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Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

5 Left29 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of July 22, 2026 at 4:21 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.
The headline split The left frames it as "What the independent autopsy revealed about Nolan Wells’ death: 7 key findings". The center frames it as "Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 34 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

34 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceModerate

58/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftWhat the independent autopsy revealed about Nolan Wells’ death: 7 key findings

TheGrio · Left · News report

CenterPreliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

WDSU New Orleans (Hearst) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 4:10 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
KABC / ABC7 Los AngelesNews report · Jul 22, 4:21 PM

Nolan Wells' independent autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

The preliminary findings from Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells' independent autopsy were announced on Wednesday as the investigation into his death continues.

Open source
CenterHigh
WLS / ABC7 ChicagoNews report · Jul 22, 4:21 PM

Nolan Wells' independent autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

The preliminary findings from Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells' independent autopsy were announced on Wednesday as the investigation into his death continues.

Open source
CenterHigh
KGO / ABC7 San FranciscoNews report · Jul 22, 4:21 PM

Nolan Wells' independent autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

The preliminary findings from Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells' independent autopsy were announced on Wednesday as the investigation into his death continues.

Open source
CenterHigh
WPVI / 6abc PhiladelphiaNews report · Jul 22, 4:21 PM

Nolan Wells' independent autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

The preliminary findings from Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells' independent autopsy were announced on Wednesday as the investigation into his death continues.

Open source
CenterHigh
KTRK / ABC13 HoustonNews report · Jul 22, 4:21 PM

Nolan Wells' independent autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

The preliminary findings from Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells' independent autopsy were announced on Wednesday as the investigation into his death continues.

Open source
Show all 34 sources
LeftMostly Factual
TheGrioNews report · Jul 22, 4:10 PM

What the independent autopsy revealed about Nolan Wells’ death: 7 key findings

whatrevealedaboutfindings

Experts found several issues in the independent autopsy of Nolan Wells, including a missing throat and discoloration on the back

Open source
CenterHigh
WMUR Hearst WLKY32 (Louisville)News report · Jul 22, 4:10 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
Center-leftHigh
CBS NewsNews report · Jul 22, 4:02 PM

What Nolan Wells' preliminary independent autopsy findings revealed about his death

Mississippi teen Nolan Wells vanished while on a Fourth of July boat trip with a group of friends. His body was found days later. Attorney Ben Crump shared the results of the teen's prelimi...

Open source
CenterHigh
KMBC9 (Hearst, Kansas City)News report · Jul 22, 4:00 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WFMY News 2 (Tegna, Greensboro)News report · Jul 22, 3:58 PM

Attorney for family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells presents results of independent autopsy

The 18-year-old from Mississippi went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip with several of his friends. His body was found two days later.

Open source
CenterHigh
WVEC 13News Now (Tegna, Norfolk)News report · Jul 22, 3:58 PM

Attorney for family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells presents results of independent autopsy

The 18-year-old from Mississippi went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip with several of his friends. His body was found two days later.

Open source
CenterHigh
Mississippi TodayNews report · Jul 22, 3:56 PM

Nolan Xavier Wells’ independent autopsy can’t rule out foul play

Independent pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. wrote that Nolan Xavier Wells' cause and manner of death are undetermined, citing multiple challenges when he examined the body.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Jul 22, 3:50 PM

Nolan Wells’ autopsy results raise new questions about teen’s death on July 4 boat trip in Mississippi

The autopsy is part of an independent investigation into the circumstances of the teenager's disappearance

Open source
CenterHigh
WREG News Channel 3 (Nexstar, Memphis)News report · Jul 22, 3:48 PM

Nolan Wells' cause and manner of death undetermined, according to independent autopsy

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) - According to a preliminary independent autopsy, the manner and cause of death for Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, are undetermined, pending investigation. The prelimi...

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Rolling StoneNews report · Jul 22, 3:29 PM

Nolan Wells Preliminary Independent Autopsy Says Cause of Death Is Still ‘Undetermined’

'Any parent that would be in this situation, you would do anything to find out what happened to your child, and that is what we're here to do,' said Wells’ mom

Open source
CenterHigh
KCRA3 Sacramento (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WISN12 Milwaukee (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WLWT Cincinnati (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WGAL8 (Hearst, Lancaster)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WXII12 (Hearst, Greensboro)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WYFF4 (Hearst, Greenville)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

preliminaryresultsreleased

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WMTW8 (Hearst, Portland ME)News report · Jul 22, 3:24 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WUSA9 (Tegna, Washington DC)News report · Jul 22, 3:23 PM

Attorney for family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells presents results of independent autopsy

The 18-year-old from Mississippi went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip with several of his friends. His body was found two days later.

Open source
CenterHigh
KARE11 (Tegna, Minneapolis)News report · Jul 22, 3:23 PM

Attorney for family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells presents results of independent autopsy

The 18-year-old from Mississippi went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip with several of his friends. His body was found two days later.

Open source
CenterHigh
WCNC Charlotte (Tegna)News report · Jul 22, 3:23 PM

Attorney for family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells presents results of independent autopsy

The 18-year-old from Mississippi went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip with several of his friends. His body was found two days later.

Open source
CenterHigh
AllSidesNews report · Jul 22, 2:49 PM

Nolan Wells cause of death undetermined after private autopsy

The results of the private autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells have come back inconclusive. Preliminary results show the Mississippi teen's cause and manner of death are undetermined. Wells'...

Open source
Center-leftHigh
NPRNews report · Jul 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.

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
ABC7 New YorkNews report · Jul 22, 2:46 PM

Nolan Wells' independent autopsy says cause, manner of death 'undetermined pending investigation'

The preliminary findings from Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells' independent autopsy were announced on Wednesday as the investigation into his death continues.

Open source
CenterHigh
WCVB Boston (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 2:41 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH)News report · Jul 22, 2:41 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 2:41 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
CenterHigh
WBAL Baltimore (Hearst)News report · Jul 22, 2:41 PM

Preliminary independent autopsy results for Nolan Wells' death are released

The independent autopsy results in Nolan Wells' death have been released. The 18-year-old was found dead earlier this month along the shoreline of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast.

Open source
Details58/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 34 sources
58/99 Wording GapMedium confidence34 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 34 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Jul 22, 2:41 PM: WCVB Boston (Hearst) joined the source map.

Jul 22, 2:41 PM: WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH) joined the source map.

Jul 22, 2:41 PM: WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst) joined the source map.

Jul 22, 2:41 PM: WBAL Baltimore (Hearst) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 58/99 and story health is live match · 34 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.