In an effort to ensure transparency and justice, parents of Nolan Wells, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, alongside the Rev. Al Sharpton, attorney Ben Crump, and Liza Park, Crump’s legal associate, took the microphone at the headquarters of civil rights organization, National Action Network (NAN) in Harlem, New York on Friday, July 10 to hold a press conference to provide insight to the public on what progress they have made in the case and more about Wells’ background.
After experiencing so many inconsistencies between the accounts from those who were the last to see Nolan and the Mississippi Sheriff’s Department’s findings, the family took it upon themselves to seek help beyond their local area. “Why do you say we need to be retained to lead an independent investigation? It is because the family has distrust of the Mississippi law enforcement officials giving them a fair investigation, where their Black son ended up dead after going out on a boat with three young white men. […] We refuse to let Nolan Wells’ death be in vain. We are going to make sure we get to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” Crump explained.
The conference opened with remarks from Sharpton, expressing his utmost support and respect for the family during their time of need. So much so that he confirmed he will be officiating the funeral service for Wells. Sharpton, alongside Nolan’s parents and legal team emphasized the point of not trying to make this a racially charged case as the investigation is still happening. “Well, we’re not bringing in race but we’re not discounting race either because we don’t know what it is. So to tell us not to rush to judgment saying it was racist is fine. But then I’m telling you don’t rush to judgment saying it was not racism because we do not know. We do know what these parents are being told and what the parents have now shared with us does not make sense.”
Though the team was hoping to share the results of an independent autopsy ordered earlier in this week, transit delays with transporting the body from Mississippi to Washington, D.C. did not allow for the information to be ready. The autopsy is being conducted by Dr. Roger Mitchell of Washington, D.C.
Attorney Crump assured that upon receipt these will be released to the public. At this time, Nolan’s friends who were along the boating trip with him have not been formally questioned by Crump’s legal team as part of their investigation.
The independent efforts of Nolan’s parents and loved ones on locating him and his belongings is what helped them gain more insight and traction on their own accord into what may have occurred prior to law enforcement’s efforts. After receiving word of Nolan’s disappearance from one of his friends on the trip he was with, his mother then contacted their family friend who helped support search efforts alongside her sons who were also close to Nolan. After seeing a differing location between where it said Nolan’s phone was between Snapchat on their end and Life360 on her end, the family friend was able to retrieve the phone from one of the friend’s parents who Nolan was on the trip with. The family confirmed their uncertainty in the change of hands leading up to their retrieval of the phone.
Nolan’s father, Elmore Wonsley, took the liberty of going to pick up Nolan’s car from one of the friend’s homes as he stayed there prior to the trip. Despite initial pushback from the friend on not knowing where the keys were, it was brought to light that they were there and the vehicle along with its keys were returned to the Wonsleys.
During the conference, it was also reiterated from their initial interview on “Good Morning America,” that former football star and activist Colin Kaepernick helped to front the costs of the independent autopsy. It was also confirmed during the conference that actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry volunteered to pay for the funeral proceedings alongside Spike Lee, who was also in attendance at the press conference. Specific contribution amounts were not disclosed.
The press conference also briefly addressed the viral video that’s been circulating on social media of someone recording from the island. In the video, you can hear yelling in the background and what has now been identified as Nolan’s voice asking for his phone back from his friends, as confirmed by kids in the area who were in conversation with Crump and his legal team.
Before the conference concluded, the Wonsleys shared more about their heartfelt moments with their son, including his love for capturing life’s moments, goofily dancing for his parents, and his true love for people. Christine Wonsley also touched on the emergence of protests that had begun in her son’s honor, and while she discouraged it, she noted that if people decided to protest, they should be peaceful. “If you do, please be peaceful. Nolan was not someone who liked fights- physical fights so don’t go out there trying to be tough. Just think about what Nolan would want, and I’m telling you he would not want that type of behavior. So, let’s just make sure we’re keep it peaceful and respectful to one another and others, and just stay away from negativity […],”
Ben Crump and his legal team are calling on the community to divulge any information on leads in the case, whether they are on a grand scale or minute. At this time, an official funeral date has not been confirmed. Mississippi’s legal department is also still conducting investigations.