“From day one, we have been supporting Jackson County as they’ve worked to gather information and find answers for the Wells Family,” officials said
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- As Nolan Wells’ death investigation continues, the FBI says it’s working to address “threats” that individuals made against individuals connected with the case
- Wells was found dead days after celebrating Independence Day on a barrier island off the coast of Mississippi, and his death has sparked mystery and outcry
- Both the official and independent autopsy reports remain pending
As questions continue to swirl surrounding Nolan Wells’ death following a Fourth of July party in Mississippi, the FBI says they are assisting with the investigation and are working to address “threats” made against individuals connected with the case.
In a statement obtained by NBC affiliate WLBT, the FBI’s Jackson office said that the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi continues to lead the investigation into the 18-year-old student-athlete’s death, though their agency has assisted “with certain aspects of the investigation in which federal tools and partnerships proved valuable.”
“From day one, we have been supporting Jackson County as they’ve worked to gather information and find answers for the Wells Family and the community,” the department added. “The FBI will remain ready to assist JCSO Investigators as they request our support, particularly when federal resources may expand their capacity to provide clarity and peace of mind for Nolan’s loved ones.”
The federal agency also shared they’ve been working to address “interstate threats that were received by individuals related to this matter.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the FBI’s Jackson office for additional comment.
Though the nature of the threats and who exactly who has been impacted by them remains unclear, Tracestin Shepherd, a high school friend of Wells, previously said that he and his friends have received threats online.
“We’re all young adults and we’re still learning this whole adulthood slash life thing,” said Shepherd, who declined to appear on camera while speaking to ABC News’ Aaron Katersky in an interview that aired on Good Morning America. “We did no wrong here, and we don’t understand how we’re getting so much hate behind it.”
Other community members involved — like Ashlee Cole, a local judge whose son was with Wells on the holiday — said they deleted their social media pages for the same reason.
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Much remains unknown about Wells’ final hours, and his parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, have repeatedly expressed doubt over one potential explanation: that their son voluntarily separated from his friends while at a party on Horn Island, left his phone behind on the boat and later died.
Although law enforcement have said they haven’t found signs of foul play and think Wells could have drowned, according to his mom and dad, something more nefarious could have potentially taken place.
As it stands, few details have been confirmed about either the official investigation or the parallel investigation being conducted by Wells’ family — and results of both the official and independent autopsy remain pending.
After meeting with Jackson County District Attorney on Wednesday, July 15, attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Wells’ parents, said that once the sheriff’s office completes its investigation, the case will then be presented to a grand jury.
“The hope is that when this is presented to the grand jury, all relevant witnesses and evidence will be presented to them, so that we can have a fair and impartial investigation,” Crump said.
A funeral service for the student-athlete will be held at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Miss., on Monday, July 20.
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