Legal Limitations and Civil Liability Concerning Retention and Disposition of Human Remains Under Fourteenth Amendment Procedural Due Process and State Medical Examiner Statutes

Page 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE CASE NUMBER: ME26-0514 DECEDENT: Nolan Xavier Wells AGE: 18 YOA SEX: Male Received from: JACKSON COUNTY Date of Examination: 07/07/2026 REPORT OF POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION I. History that the decedent was found face down in the water at Horn Island. II. Subcutaneous scalp contusions, bilateral superior nuchal line area. III. No other external or internal injuries. IV. No internal organ abnormalities contributing to death. V. Toxicology (chest decomposition fluid): A. Ethanol 270 mg/dL. B. Cannabinoids presumptive positive *. C. Nicotine and cotinine presumptive positive. D. Caffeine presumptive positive. * Comment: Confirmatory testing did not reveal cannabinoids in the decomposition fluid. CAUSE OF DEATH: Undetermined MANNER OF DEATH: Undetermined The facts stated herein are correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. 08/17/2026 Staci Turner, MD Date: State Medical Examiner 215 Allen Stuart Drive Pearl, MS 39208 Page 2 CASE NUMBER: ME26-0514 DECEDENT: Nolan Xavier Wells A postmortem examination was performed on the body of Nolan Wells at the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office in Biloxi, Mississippi on 07/07/2026 by Staci Turner, MD, State Medical Examiner Length: 75 inches Weight: 200 pounds Appearance: Decomposed with diffuse skin slippage, bloating, and gray-green skin discoloration Rigor: Absent Hair: Black Eyes: Cloudy Ears: Normally formed Nose/Mouth: Atraumatic Teeth: Natural Facial Hair: None Abdomen: Flat, firm Back: Atraumatic Extremities: Well-Developed Genitalia: Adult male Clothing: Swim trunks, underwear Identified by: Dental Postmortem X-rays of the head and neck reveal no visible injuries of the skull or cervical Radiographs: spine. X-rays of the hyoid bone show unfused greater horns without fractures. EVIDENCE OF INJURY Two dark red-purple subcutaneous scalp contusions overlie the superior nuchal line area of the posterior skull. Each measures approximately 2 inches. There are no external scalp injuries. No fractures are in the skull. No hemorrhages overlie the brain. No hemorrhages are within the partially liquified brain parenchyma. INTERNAL EXAMINATION 215 Allen Stuart Drive Pearl, MS 39208 Page 3 CASE NUMBER: ME26-0514 DECEDENT: Nolan Xavier Wells Brain: 1,342 grams Markedly softened and partially liquified. Neck: The larynx and hyoid bone are without hemorrhages or fractures. The anterior cervical spine is unremarkable. Heart: 268 grams Lungs: Right: 402 grams Left: 353 grams No fluid or debris is within the airways. GI Tract: Unremarkable. The stomach is empty. Liver: 835 grams Spleen: 92 grams Kidneys: Right: 110 grams Left: 111 grams Pancreas: Unremarkable. Appendix: Present Body Cavities: Each chest cavity contains approximately 100 mL of red-brown decomposition fluid. The internal organs (unless otherwise specified) are free of injury and significant natural disease or pathologic change. SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION This 18 year old male was found face down in the water at Horn Island. Because the circumstances surrounding this death are unknown, the cause and manner of death are best classified as undetermined. 215 Allen Stuart Drive Pearl, MS 39208 Page 4 DATE: FORENSIC CASE REWEW FORENSIC TECHIVICAL ASSISTANCE Benjamin Crump Law Firm Benjamin Crump Esq Roger A. Mitchell, Jr. MD Board Certified Forensic Pathologist RAM Consulting LLC Preliminary Report: Death of Nolan Xavier Wells fuly 19, 2026 Preliminary Report — Second Autopsy — Death of Nolan Xavier Wells Cause of Death: Undetermined — Pending Investigation Manner of Death: Undetermined — Pending Investigation Statement of Examination: This forensic pathologist was retained to perform a second autopsy examunation on the body of Nolan Xavier Wells. NAME OF DECEDENT: NOLAN XAVIER WELLS AGE: 18 YEARS RACE: BLACK GENDER: MALE DATE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN SECOND AUTOPSY DATE: JULY 10, 2026 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS 1 Focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue of the back of the head, occipital region - Etiology Unknown A. B Cc D E. The Body Received After Initial Autopsy . Marked Decomposition Coronal incision of the scalp 1, Brain Removed Y Shaped incision of the anterior torso 1. Organs removed. a, Accompanying the body in the body cavity Anterior Internal Neck Structures Absent (not received with body) Il. Additional Procedures Performed During Second Autopsy A Bilateral Facial Dissection 1) Page Page 5 1. No Fractures 2. No Evidence of Deep Tissue Injury B. Postenor Head Dissection 1. Focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue of the back of the head, occipital region 2. No Fractures C_ Posterior Neck Dissection 1. No Fractures 2. No Evidence of Deep Tissue Injury D. Rib Exposure Dissection 1. No Fractures 2. No Evidence of Deep Tissue Injury E. Pelvic Dissection 1. No Fractures 2. No Evidence of Deep Tissue Injury F. Subcutaneous and deep soft tissue dissection of the back, buttocks, arms and legs 1. No Evidence of Deep Tissue Injury TIL Remote Healed Scars A. Left Ankle [V. Histology — Submitted V. Toxicology - Not performed Preliminary Discussion | Opinion: This forensic pathologist identified several limitations during the second autopsy that create barriers to establishing a defimtive cause and manner of death for Nolan Navier Wells. The second autopsy performed on Nolan Wells revealed marked decompositional changes Marked decomposition can obscure the presence or absence of bruising on the skin surface, especially during a second autopsy examunation. For these reasons, additional dissection procedures, not performed during the first autopsy examination, were performed to rule out potential blunt force injuries responsible for the death These procedures included facial dissection, posterior head and neck dissection, dissection of the ribs, pelvic dissection, and subcutaneous and deep soft tissue dissection of the back, buttocks, arms, and legs. There were no fractures or deep tissue injuries identified. However, dissection of the back of head dunng the layered posterior neck dissection revealed a 12 X 8-inch focal area of red discoloration in the deep soft tissues overlying the occipital bone. The etiology of this finding is unclear. There are no lacerations of the overlying skin nor fractures of the underlying skull. These findings are inconclusive for perimortem injury due to both the extensive decomposition and the absence of associated injuries. This finding, however, is significant enough to be highlighted in this preliminary report for further investigation It is important to reiterate that this finding could not have been observed in the first autopsy because the posterior head and neck dissections were not 2| Page Page 6 JQ BEN CR Ae FORENSIC CASE REVIEW FORENSIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SII | performed. Another limitation faced by this forensic pathologist was the absence of the anterior internal neck structures. The tracheal and laryngeal cartilages, thyroid horn, and hyoid bone were not received with the body. [t is assumed that the initial pathologist retained these structures for additional evaluation. The retention of the antenor neck structures during an intial autopsy is a common forensic pathology practice. Nevertheless, a posterior neck dissection performed without review of the anterior neck structures, is incomplete. Therefore, this pathologist cannot rule out injury to the neck as a contributor or cause of death. Because the imtal autopsy nghtfully removed and dissected each organ, there are additional linntations inherent in the second autopsy of Nolan Wells. The most significant of the limitations was the inability to directly observe the airway and lungs for water and directly observe the stomach for gastric contents. In addition, the original toxicology results had not been received at the time of this report. Lastly, in cases where a death has occurred in or around a body of water with suspicion of drowning it is important to confirm how that person entered the water. This information is especially important for those deaths of persons who can swim, as is the case with Nolan Wells. At the time of this report, this forensic pathologist does not know the condition of Nolan Wells (i.¢. conscious or unconscious, forced or unforced) before entering the water. Definitive circumstances of death are required to determine manner of death. For these reasons, this pathologist cannot rule out if any intervening non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death of Nolan Wells. With the following questions still outstanding: What were the circumstances that led to Nolan Xavier Wells entering the water? What was the body position when found? Was there water in the airway? Is there any evidence of injuries to the anterior neck structures? Is there any evidence of intracranial hemorrhage (subdural or subarachnoid)? What was the composition of the stomach contents? What are the toxicology report findings? ADVewNe The best classification for the cause and manner of death for Nolan Xavier Wells is Undetermined - Pending Investigation. This forensic pathologist reserves the right to review and incorporate additional forensic pathology information into his opinion as it becomes available. — > —duly 19,2026 Roger A. Mitchell, Jr DATE The above opinions are expressed to a reasonable degree of medical certainty 3| Page Page 7 Noreen Xavi €e WELL Cu mds Foca Tio? Dire can Leo — Pittrr@atriioo SoPrnrics ve _— i) C \ / Fionn T bAcK | sane tee: jeco Distoretanl Sorpr-Tisve Gace (dccrrrac) Tha ]2t 4|Page Page 8 NaAd KAVIFL WELT CrAe; FicATion Dieta iti: Vv, NECe sTav CrvaEesc 5| Page

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