Three months after Nolan Wells was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ on an island off the coast of Mississippi, his parents say they “cannot move on” and are continuing to demand further investigation of a case that local and federal authorities insist does not seem to involve foul play.
In September, after a weeklong review, a grand jury decided not to indict anyone in the teen’s unusual death after he went to Horn Island with friends for a large Fourth of July party.
Jurors said Wells’ death was “consistent” with drowning, but both an outside and official autopsy could not determine the cause or manner.
His parents say key questions remain unanswered, including how his head got bruised, and this week they renewed their push for a federal investigation.
“What we were left with were many, many inconsistent stories,” Wells’ mom, Christine Wonsley, said at a news conference on Monday, Oct. 5, according to ABC News and local station WLOX.
Wells, an 18-year-old student-athlete, seemingly vanished from the party on Horn Island on July 4. Some of his friends later maintained that he left them behind to spend time with a girl but that he kept his phone on their boat, out of the water — which his parents have said is out of character and suspicious.
His body was found on the island’s shore two days later, prompting a closely watched investigation that fueled rampant online speculation and debate.
The teen’s family has for months said they aren’t satisfied with the work of local authorities — following an early statement that law enforcement believed Wells had drowned — and they have openly worried race could be a factor given the state’s history.
On Monday, his parents again challenged the grand jury’s findings, which were released on Sept. 21.
“I cannot take that ruling, and I cannot move on with my life,” said Wells’ mom. “We have been left with more questions and heartbreak than any answers.”
The official autopsy from the Mississippi state medical examiner found his cause and manner of death to be undetermined, without more information about how he went into the water.
The independent autopsy that was commissioned by Wells’ family determined much the same.
Bruising was identified on Wells’ head, which has not been explained. The grand jury said they considered that in their review of the investigation but the injury was not fatal.
A witness also testified that Wells had fallen off a boat prior to his death, though it’s unclear if he was injured by that.
“We are still trying to determine who or what caused the blunt force trauma to the back of Nolan Wells’ head,” the family’s lead attorney, Ben Crump, told reporters last month.
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On Monday, the family called for federal authorities to continue to investigate Wells’ death. Horn Island, where he was found, is part of the National Park Service.
“We have not closed our case, and we refuse to close the chapter of Nolan Xavier Wells,” Crump said, according to WLOX.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the FBI said, however, that in their view there is no evidence of foul play or any crime.
The bureau ᴀssisted in the investigation and agreed with the determination of local authorities.
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Wells’ family says they are determined to keep speaking out.
On Sunday, Oct. 4, his mom shared a post her Facebook page that read, in part: “If this were your child, would you just give it up? … Justice for Nolan Wells. His life matters. His story matters. His family deserves answers.”