The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells met with the Jackson County District Attorney this Wednesday to discuss the investigation into his death [1].
The meeting marks a critical step for the family as they seek answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the teenager's disappearance and subsequent death. It also serves to connect the grieving parents with victim services during an active criminal investigation.
Nolan Wells, a resident of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, disappeared on July 4 [1]. Following the discovery of his death, his parents, Christine Wonsley and her husband, sought a meeting with the District Attorney's office to better understand the legal process.
"The meeting with the Wells family is meant to offer victim services and to help navigate the process of a death investigation," the District Attorney said [2].
Following the meeting, the family announced that funeral services for Wells are scheduled for Monday, July 20 [3]. While the family has not disclosed the exact location of the service, they clarified that the funeral will not be held at the convention center [4].
Wonsley said the family intends for the service to be a positive remembrance of her son's life. "We want to celebrate Nolan," Wonsley said [5]. She added that the mood of the service would reflect his personality, noting, "He wouldn’t want us to be sitting around crying" [5].
The investigation into the events leading to the death of the 18-year-old remains ongoing. The family continues to work with legal representatives, including Ben Crump, to ensure the case is thoroughly pursued as they prepare to lay Wells to rest this coming Monday [2].
“"We want to celebrate Nolan."”
The coordination between the Wells family and the Jackson County District Attorney's office indicates that the case has moved from a missing persons search to a formal death investigation. The involvement of high-profile legal representation and the focus on victim services suggest the family is preparing for a potentially lengthy legal process to determine the cause and circumstances of the teenager's death.
