President Donald Trump has indicated that the FBI may investigate the death of Nolan Wells, whose family has been seeking federal involvement in the case.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump was asked whether he would press the FBI to launch an independent investigation. He replied: “We’re looking at that. Yes, we are.”
Wells disappeared during a boat outing with three friends on 4 July. His body was found two days later on the shoreline of Horn Island, off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Mississippi authorities concluded that Wells likely drowned and said they did not suspect foul play. However, the state medical examiner recorded his manner of death as “undetermined” in the final autopsy report.
The report noted two head injuries, described as “two dark red-purple subcutaneous scalp contusions”. Prosecutors later presented the evidence to a grand jury, which returned a “no true bill”, meaning that no criminal charges would be filed.
Wells’s family and their lawyer, Ben Crump, have repeatedly called for a fuller investigation. His father, Elmore Wonsley, said on Monday: “Our son was found on federal land and we are asking the FBI to step in and do a full investigation.”
Following Mr Trump’s comments, Mr Crump said: “Our team stands ready to work with the federal government to ensure Nolan’s death is investigated to the fullest extent.”
