The United Cajun Navy has set the record straight and confirmed that Nolan Wells was not fully clothed when the missing teen’s body was found in the water in Mississippi.
During a Wednesday press conference announcing preliminary autopsy results into the death of the football player, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump told the national media that Wells’ body was found “fully clothed” on Horn Island – despite Wells being seen that day wearing only swimming trunks.
The mistake appears to have spiraled from an interview on Monday’s “Nancy Grace Show,” when the host interviewed Todd Terrell, founder and president of the volunteer-led disaster relief organization, United Cajun Navy.
Here’s the latest on the disappearance and death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells:
- What we still don’t know from Nolan Wells’ autopsy results — and if findings point to foul play: ex-ME
- Nolan Wells was gruesomely missing body part during independent autopsy, pathologist’s report shows
- Nolan Wells had been drinking alcohol but seemed ‘fine’ on day he vanished, ‘best friend’ says
- Nolan Wells’ preliminary autopsy results released after teen vanished on Fourth of July trip — sparking even more questions
“As I recall, Todd Terrell, Nolan was face down, still fully clothed, on the beach. Is that correct?” Grace asked Terrell.
“Yes, that is correct. He was face down,” Terrell responded, later adding: “When we say he was found fully clothed on the beach, it was in the same vicinity of where he possibly drowned.”
Terrell has since said he should have corrected Grace when she said the body was “fully clothed,” adding that he was caught off guard after picking up the phone only three minutes before the show went on air.
“I just agreed with her because the body was clothed. Maybe I should have corrected her,” he told the Sun Herald.
Terrell said a Cajun Navy pilot was in the air when they spotted Wells’ body, and saw he was wearing swim trunks, like most other males on the island.
“He was clothed, meaning he had his shorts on, from what we could see,” Terrell said, adding that Wells was wearing blue swim trunks, the same that he was pictured wearing earlier in the day.
Representatives for Benjamin Crump did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
