ATLANTA — The parents of Nolan Wells were in Atlanta on Thursday following a panel on how their son’s death is being covered nationally.
Christine and Elmore Wonsley told a room packed with journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention that all they want is to know is what happened to their son, Channel 2’s Tom Jones reported.
“Our lives have forever changed. This new normal is something I would not wish on anyone, even my worst enemy,” Christine Wonsley said.
Wells, 18, vanished during a Fourth of July boat trip with friends. He did not come back with the group when they returned to the mainland of Mississippi that night. The Associated Press noted he was the only Black person on the boat.
On Thursday, the Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Wells family, were part of a panel at the NABJ.
The panel focused on the Wells’ family pursuit of a full and transparent investigation into his death.
Deputies say he drowned and there is no sign of foul play, but Nolan’s family said there were several inconsistent stories from the people their son was with.
Friends said he separated from them and went with a girl he met, and he didn’t take his phone.
They say Nolan would never leave friends he came with and would never go without his phone.
Nolan’s mother says he was a special child.
“Nolan is and was incredible, I mean incredible soul,” she said. “He was the person that no matter where you were in life, what was going on, he was going to be your biggest cheerleader.”