Nolan Wells' hometown officials rally behind sheriff after 'derelict in their duties' attack

Officials from Nolan Wells’ hometown are rallying behind their sheriff after being accused of being “derelict in their duties” on Wednesday morning.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson accused Mississippi officials of failing to properly handle the case during the same news conference where attorney Ben Crump announced the independent autopsy results.

“We’re not accusing anyone of anything other than the state of Mississippi and local officials. We’re accusing them of being derelict in their duties,” Johnson said. “To follow up and to ensure that regardless of what happened, that there was the proper investigation so that this family and that community could be assured that if anyone was involved, they would be held accountable.”

Without having additional information, Mitchell wrote in his report that he couldn’t rule out the possibility that “non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death.”

The independent autopsy’s release comes as Rev. Al Sharpton said he’s offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of Wells. Authorities previously told the Associated Press that foul play isn’t suspected.

Wells’ friends returned to the mainland that afternoon without him. Ledbetter has said investigators believe Wells chose to stay on the island. It wasn’t until later that night that his mother learned he was missing from one of Wells’ friends and reported it to authorities.