Parents of Nolan Wells’ friends, and local officials, told to expect lawsuit
The same day Nolan Xavier Wells was laid to rest, attorneys representing his estate sent a notice of intent to pursue litigation on behalf of his estate to Wells’ friends, their families and others connected to the investigation into the 18-year-old’s death.
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The move came after a Jackson County Chancery Court judge appointed Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley administrator of her son’s estate. She signed the paperwork the same day as the funeral.
Nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is not licensed to practice law in Mississippi, is working with the Ridgeland law firm Carroll Bufkin PLLC. Attorney Gary Bufkin signed the notices.
Bufkin has represented several high-profile clients, including defendants in the Jackson welfare probe and the unrelated Jackson bribery case involving Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens.
Copies of the letters obtained by attorneys representing some recipients notify them of potential litigation related to Wells’ death after he disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island.
Wells, who was Black, traveled to the island by boat with a group of white friends. The friends returned to the mainland without him, telling authorities Wells stayed behind to talk with a girl and other friends.
Two days later a National Park Service ranger found Wells’ body on the northwest tip of Horn Island.
Wonsley, who was appointed administrator of her son’s estate, retained Crump to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death. The preservation notices were sent by a Mississippi attorney working with Crump.
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Although many of the letters were sent to the parents of Wells’ friends, similar notices also were sent to entitles involved in the ongoing investigation.
The letters instruct recipients to immediately preserve all evidence in their possession, custody or control in its original, unaltered form. They also direct recipients to suspend any automatic deletion or overwrite functions that could destroy evidence.
Specifically, recipients are instructed to stop automatic deletion or overwriting on cellphones, computers, video cameras and any other electronic devices capable of storing data. The notices also direct recipients to prevent electronic devices and systems from automatically deleting or overwriting information after a set period.
The preservation notices demand that recipients retain evidence across numerous categories.
That includes: the following electronic communications:
Under the category, cellular telephone and electronic devices, the following is sought:
In addition, the following is listed under the title, Metadata:
Under surveillance and security, the following is requested
The following is sought from prosecutors:
Information sought from the state medical examiner
Physical evidence sought:
Cloud storage and backups:
Internet and search history:
Images, video, audio and other evidence sought:
In addition, the letters request preservation of the following:
The letters demand preservation of all communications related to Nolan Wells to include:
This story was originally published July 27, 2026 at 2:45 PM with the headline “Parents of Nolan Wells’ friends, and local officials, told to expect lawsuit.”
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