Ben Crump discusses Nolan Wells, other cases at National Urban League conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WLOX) — Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump held a press conference Thursday at 11 a.m. at the National Urban League’s annual conference in Nashville, providing an update on the Nolan Wells case.
The teen’s parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, were present.
Crump also discussed the cases of Daniel Erving and Tyler Smith, whose families were also at the press conference.
Crump’s team said Nolan, Daniel and Tyler were all 18-year-old Black men who died within three months of each other.
Watch the full press conference below.
Nolan Wells
Wells was found in the water just off Horn Island on the morning of July 6. He had been reported missing the night of July 4 after he did not return from a boating trip with friends.
Crump has repeatedly called for a thorough and transparent investigation into Wells’ death. An independent autopsy found Wells’ cause and manner of death undetermined pending further investigation. The state autopsy report will be withheld until a grand jury can review it.
At Thursday’s press conference, Crump announced that his team has the audio from the call made to Sea Tow by a teen on the boat under scrutiny in the case. He said they are working with expert audio engineers to review the entire call.
Crump said they are also working with “oceanic engineer experts” to talk about how and why Nolan’s body was found in the same location he was last seen — on the northwestern tip of Horn Island.
“We want to know how is that possible with the oceanic tides,” Crump said. “I mean, you got low tides and high tides... so it’s not adding up.”
In addition, Crump said Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed Nolan’s independent autopsy, is working to obtains Nolan’s throat, which wasn’t present at the time of the second autopsy, and photographs taken closer to the time Nolan was found on Horn Island, so he can examine them.
Eric Hertz, an attorney on Crump’s team, said they are communicating with Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath, who said she would be open to listening to some of the evidence Crump’s team has gathered.
Hertz said they are trying to coordinate and come to a “tentative agreement” with the district attorney’s office to have phones related to the case investigated by both Crump’s investigators and county investigators.
Hertz said their team believes the FBI would also be present at that inspection.
“And that is going to show a lot of stuff we have not seen,” Hertz said.
Crump’s team thanked the public for sharing information, photos and video related to the case, saying the submissions have helped.
“There is hope, because we do get calls. We have been getting over 100 calls a day,” said Liza Park, senior attorney at Ben Crump Law.
Park encouraged anyone with information who has not yet come forward to do so.
“If there is a time in your life to do the right thing, this is it,” Park said.
Christine Wonsley, Nolan’s mother, also said she is begging for anyone with information about the case to come forward.
“We are begging... if anyone knows anything, his friends, strangers... please, call the hotline, because we will not be able to rest until we get answers,” Christine said. “We will not be distracted. We are ready to do whatever we need to do as his parents to continue advocating for him because Nolan is not here. He is not here to speak for himself, to tell us what happened. So again, we will not rest until we get answers, and if you know something, you need to let us know. Please do not be afraid.”
Nolan’s father, Elmore Wonsley, echoed the same sentiment.
“If Nolan was really your best friends — for the people who say they were friends — please come forward and tell us what you know. All we want to know is the truth. We’re not blaming anyone, we just want the truth."
Crump called out those who are sending threats to Nolan’s parents or trying to harm their livelihood, specifically those leaving negative reviews on Christine’s employer’s page.
“Christine has been a nurse for years, and she hasn’t ever gotten negative reviews, but since she’s been advocating for her son since he washed up dead on Horn Island, sick people have been going on her company’s website giving her negative reviews,” Crump said. “That is a shame... They are just sick, evil people who would attack this mother and father for simply saying, ‘We want to know what happened to our child.’”
Christine Wonsley spoke about her son and who he was.
“Nolan was a God-fearing, God-loving child. He loved everyone,” Christine said. “He was the person who would just make you feel comfortable just being in his space. He was never one to exclude. He always wanted everyone to be happy, to feel good, to have purpose. He would lift anyone up. It didn’t matter if he didn’t know you... Nolan would be your biggest cheerleader.”
Status of investigation
Wells’ death is still under investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family found Wells’ cause and manner of death “undetermined pending further investigation.” The state autopsy report has not yet been released.
DA McIlrath said the autopsy results, along with all other evidence, will be withheld until a grand jury can review it. There is no timetable for when that may be.
Daniel Erving and Tyler Smith
At the press conference, Crump’s team also spoke about 18-year-olds Daniel Erving and Tyler Smith.
Erving was at a lake in Texas with two other teens on April 13 and did not come home. His body was recovered four days later, and his death was ruled an accidental drowning.
Smith died of a gunshot wound in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 4. Police reported the shooting as accidental and self-inflicted, an account his family disputes.
Families of both teens spoke at the press conference about who the teens were, issues with the investigations, and lack of transparency.
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