{"id":3195,"date":"2026-07-15T10:05:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=3195"},"modified":"2026-07-15T10:05:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:05:58","slug":"fbi-examining-digital-evidence-in-nolan-wells-case-da-calls-case-a-priority-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=3195","title":{"rendered":"FBI examining digital evidence in Nolan Wells case. DA calls case a \u2018priority\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Department in the investigation into the death of Nolan Xavier Wells.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=3194\">Projects for South Carolina communities stalls state budget. Here\u2019s the list<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said the Sheriff\u2019s Department has worked with the FBI since the investigation began, something that shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise because Horn Island is federal land. In addition, he said, the Sheriff\u2019s Department often works with FBI agents in investigations.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>As part of that involvement, Ledbetter said the FBI agents are assisting with the forensic examination of the digital evidence investigators have collected during the investigation.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have interviewed approximated 60 witnesses,\u201d Ledbetter said. \u201cAgain, our investigation is ongoing and active.\u201d Those interviewed in depth include the three friends Wells accompanied on the boat to Horn Island on July 4.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath weighed in on the case as well Tuesday, saying that her office is \u201coffering support to law enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>In addition, McIlrath said: \u201cThis case is being treated as a priority and upon the conclusion of the investigation, the findings will go before a grand jury, which is our standard operating procedure for deaths that are not natural deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Once a death investigation is completed, the findings are presented to a grand jury to determine if any criminal wrongdoing occurred. McIlrath reiterated that the investigation remains \u201cactive and ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>In addition, the district attorney said she plans to meet with Wells\u2019 family Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Wells, 18, of Ocean Springs, was reported missing after he did not return home from a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island. Wells, who was Black, traveled to the island with the three white friends who have cooperated with investigators.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=3192\">After years of talks, USC strikes deal that could spur South Main revitalization<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>His mother, Christine Wonsley, has said it was \u201cimprobable\u201d that her son would have voluntarily remained on the island, miles from shore, without his phone. She said that once she got her son\u2019s phone, she was concerned about the lack of saved Snapchat messages.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Wonsley is urging anyone with information about the case, including videos and pictures related to her son\u2019s disappearance, to provide that information to the Sheriff\u2019s Department and to her legal team.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Wells\u2019 body was found July 6 in the waters off Horn Island. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner\u2019s Office conducted an autopsy, but the results remain pending the results of toxicology tests, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>After Wells\u2019 death, his parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to conduct an independent investigation. An independent autopsy was also performed at the family\u2019s request, but the results have not been released.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Crump said he planned to announce the findings during a news conference last week but said flight delays also delayed the autopsy findings. He has not announced when the results will be released.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Since Wells\u2019 disappearance and death, speculation about the case has spread widely on social media, with investigators repeatedly urging the public not to share unverified information.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The Sheriff\u2019s Department continues to ask eyewitnesses to call the Sheriff\u2019s Department at 228-769-3065. In addition, the sheriff is calling for any original photographs of videos from the day Wells went missing.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=3190\">European shares subdued as Middle East tensions offset ASLM, Cartier results<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Di<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FBI and Jackson County investigate Nolan Wells&#39; death in Mississippi; DA says case is a priority and findings will go before a grand jury after investigation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FBI examining digital evidence in Nolan Wells case. 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