In an interview with ABC News published Monday (July 13), Ledbetter said the investigation will prioritize accuracy over speed.
“Nolan Wells’ family deserves a thorough and factual investigation, and that’s exactly what they’re going to get,” he said. “I think it is important that we do not put ourselves on a timetable and we do not rush ourselves, but I also think it is important to be diligent in gathering all of the facts.”
It has now been ten days since Wells was last seen on Horn Island on July 4. Ledbetter told ABC News that every piece of information submitted by the public matters — even details that might seem minor.
“Even if you may think that it might be insignificant — every little bit helps, and that may be a bigger contribution than you think to this case,” he said.
Ledbetter confirmed that Jackson County investigators are working alongside the local District Attorney’s Office, though he noted that the collaboration does not necessarily indicate a crime occurred.
In a separate interview with WLOX, Ledbetter also confirmed that investigators have been in contact with the FBI. “This investigation is active. It’s ongoing,” he said.
He added that the public’s response to their call for tips has been significant. “This recent week, we got a lot of valuable information that has come from the public. We put out a call to action last week for that information, and it has been very productive for us,” he told the outlet.
The investigation faces real logistical challenges. Horn Island reportedly has no surveillance cameras and limited cell service, making eyewitness accounts and voluntarily submitted photos and videos among the most critical tools available to investigators.
Ledbetter also addressed the range of rumors circulating online about the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death, including speculation about whether substance use may have played a role.
Friends of Wells, including Tracestin Shepherd, have said the group spent time on Horn Island swimming and drinking alcohol that day. Those and other rumors “have been brought to our attention,” Ledbetter said, per ABC News — and it’s investigators’ job to run down each one.
“We act on the information that we get, and we’re looking for factual information, witness, firsthand witness knowledge that we could use to this case,” he said.
Ledbetter also previously welcomed the independent autopsy commissioned by the Wells family and facilitated in part by Colin Kaepernick.
“By all means, that’s more information looking into the death of Nolan that will be made available and another set of eyes looking at it,” he told GMA on Friday (July 10) .
The independent autopsy results remain pending. Ben Crump previously said they could come as soon as Friday, but WLOX later reported that the examination was delayed because of problems transporting Wells’ body.
The official autopsy was conducted July 7, while toxicology testing and final findings could take several weeks.
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