Family Demands Clarity Following Mississippi Player's Tragic Death
WHO:
CNN - Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old student and wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College.
CNN - Bruce Lynd, Jackson County Coroner.
CNN - Ben Crump, family attorney.
CNN - Tracestin Shepherd, friend of Wells.
CNN - Jayvon Williams, friend of Wells.
The Guardian - Christine Wonsley, Wells's mother.
The Guardian - Elmore Wonsley, Wells's father.
The Guardian - Ashlee Cole, mother of one of Wells's friends and a Jackson County chancery judge.
The Guardian - Rev. Al Sharpton, who is involved with the family.
WHAT:
CNN - A visitation for Nolan Wells will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. local time at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, followed by the funeral service.
CNN - A celebration of life will occur at the Jackson County Fairgrounds after the funeral service.
The Guardian - The funeral services for Wells will be held on a Monday, with Tyler Perry funding the services.
The Guardian - The Congressional Black Caucus stated that "too many questions remain unanswered" regarding Wells's death and called for a "full, transparent, independent and timely investigation."
CNN - Nolan Wells's body was found on July 6, facedown in the water off the shoreline of Horn Island.
CNN - Two concurrent autopsy investigations are underway to determine Wells's cause and manner of death.
CNN - An autopsy was performed on July 7, and results from toxicology tests are pending.
The Guardian - A Facebook post by Christine Wonsley seeking answers about her missing son went viral.
The Guardian - Wells's funeral services will be held at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, with Tyler Perry paying for the services.
WHERE:
CNN - Horn Island, a popular destination off the Mississippi coast.
CNN - Jackson County, Mississippi.
The Guardian - Washington, DC, where Wells's body was flown for an independent autopsy.
The Guardian - Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
WHEN:
CNN - Wells went missing on July 4 and was found on July 6.
The Guardian - The family plans to hold Wells's funeral on a Monday.
WHY:
CNN - The family is seeking answers regarding the circumstances of Wells's death, amid concerns about potential racial implications.
The Guardian - The family expressed skepticism about claims that Wells willingly separated from his group.
HOW:
The Guardian - The family had Wells's body flown to Washington, DC, for an autopsy funded by Colin Kaepernick.
CNN - Wells's body was sent out of state for an independent autopsy to ensure no ties to Mississippi law enforcement.
The Guardian - Wells's mother tracked his phone using the Life360 app, which led to the discovery of his phone at a friend's home.
(UPDATED July 20, 2026 14:40 UTC)
A visitation for Nolan Wells will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. local time at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, followed by a funeral service funded by Tyler Perry. After the funeral, a celebration of life is planned at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Meanwhile, the Congressional Black Caucus has expressed concerns about unanswered questions surrounding Wells's death and is calling for a full, transparent, independent, and timely investigation, while his family arranged for his body to be flown to Washington, DC, for an autopsy funded by Colin Kaepernick.
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(UPDATED July 20, 2026 12:45 UTC)
Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old student and wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, was found deceased on Horn Island, where his body was discovered facedown in the water on July 6. Two autopsy investigations are currently underway to determine the cause and manner of his death, with results from toxicology tests still pending, while his family, including his mother Christine Wonsley and attorney Ben Crump, are seeking answers amid concerns about potential racial implications. Wells's funeral services are set to take place at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with the family planning to hold the ceremony on a Monday, and Tyler Perry covering the costs.