Who is Dr. Roger Mitchell? What We Know About the Forensic Pathologist Who Performed Nolan Wells’ Autopsy
Preliminary independent autopsy report commissioned by legal team Nolan Wells’s The family has concluded that the cause and manner of the teen’s death are currently listed as “undetermined” and the investigation remains ongoing.
The doctor who conducted the autopsy said in his report that he could not rule out the possibility of foul play. wellsBen Crump, an attorney for the Wells family, disclosed the findings Wednesday at a news conference at the 117th NAACP National Convention.
Crump further noted that the report, which was compiled after two autopsies, also found red discoloration on the back of Wells’ head. However, the report appears to be flawed for the following reasons: Crump Described as missing body parts and incomplete procedures.
Who is Dr. Roger Mitchell?
The autopsy was performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a board-certified forensic pathologist and president of the National Medical Association. Crump said it is the oldest and largest organization of black physicians in the United States.
Crump said Wednesday that toxicology reports were not part of the autopsy.
According to Crump, autopsy The incident occurred on July 10, six days after Wells disappeared and four days after his body was found on the northwest coast of Horn Island.
Dr. Mitchell is board certified in anatomical and forensic pathology from the American Board of Pathology. He is a tenured professor of pathology and currently serves as chief medical officer at Howard University, where he completed his studies.
Additionally, he co-authored the book Death in Custody: How America Is Ignoring the Truth and What We Can Do About It, which explores preventable deaths in prisons.
Official autopsy report still incomplete
The Jackson County coroner performed an autopsy on the 18-year-old football player. However, the results of the investigation have not yet been released as the coroner’s office is waiting for the medical examiner’s office to complete a toxicology report.
Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told NBC News on Tuesday that the state autopsy report remains incomplete.
According to the report, Mitchell could not determine whether Wells was conscious when he entered the water or how he entered the water.
Crump called Wells’ condition before he entered the water “the crux of the matter” and stressed it was crucial to determine the cause and manner of death.
Additionally, because of the state of decomposition when Mitchell received Wells’ body, Crump said it was impossible to determine whether there were any bruises on the body as described in the report.
Nolan Wells Death Investigation
Wells was last seen on the afternoon of July 4, but the exact time remains uncertain. He travels to the island, which is only accessible by boat, to celebrate the holidays with a group of high school friends.
His friends told police that when they had to set off early because the boat started taking on water, Wells assured them he would stay and return later with the others.
Wells did not come home that night, prompting his mother to report him missing around midnight. On July 6, an American park ranger discovered his body.
Crump said parts of Wells’ throat were missing
In the autopsy report submitted by Crump, Mitchell observed that portions of Wells’ throat were missing when the body was examined.
Crump said pathologists could not rule out the possibility that neck injuries may have contributed to death and urged local law enforcement to provide state autopsy results to Mitchell.
Crump further stressed that Mitchell should be present when a Mississippi grand jury reviews the death investigation.
Wells’ parents, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, spoke to the audience before the results were announced at the NAACP convention.
“There are a lot of people in the public asking all these questions, but the only question we have is what happened to our son,” Wells-Wansley said.
She cited delays in the release of state-run autopsy reports as one of the reasons her family chose to have an independent autopsy.
