“Keep saying his name”: Kerry Washington urges fans to remember Nolan Wells as his family continues to seek answers two months after his death

Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old boy, went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip with his friends on Horn Island, off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He was found dead two days later on the shoreline. Now, two months later, his family is still awaiting answers surrounding his untimely passing.

Over the weekend, activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham wrote on Threads:

“What. Happened. To. Nolan. Wells?!?!?”

Scandal actress Kerry Washington reposted it and added in her own caption:

“Keep saying his name.”

Immediately after Wells' demise, children’s content creator and educator Ms Rachel also posted a message on social media seeking justice for Nolan Wells. She wrote:

“We know the investigation and everything that followed would have been different if Nolan Wells were White and his friends were Black. Nolan and his family deserve justice.”

Ms Rachel followed it up with a September 2 Instagram video:

"We are not going to stop talking about Nolan Wells. We're not going to stop saying his name, and we're not going to stop standing with his family and supporting what they want, which is to know what happened to their precious son."

Everything to know about Nolan Wells’ death

Nolan Wells was reportedly last seen alive on the afternoon of the Fourth of July on Horn Island, a popular hang-out spot accessible only by boat. His friends returned to the mainland around 4:30 PM local time on that day without him and claimed they experienced trouble with their boat. The teenagers also told investigators that Wells allegedly chose to stay back on the island after he met a girl during an island party.

However, Wells’ body washed ashore a couple of days later. While authorities in Jackson County, Mississippi, say that the death is part of an ongoing investigation, Nolan’s final hours remain shrouded in mystery. So far, no foul play is suspected and an initial probe claims he may have drowned. Investigators also claimed they were being “diligent” in gathering all the facts, but have since gone “silent”, according to PEOPLE reports.

Meanwhile, Nolan Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore, are sceptical about the cause/manner of death given Mississippi’s racial history and distrust of law enforcement among the Black community. They have been questioning why Nolan would stay back without his phone or keys, which they retrieved on July 4 evening, days before his body was discovered.

The grieving parents have also hired renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them and have accused law enforcement of not exploring the possibility of foul play. They have further demanded a transparent and thorough investigation via independent sources.

Nolan Wells was a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College. He would have turned 19 on August 19. In a prayer event on that day, his mother told reporters:

“Nolan was an incredible person, and his loss has definitely affected our family in ways we could have never imagined. Just keep sharing his story. Keep saying his name. And I know God’s going to get us through... It’s all on God’s time, and so we just have to continue to lean into that and into each other and our family.”

Christine also wrote an emotional message on Facebook:

“Although you are no longer physically here with us, we will always celebrate you and the legacy you have left for us to protect. You have taught us so much about life and how every day is a blessing and how we have to do better at just living in the moment. Thank you for being the best son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for bringing joy, laughter and real happiness to us each… day. You are truly our angel.”

Meanwhile, Jackson County’s district attorney, Angel Myers McIlrath, has stated that once the investigation is over, a grand jury will determine whether an indictment is required. Local authorities and Ben Crump’s team have asked people to come forward with any information, especially if they were on Horn Island on Fourth of July or interacted with the victim.

An independent autopsy revealed that there were no severe injuries on Nolan Wells’ body, but that didn’t rule out foul play or determine the cause/manner of death. The outside pathologist even claimed that decomposition acted as a limitation.

While investigators continue to defend the integrity of their work, NAACP joined Nolan Wells’ family and their legal team in demanding justice for him. On August 17, NAACP’s general counsel Kristen Clarke shared in a statement:

“We’re taking up this fight to search for truth and to demand transparency concerning the tragic death of Nolan Wells… to ensure that no stone is left unturned in seeking answers and accountability.”

Last month, the Congressional Black Caucus also sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Todd Blanche seeking an independent federal review.

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As the probe into Nolan Wells’ disappearance and death continues, Mississippi has also been shaken by other mysterious deaths of Black individuals, including Demartravion “Trey” Reed and Tasia Fortune.

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