# Nolan Wells death ruled undetermined by autopsy

> The Mississippi State Medical Examiner found no clear cause or manner of death for the eighteen-year-old college football player found in the water at Horn Island on July sixth.
- Title: Nolan Wells death ruled undetermined by autopsy · ABC News
- Summary: The Mississippi State Medical Examiner found no clear cause or manner of death for the eighteen-year-old college football player found in the water at Horn…
- Keywords: nolan wells, mississippi, horn island, autopsy, death investigation, jackson county sheriff's department, news, Nolan, Wells, death, ruled, undetermined
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/nolan-wells-cause-manner-death-undetermined-state-autopsy/story?id=134578416
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nolan wells, mississippi, horn island, autopsy, death investigation, jackson county sheriff's department, news
## Eighteen year old found face down in water
Nolan Wells, an eighteen year old college football player, was found face down in the water at Horn Island on July sixth after going missing on July fourth during a boat trip with friends.
## State autopsy finds cause undetermined
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy report, released Thursday by Wells' family, found that the cause and manner of death are undetermined because the circumstances surrounding the death are unknown.

> Because the circumstances surrounding this death are unknown, the cause and manner of death are best classified as undetermined.
## Head injury found but no fractures
The pathologist found evidence of injury to the back of Wells' head described as two dark red-purple subcutaneous scalp contusions, but found no external scalp injuries and no skull fractures.

> two dark red-purple subcutaneous scalp contusions
## Private autopsy reached same conclusion
The state autopsy's conclusion matches the findings of a private autopsy commissioned by Wells' family and released in July, which also ruled his cause and manner of death as undetermined pending investigation.
## Grand jury found no criminal charges warranted
A grand jury reviewing evidence in Wells' death found that no criminal charges are warranted at this point, according to a report released on Monday night before the state autopsy was made public.
## Mother seeks answers about what happened
Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, told reporters in July that losing her son broke her heart and said the family's only question is what happened to him on the island that day.

> The only question we have is, what happened to our son?
## Key takeaway

Mississippi's state autopsy found Nolan Wells' cause and manner of death undetermined, matching a private family autopsy and a grand jury finding of no criminal charges.