Full coverage
WATCH: Crump announces results of Nolan Wells' independent autopsy with family
By Extra Extra Editorial
Cross-spectrum analysis, synthesized with AI from 13 sources · Updated
An independent autopsy of Nolan Wells, a Black teenager from Mississippi, has returned an 'undetermined' finding for both cause and manner of death, according to results announced by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. The private autopsy was conducted following questions about the circumstances surrounding the teen's death and the adequacy of initial official findings. This development has prompted renewed calls for further investigation into what happened. The case has drawn significant media attention, with outlets across the political spectrum covering the autopsy results and their implications for understanding the full picture of events.
Left-leaning outlets treat the autopsy's inconclusive findings as evidence that further investigation is warranted and necessary. These sources emphasize the involvement of Crump, a prominent civil rights attorney, and frame the 'undetermined' result as raising legitimate questions about the adequacy of prior official processes. The coverage suggests that independent examination has revealed gaps in understanding and implies that institutional mechanisms may not have been sufficiently rigorous.
Center and independent outlets present the autopsy results more straightforwardly as a factual development requiring attention. These sources report the 'undetermined' finding and note that it prompts continued investigation, without layering additional interpretive framing about what the result signifies for institutional accountability or systemic issues.
Right-leaning coverage is notably sparse, with available sources offering a different interpretive angle. One outlet quotes a former medical examiner suggesting the autopsy does not point to foul play, implying that the 'undetermined' result should not be read as evidence of wrongdoing or institutional failure. This framing emphasizes what the autopsy does not show rather than what remains unclear.
Key Differences
- Left outlets emphasize the autopsy as evidence of investigative gaps and frame it within narratives of institutional accountability; right outlets are underrepresented and focus on what the findings do not indicate rather than what they leave unresolved.
- Coverage volume is heavily skewed toward left-leaning sources (19 vs. 3), creating an asymmetry in how prominently the story circulates across the political spectrum.
- Left and center sources treat the 'undetermined' result as raising questions requiring further work; the limited right-leaning coverage attempts to contain interpretive scope by emphasizing absence of evidence for foul play.
How this story is being covered
Extra Extra has grouped 13 reports on this story from 13 news outlets across the political spectrum. By political lean, that breaks down as 8 left-leaning, 3 center, and 2 right-leaning sources.
With a coverage-diversity score of 84 out of 100, this is one of the more evenly reported stories in our index right now — left, center, and right outlets are all giving it attention.
On reliability, 10 of the 13 rated outlets carry a high or mostly-factual reliability rating (A or B) and 3 outlets fall into our mixed or lower-reliability tier (C or D). Ratings are drawn from independent assessments and are meant to help you weigh each report, not to tell you which to trust.
Coverage of this story has developed over roughly 13 hours, so the perspectives below capture how the framing shifted as the story matured.
Below, the same story is laid out side by side as left, center, and right outlets reported it. Read across the columns and watch what changes: the headline emphasis, which facts lead, the adjectives, and what each side leaves out. The story itself rarely changes — the framing almost always does.
Outlets covering this story: CBS News, The Boston Globe, NBC News, NPR, ABC News, Chicago Sun-Times, TheGrio, The New Yorker, NewsNation, Newsweek, PBS NewsHour, Washington Examiner, NY Post.
Left(8)
CBS NewsBJul 22, 2:42 PM
Nolan Wells' cause of death undetermined, family's autopsy shows
Nolan Wells, 18, was found dead just off Horn Island in Mississippi after enjoying a day out with friends on July 4.
The Boston GlobeAJul 22, 3:18 PM
Independent autopsy of Nolan Wells finds ‘undetermined’ cause of death
The autopsy announcement comes two days after Wells was laid to rest in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
NBC NewsBJul 22, 2:22 PM
Nolan Wells’ independent autopsy results in ‘undetermined’ cause and manner of death
A preliminary independent autopsy report commissioned by the legal team representing Nolan Wells’ family found the teenager’s cause and manner of death were “undetermined” pending investigation.
NPRAJul 22, 2:48 PM
Independent autopsy "inconclusive" on cause of death for 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi
An independent autopsy of the body of Nolan Wells shows that the cause of death is undetermined pending an investigation, according to attorney Ben Crump.
ABC NewsBJul 22, 1:59 AM
Results of autopsy of Nolan Wells to be released Wednesday, family's attorney says
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump plans to release the results of an independent autopsy into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells on Wednesday
Chicago Sun-TimesBJul 22, 2:17 PM
Results of Nolan Wells autopsy to be released at NAACP Chicago conference
An attorney for the family of Nolan Xavier Wells says he will release the results of an independent autopsy into the 18-year-old's death on Wednesday morning. The preliminary findings are set to be ma
TheGrioCJul 22, 2:25 PM
Pathologists say they ‘cannot rule out foul play’ in preliminary autopsy results of Nolan Wells
Attorney Ben Crump shared the preliminary findings of the independent autopsy of Nolan Wells in the ongoing investigation. Attorney Ben
The New YorkerAJul 22, 10:00 AM
Christopher Nolan’s Plot to Change the Way We Watch Movies
We used to worry about people going to the cinema at all; now film lovers are making pilgrimages to one of the twenty-five theatres in the country equipped to project “The Odyssey” in its intended for
Center(3)
NewsNationBJul 22, 12:03 PM
Nolan Wells cause of death undetermined after private autopsy
A private autopsy of the Mississippi teen did not produce a cause of death.
NewsweekBJul 22, 2:08 PM
Nolan Wells Autopsy Fails to Determine Cause of Death, Attorney Says
An independent autopsy conducted in Washington, D.C., found that Nolan Wells' death was undetermined pending investigation.
PBS NewsHourAJul 22, 1:11 PM
WATCH: Crump announces results of Nolan Wells' independent autopsy with family
The preliminary findings are set to be made public during a news conference held at the annual NAACP National Convention in Chicago, according to the civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representi
Right(2)
Washington ExaminerCJul 22, 2:56 PM
Christopher Nolan had the Muses on his side
Christopher Nolan, perhaps the greatest director in the world, is back with another winner. The man behind Oppenheimer (2023) now gives us The Odyssey, a movie adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic. The
NY PostCJul 22, 3:01 PM
The surprising item Christopher Nolan banned from the ‘Odyssey’ set
"I want to stay in the moment," Nolan shared of his reasoning for banning the popular item from his sets.
Get this analysis in your inbox
The Daily Spectrum: one email, three perspectives on the day's biggest stories.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.
New to comparing coverage? Start with our guides to reading the news critically.
Back to Compare