Attorney Liza Park, who is part of Ben Crump‘s legal team, says the family remains ready for its experts, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, and potentially the FBI to jointly access and download data from the device.
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Speaking at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Atlanta, Park said the family is ready for the examination to move forward, but a dispute over the logistics of the process has delayed proceedings.
According to PEOPLE, the District Attorney’s Office has asked for the phone to be delivered to law enforcement. The family maintains that this differs from an earlier understanding that the device would undergo a joint review involving both official and outside forensic experts. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The latest development comes as Wells’ family continues its push for answers ahead of what would have been his 19th birthday on August 19.
Rep. Lucy McBath has also joined calls for greater scrutiny. The Congressional Black Caucus has formally contacted U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, urging the Department of Justice to assess whether an independent federal review, including under applicable civil rights laws, is warranted. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Wells, an 18-year-old college student from Mississippi, disappeared during a July 4 trip to Horn Island with friends. His body was discovered two days later. Authorities initially said there were no apparent signs of foul play and suspected drowning, though the official cause of death has not been publicly released and the investigation remains ongoing. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
The family’s continued pursuit of answers follows an independent autopsy backed by Colin Kaepernick and a growing call for transparency surrounding Wells’ final hours.
