RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 4 sourcesThe mysterious death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has taken another turn after a newly obtained document listed the missing teen's alcohol intake as "heavy" as authorities searched for him on Horn Island over the Fourth of July weekend.
The document, a July 5 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marine Patrol email obtained by Fox News Digital, was sent to the U.S. Coast Guard as authorities searched for Wells.
Along with his physical description and last known location, the email lists "Alcohol intake: Heavy," but does not identify the source of that information.
Wells, an Ole Miss freshman from Jackson, Mississippi, disappeared while on a boating trip to Horn Island with friends. An extensive multi-agency search ended July 6 when his body was discovered.
SEARCH CALLED OFF AFTER BODY MATCHING MISSING TEEN NOLAN WELLS FOUND OFF MISSISSIPPI COAST
Authorities have not publicly identified a cause or manner of death, and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy and toxicology results remain pending.
The newly reported details come days after a private autopsy commissioned by Wells' family concluded his cause and manner of death were "undetermined pending investigation."
NOLAN WELLS INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY DOESN'T POINT TO FOUL PLAY, FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS
During a July 22 news conference, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said an area of "red discoloration" was found on the back of Wells' head but said Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed the independent autopsy, could not determine a cause or manner of death pending further investigation.
"Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" host Nancy Grace later discussed the findings on her show, where she raised additional questions about the investigation.
She pointed to what she described as deep red tissue beneath the skin at the back of Wells' head and said the independent pathologist did not receive Wells' lungs or throat when conducting the second autopsy.
Grace also questioned whether those findings could be significant but emphasized that she did not know what caused Wells' death and noted there were "many accidental possibilities."
"There is deep, red, subcutaneous tissue" on the back of Wells' head, Grace said, adding that the discoloration was localized rather than consistent with postmortem blood pooling.
Grace then questioned why the lungs and throat were unavailable during the independent examination.
"When the second autopsy got the body, the lungs and the throat were missing," Grace said. "I understand why they took the lungs to determine if he had drowned, but why was the neck missing? What about the interior of the throat sparked the initial medical examiner's concern?"
She stressed that those questions remain speculative until investigators release additional findings.
"I don't know," Grace said. "There are many accidental possibilities."
The Jackson County District Attorney has defended the investigation amid growing public scrutiny, saying authorities are following standard procedures and awaiting forensic testing before drawing conclusions.
Authorities have not announced whether foul play is suspected.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office for comment.
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