[Williams]

What kind of result is that? They didn’t find if he was struck in the head, was this sunburn?

[Rockingham]

Due to a lack of definitive forensic tests, drowning is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. The ME thus has to exclude other possible causes of death, such as heart attack, stroke, drugs, alcohol, trauma, and so on. As essentially negative lab results from tests for those come in, the conclusion of death by drowning based on the circumstances will emerge as the cause of death.

The manner of death can then be assessed. In the absence of evidence of suicide or intentional harm by others, accidental drowning is near certain to become the final autopsy determination, with alcohol or drugs as a possible contributing factor. The discoloration on the back of the head is most likely to be due to accidental post-mortem abrasion as Wells' friends moved his body and desperately tried to revive him.

Once the autopsy is final and withstands scrutiny, Ben Crump will move on, with a cut of the take from the Go Fund Me campaign in his pocket. The ill will that Crump stoked will fade over time.

[dennisw]

“What kind of result is that? They didn’t find if he was struck in the head, was this sunburn?”

He was on a popular partying island. Most likely he died from drowning after too much drinking. His body was found where there are strong currents. Since he went there with white friends this simple drowning turns into a big hullabaloo.

His white friends boated back to shore without him. He stayed because of a girl he was interested in. He was a decent swimmer.