As the investigation into Nolan Wells’ death continues, a toxicology report claiming to belong to the teenager has surfaced online. However, officials have now said the report is fake and confirmed that the official autopsy report has not yet been released to the public.

Wells, an 18-year-old man from Ocean Springs, went on an Independence Day trip to Horn Island off the coast of Mississippi, where he went missing. His remains were found on the morning of July 6, 2026. Ever since, the case has received widespread attention, as the victim’s parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the official investigation and conducted an independent autopsy.

Authorities Confirm Nolan Wells’ Toxicology Report Circulating Online Is Fake

Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell took to social media on August 1, 2026, to warn people of the fraudulent toxicology report. “The purported toxicology report from Nolan Wells circulating through social media on various outlets is fraudulent. Nolan’s family, friends, and most importantly, Nolan himself, deserve better,” he wrote on Facebook.

The commissioner urged the public not to fall for the fake report, likely generated using artificial intelligence. “Fraudsters, AI, and social media are a recipe for disaster.  All they want you to do is click and share, don’t!” Tindell added. Russell Latino, the lawyer representing Wells’ friend Bart Edminson Jr., echoed similar concerns, saying the fake reports can be deceptive because they look authentic.

“There are phony toxicology reports on Nolan Wells circulating now. Some of them are very well done if you don’t know what to look for. (They look very real),” Latino posted on his social media account. “The disinformation campaigns in this case are wild and candidly undermine the actual investigation. Someone’s death should not be your entertainment. Touch grass today,” he continued.

Wells’ Official Autopsy Report Has Not Been Released

Investigators initially suggested that Wells died of accidental drowning. His autopsy was conducted on July 7, 2026, but it was not released to the public. Instead, the findings were submitted directly to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said a grand jury would review the report and other evidence to determine whether charges should be filed in the case. The report will be declassified after that process. Wells’ parents suspect foul play in his death and conducted an independent autopsy. However, it could not determine the cause of his death and indicated that further investigation was required.

Wells’ family is being represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is calling for a thorough investigation into the teen’s death. Some people have also pointed to a possible racial angle, saying Wells was the only Black man in his group of friends who traveled to Horn Island.

His friends have maintained that they have nothing to do with his death, saying he decided to stay back on the island after meeting a girl, while they returned to the mainland. The group has also launched a fundraising campaign to hire a legal team, saying they are facing trolling and receiving death threats. On the other hand, Wells’ parents have maintained that he was not the kind of person to stay behind while his friends returned to the mainland.