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McCune Law Group Attorney Joe Richardson Discusses Nolan Wells Case on CNN
Civil rights attorney Joe Richardson joined CNN’s Boris Sanchez on Laura Coates Live last week to offer legal analysis on the ongoing investigation into the death of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old Mississippi student-athlete who died following a July 4th trip to Horn Island. The appearance follows Joe’s earlier discussion of the case on Law&Crime Network’s Sidebar podcast.
Joe addressed several key questions driving public interest in the case. He spoke to the evidentiary weight of Wells’ missing phone and the unexplained gap in his social media activity that day, noting that for a generation that documents everything, the absence of that digital trail is itself significant. He also weighed in on how investigators should approach witness accounts at this early stage, cautioning against being too selective about which information gets pursued before a clearer picture emerges.
On what the Wells family has said they need moving forward, Joe emphasized that transparency, not just outcome, is what will ultimately allow the family to move forward. He also addressed the controversy surrounding a public Facebook statement made by the mother of one of the young men who was with Wells on the island, a local judge, and whether that kind of public commentary was appropriate given the active investigation.
CNN — Laura Coates Live
Video Transcript
[0:00] JOE RICHARDSON: But the family’s grief is very different than the family’s justice. And we’re going to have to do the things that we need to do to check every box so that this family can get some closure about what actually happened with their son because what’s being said right now and what’s being suggested does not make sense.
[0:15]. JOE RICHARDSON: Hey guys, Joe Richardson, McCune Law Group. Listen, this Nolan Wells tragedy, it goes beyond words in terms of how tragic it is, but the concerns that the family has, which are legitimate concerns, are rooted in both circumstance and history. They’ve got unanswered questions that should be answered. And ultimately, even though I comment on it recently on CNN, which we’re getting ready to show you, this is really a perfect example of the intersection between the law and common sense. I think that’s why so many people, are paying attention to it. May he rest in peace
[0:51] BORIS SANCHEZ: Joining us now to discuss the investigation is civil rights attorney Joe Richardson. Joe, thanks so much for being with us this evening. Ben Crump, who’s representing the family, told Jake Tapper earlier that his number one question is why Nolan left his cell phone. The family also says he went hours without posting to Snapchat, and they’re wondering if those posts, if they exist, could have been deleted. How crucial is that phone in terms of evidence? How could it help determine what really happened?
[1:20] JOE RICHARDSON: Good to be with you, Boris. It’s the beginning and the end of the largest questions related to this case. First of all, he’s a social kid — he snaps, he sends pictures. They’re out on July 4th, out on the island doing their thing. There would seem to be information missing if there are no snaps and no pictures. And then the phone — why would anyone separate themselves from their phone? No one would do that. It’s a safety issue, and for young people, it’s a status issue. We don’t do anything without our phone, and if it’s true he was about to go away and not be with his friends, that makes it all the more important for him to have had it.
[2:01] BORIS SANCHEZ: Investigators are asking for any original, unedited photos and videos from the island, including any that show an alleged altercation or even just Wells himself. What are they going to need to build a reliable timeline and separate verified evidence from rumors flooding social media?
[2:15] JOE RICHARDSON: They’re going to have to get to the heart of the matter. But I’d say they shouldn’t limit themselves to only firsthand information right now. If you’re lacking information — particularly on an island where there aren’t a lot of public cameras — you start with whatever you hear, and then you make distinctions about what can be followed up on, what ought to be followed up on, what tracks and what doesn’t. I don’t think the investigating agency should be too discriminating right now about what information comes in. If they’re truly trying to get to the bottom of this, you take everything at face value, see what tracks, and see where it takes you — as opposed to working toward some predetermined outcome.
[3:08] BORIS SANCHEZ: Joe, the family has called for an independent autopsy and a fully transparent investigation. Ben Crump said Mississippi’s racial history helps explain why they’re skeptical and want outside scrutiny. What can authorities do now to give this family confidence that every lead is being followed up on?
[3:29] JOE RICHARDSON: The most important thing is transparency — go above and beyond so you’ve shown every card, left no stone unturned, looked at everything. Frankly, it would start with making sure — apparently Nolan’s best friend hasn’t been interviewed yet, and he doesn’t seem to have a problem with it — that would be a natural place to start. Check every box, so that when you come up with a result, the family — who’s already tasked with doing something no family wants to do, burying a child — can move on the best way they can. It’s not something you get over, but something you can try to get through. It starts with transparency about knowing everything they can know. And maybe if that independent autopsy is inconclusive, or consistent with what the coroner found, that’s a starting point.
[4:19] BORIS SANCHEZ: Joe, before we go — the mother of one of the men pictured with Wells happens to be a local judge. She put out a lengthy post on Facebook this week trying to dispel rumors, saying her son is fully cooperating with authorities. Was it appropriate for her to speak out about an active investigation this way, as a judge?
[4:36] JOE RICHARDSON: No, it was not. You don’t put your toe in the water as a judge — normally the only public statements judges make are about the cases they’re actually judging. She may have wavered over it, and she should know better, but it was a mistake. She said she did it so people could focus on the family’s grief.
About Joe Richardson
At McCune Law Group, Richardson leads the firm’s Racial & Economic Justice Practice, litigating employment, civil rights, and class action cases involving the treatment of disadvantaged individuals, alongside advocacy work with community, business, and religious leaders across the Inland Empire. Learn more about MLG’s Civil Rights practice.
Joe Richardson is not affiliated with the Wells family’s legal team and has no role in the case. His appearances reflect his ongoing work as a national legal commentator, including regular appearances on Court TV and Law&Crime Network.
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McCune Law Group, APC is responsible for this content. Counsel Joseph Richardson is licensed to practice in the state of California and Washington, D.C. Principal Office: Ontario, California.
