Nolan Wells autopsy overlooked key part of the body, expert says: I was shocked

Nolan Wells’s state autopsy overlooked one key part of the body in determining his cause of death, according to one “shocked” forensic expert.The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s three-page autopsy report, which listed the cause and manner of death for Wells, 18, as undetermined, did not mention his sphenoid sinus — a crucial indicator in suspected drowning cases, Dr.

Priya Banerjee told People.“The pathologist did not check the sphenoid sinus.It’s not even mentioned,” Banerjee, a board-certified forensic pathologist unconnected to Wells’ case, told the outlet.“In a case like this … I was shocked to see how limited in scope it is, and then she [the examiner] doesn’t check the sphenoid.”The sphenoid sinuses, which are at the base of the skull, can have fluid in them in drowning victims, just like the stomach, lungs, and airways, according to the pathologistThe state autopsy conducted after Wells, a Southwest Mississippi Community College football player, was found dead two days after vanishing from a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island with pals, was released by family attorney Ben Crump and his team on Thursday.The undetermined findings echoed the results of an independent autopsy carried out by a pathologist hired by Wells’ family.A Jackson County grand jury report released on Friday determined that Wells’ death was “consistent with drowning,” and there was no foul play.Banerjee agreed with the diagnosis, based on the autopsy report, which excluded other major traumas.“There is no A equals B for drowning,” she says, adding, “If there’s a gunshot wound to the head, there’s a gunshot wound to the head.”Though Wells had unexplained bruising on the back of his head, the grand jury determined that the injury was non-lethal and possibly occurred when a witness saw him “awkwardly” slip off a boat on the afternoon of that fateful day.

The witness, who testified under oath, couldn’t definitely say whether the college stu...