The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells is thanking filmmaker Tyler Perry for helping cover funeral costs after the teen’s death following a 4th of July trip to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast — a case that continues to raise unanswered questions.
Wells was reported missing during the trip with friends and was later found dead. While the case has drawn national attention, authorities say they have not confirmed any evidence of a crime, even as both investigators and the family continue to examine what happened in his final hours.
At a July 10 news conference, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, acknowledged Perry’s support, along with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is funding an independent autopsy in Washington, D.C.
“These were just regular parents going about their life,” Crump said.
A source close to Perry said the filmmaker reached out to the family after learning about the case.
In a statement, Perry said his decision to help was deeply personal, citing his own experiences with unresolved deaths involving loved ones.
“As a son of the South… I know what it’s like to not have the answers that loved ones so desperately need,” Perry said. “The agony is debilitating.”
Media entrepreneur Byron Allen is also made a $100,000 contribution to a GoFundMe for the ongoing investigation and push for answers in the case.
Allen’s donation adds to a growing show of support from high-profile figures backing the 18-year-old’s parents as they continue to seek clarity about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Fromer NFL star Colin Kaepernick is covering the costs of conducting a private and independent autopsy in the hopes Wells’ family ultimately gets clarity about what happened.
