Nolan Wells Update: Records Were ‘Inadvertently Released’ Amid Teen’s Ongoing Death Investigation

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says that it has “inadvertently released records” in relation to the ongoing investigation into the death of Nolan Wells, who disappeared during a 4th of July outing to Mississippi’s Horn Island.

In a letter sent to TMZ on Wednesday, July 22, the MDMR said that they were returning a payment of $50 to the outlet for the processing of records related to the 18-year-old’s death.

“Previously, the MDMR inadvertently released records in relation to this matter,” the letter stated. “Subsequent to this inadvertent disclosure of records, the MDMR was notified by the Jackson County District Attorney that there is an ongoing death investigation of Nolan Wells which will be presented to a Jackson County Grand Jury and therefore, the records in the possession of the MDMR relating to this matter ‘are exempt from public disclosure.'”

The MDMR did not provide further details as to what was in the records nor where and when they were released.

The family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, said at a press conference on Wednesday that Wells’ cause of death was “undetermined pending investigation.”

Crump added that the teen’s date of death was unknown.

“Preliminary findings… and this is significant,” Crump continued, reading from the autopsy report. “Focal area of red discoloration of the soft tissue of the back of the head — the occipital region.”

However, there were “no lacerations of the overlaying skin nor fractures of the underlying skull, and the findings were considered ‘inconclusive’ due to the “extensive decomposition and the absence of associate injuries.”

As Globe previously reported, after Wells disappeared, his body was found in the water near the island two days later following an extensive search.

While investigators have said drowning is suspected, they haven’t released an official cause of death, and the case remains under investigation.

The Mississippi college football player traveled to Horn Island with a group of friends to celebrate Independence Day. Wells was last seen near the island around 3 p.m. One of his friends, Tracestin Shepherd, told Good Morning America that the teen wanted to stay behind at a party because he met a girl, and it seemed like “he really did like her.”

Wells’ family has pushed back on the claim that the teen voluntarily stayed behind on the island, and they’ve hired the civil rights attorney to conduct a separate investigation into his death.

The three friends who accompanied Wells have retained attorneys.