we stay powered.This is how we stay on the air or streaming is because of your generosity and because of your support membership.and subscriptions or subscribers, okay?You can also check out our substack.

If you go to DonLemon .com, subscribe there.Get our newsletter, the Lucky Lemon 7 newsletter, which is available every morning at 7 a .m.And as you can see, this came out in the seven o 'clock hour, breaking independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' case announced this morning, and that is indeed what happened, and we covered it live, and we will update it throughout the day, this newsletter.So there's a QR code.

So become a member either on YouTube, which is our main channel, channel, Substack, TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook, where else?iHeartRadio, everywhere, okay?Apple Podcasts and Spotify, okay?So there you go.And you guys know, Monique, you've been with us since the very beginning.Dr. Frida, you've been with us since pretty early on as well.

We mean business on this show.and right we we cover it all but we do it in a factual manner we do talk about the things that are out there that are not corroborated but we make sure to tell you this is not corroborated and we have very real conversations where there's no animus they're organic people don't come on just to fight right um so and and we have experts like these twovery intelligent and very beautiful and smart ladies.Right.And so I'm not lying.Am I lying?

Where's the lie?

I'll take it.Thank you.

So thank you, Dr. Thank you, Dr. Lawyer.DL, the third DL, Monique Presley.Thank you, Dr. Freda Fisher.So we'll see you guys soon.And so now there you are once you you know, everything you we told you our memberships are there on down lemon calm.And so here's what I want you to do.

Oh, look, Barkley has joined the chat.

Hi, Barkley.

You see him right there?Now what?If I wanted to come over, all I have to do is hold up some food.Watch this.

Come here, Barks.See?Ah, I know my baby.

I got two of them in here.Okay, so be informed without being inundated until I see you back here at 5 p .m.Eastern Time here on the Don Lemon Show on the Don Lemon Channel.I want you to go enjoy your day.Hug a loved one.

Tell someone you love them.Send the link to this show.and notify and see if you can do five friends in your chat group okay or family members and just send it out until then until i see you live at five turn oh we have a special treat for you hunter biden you want you don't want to miss that interview you wait till you hear what he says turn the tv off thanks for watching everybody i appreciate you Make sure you like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don't miss anything.We're live weekdays at 10 a .m.and 5 p .

m.Eastern, with new content at 2 p .m.Eastern, sometimes at 8 p .m.So follow the Don Lemon Show wherever you are.

YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, Substack, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts.We are everywhere, and we're there every day.And if you want a little more, join the Lemon community.Exclusive posts, behind -the -scenes, live chats.Just hit join, or check outpages.

All right, I'll see you next time.