Nolan Wells’ Parents Question Death Investigation, Say Phone Data Raises Concerns

Christine and Elmore Wonsley, the grieving parents of Nolan Wells , called for justice as they stood alongside attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton during a press conference Friday. The couple made it clear that there are still many questions about the case of their son, who died during a July 4 boating trip on Horn Island near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Although Wells went on the trip with a group of friends, Christine and Elmore said none of them have come forward with details.

"We just want honesty and transparency. We want a thorough investigation," Christine Wonsley said in an interview on Good Morning America the same day as the press conference, according to ABC News . "We want that same respect that would be given to anybody else, and that's it. We just want answers."

What are the family's concerns about the investigation?

Christine and Elmore Wonsley raised several concerns as they expressed disappointment with the investigation into their son's death after the Coast Guard found his body Monday. The parents said part of the problem is that their son's phone appeared to have deleted messages and images.

"When we finally got his phone, me and my sister went through the phone. We went in his Snapchat. He had two accounts. Absolutely nothing," Christine Wonsley said. "It wasn't even 24 hours, which is how long videos and pictures stay in Snapchat … even my sister was like 'Yeah, that's suspicious.'"

While the friends said Wells disappeared after he chose to stay behind on the island, the family said that account also raised concerns.

"I just, I can't — I can't fathom why he would," Christine said.

Elmore also echoed his wife's statement, saying their son was taught to always stay with his group.

"We always told him, if you go with a group, you stay with a group," Elmore said.

After recovering the teen's body Monday, officials said Wells had drowned. Crump, however, said Wells knew how to swim and the family does not believe he drowned accidentally.

What's next for Nolan Wells' family?

Crump said Wells' family has hired an independent autopsy as they continue searching for answers. The attorney also revealed that former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick helped pay for the autopsy.

"We flew his body up from Mississippi to D.C. because they wanted an autopsy done by a person with no interaction with the Mississippi law enforcement because there's an issue of trust here that is really important," Crump said.

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