A second, privately commissioned autopsy into the death of Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells has come back inconclusive, and a former medical examiner says a combination of factors made it difficult to reach a clear determination.
According to a preliminary report from Roger Mitchell, president of the National Medical Association, both the cause and manner of Wells’ death remain undetermined and will require additional investigation. Wells’ family pursued an independent autopsy after his body was discovered several days after he had traveled with friends to an island off the Mississippi coast.
Dr. Michelle DuPre told NewsNation’s “CUOMO” on Wednesday that second autopsies are inherently challenging once another party has already examined the body. She described the findings in this case as equivocal, pointing to red discoloration at the back of Wells’ head, the absence of fractures or deep tissue injuries, and the effects of decomposition on the remains, says a report from News Nation.
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DuPre noted that certain neck structures and organs were missing by the time the second autopsy was conducted, details she said are critical for determining whether strangulation may have occurred. While she said she understands why the original pathologist retained that tissue for further study, she acknowledged it limited what the second examination could conclusively show.
Authorities investigating Wells’ death have said they have no current suspicion of foul play, but Mitchell, who conducted the private autopsy, has not ruled that possibility out. DuPre called it premature for officials to have reached that conclusion so early in the process, cautioning against forming firm judgments before a full investigation is complete. She said the priority now is avoiding tunnel vision until more is known.
