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The man who photographed the scene as Nolan Wells' body was found is ready and willing to turn over those images to his family ... he tells TMZ, they just have to ask.

Brian Trascher -- the United Cajun Navy vice president -- talked to our Charlie Neff about joining the search, and described the photos he took as he was flying over Horn Island on the morning of July 6, when authorities found Nolan dead on the shoreline.

Brian explains why he didn't immediately notify Nolan's parents about the images, but he says he's not trying to hide anything ... and if they want to see them, he's an open book.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says it mistakenly released records tied to Nolan Wells' death investigation ... and now prosecutors are telling the agency to keep the rest under wraps.

In a letter responding to a TMZ public records request, the MDMR acknowledged it had "inadvertently released records" related to Nolan's case. The agency did not identify which records were disclosed or to whom they were released.

The MDMR says it was later notified by Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath that Nolan's death remains under investigation and will be presented to a grand jury.

The drama between Malcolm-Jamal Warner's mom, Pamela Warner, and his widow, Tenisha Warner, erupted months before the bombshell $1.2 million lawsuit was filed ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court filed by Tenisha in November 2025 ... a few months after the actor's July 2025 drowning death.

Tenisha explained that Malcolm's trust was created in 1996 but was never updated after his daughter MacKenzie's birth in 2017. He wed Tenisha in 2022.

Tenisha said her kid faced complete disinheritance due to Pamela not being willing to amend the trust. She said Malcolm took care of them during his life and planned to continue to do so.

Interscope Records stayed in business with D4vd for eight months after he allegedly murdered Celeste Rivas ... and while that may sound shocking, nuance and clarity are needed to understand why.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the timeline is paramount here because Interscope took action as information about the case became available from LAPD.

For instance ... prosecutors claim D4vd murdered Celeste in April, but her body was not discovered until September 8, when her remains were found in his impounded Tesla.

At that point, we're told Interscope made the call to stop promoting him immediately. Full stop.

"Top Chef" and Food Network star Eric Adjepong has been ordered to stay away from his daughter for one year after he allegedly abused her ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... Eric shares his daughter, Lennox, with his ex-wife, Janell Mack, and court proceedings began in May, with the final hearing taking place on July 10. The hearing resulted in an order requiring Eric to stay away from Lennox, her residence, her school, and her childcare providers through July 10, 2027. He is also barred from contacting the child, who was born in 2018.

While the details of the alleged abuse are under wraps, Janell's attorney, Todd Mohink, tells TMZ ... "I believe the court did its job to protect the best interest of the child."

Eric tells TMZ through his attorney ... "Because this matter involves my young daughter, whom I love deeply, I intend to protect her privacy and will not discuss the underlying allegations or other sensitive family matters publicly other than to say that these allegations arose in the context of a long running divorce and custody proceeding, which finally concluded on June 2, 2026."

Ben Crump says Nolan Wells' independent autopsy left major questions unanswered ... and the family's independent medical examiner still needs to inspect key parts of Nolan's body before determining how he died.

The powerhouse civil rights attorney, who is repping Nolan's family, joined "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... explaining why Nolan's throat, lungs, and the original autopsy photos could help answer the biggest questions surrounding his death.

Crump says the central question is whether Nolan was conscious or unconscious when he entered the water ... and he's demanding transparency from officials who promised to provide it.

The family hasn't heard from the Sheriff or Medical Examiner about when official results out of Mississippi will be released ... and Nolan's throat had been removed by the time his body was examined in the independent autopsy.

Dakota Mortensen and Shinia Powell's rumored romance is the real deal ... 'cause TMZ has learned the "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" stars are officially dating.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Dakota and Shinia started dating a few months ago. We're told they're not exclusive, but have been enjoying their time together.

A source close to the couple tells TMZ ... Shinia has been "a steady source of support" for Dakota through some incredibly difficult times, especially when he didn't have immediate family nearby.

We're told their friendship naturally grew into something more, and they're navigating what the relationship means for them and their children.

Courtney Stodden is satisfied with Jason Alexander's apology over an old controversial comedy sketch they performed ... and she's ready to move on with her mission, hopefully with a new ally.

Courtney tells TMZ ... she accepts and appreciates the "Seinfeld" star's mea culpa and genuinely hopes it comes from a place of reflection.

As we reported ... Jason issued an apology Tuesday after Courtney blasted him on Instagram over a 2012 "Funny or Die" sketch that was sexually charged.

Courtney said she was super uncomfortable when Jason, in character, made several jokes about her boobs and sex. She was 17 years old at the time and Jason was a writer on the show.

Denise Richards' estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, claims she is behind on court-ordered support payments and money owed to his lawyers … and now he wants her found in contempt ... TMZ has learned.

Aaron filed court docs, obtained by TMZ, asking for Denise to be held in contempt after he says she failed to pay in full the $5K he's owed each month in temporary spousal support and the $30K she owes to his attorneys per a previous order in the case. 

Since March, he claims she's only paid partial amounts and still owes $13,500 to him and $28,000 to his attorneys -- leaving a total balance of $41,500.

The fatal car crash that killed Kaylee Hottle looks even worse upon further review ... a new image shows severe damage to the front of the car.

TMZ obtained a new photo showing the mangled car loaded on the back of a flatbed tow truck ... the front end of the 1995 Honda Accord is almost completely caved in, with the hood crumpled up and the bumper twisted out of shape.

Grass and mud are packed around the bumper and front passenger-side wheel -- where the tire appears to have separated from the rim -- and the windshield looks cracked on the same side.

Aaron Rodgers' family reunion didn't start this week despite what fans may think ... 'cause TMZ has learned the Steelers QB had already reunited with his parents months before he publicly revealed they'd reconciled.

In footage obtained by TMZ from April, Aaron is seen chatting, laughing, and spending time with his mom, Darla, and dad, Ed, at the inaugural Pleasant Valley High School Athletics Hall of Fame dinner in Chico, California, where he was inducted as a member of the first-ever class.

Aaron also gave a speech during the ceremony, thanking his parents ... another sign the family's yearslong rift had already begun to heal well before anyone knew.

The timing is significant because fans only learned the Rodgers family had reunited this week after Aaron posted a series of Instagram photos featuring his parents and brother Luke, captioning the post, "Another bonding week #fam."

Chadwick Boseman's brothers want his widow to be removed as administrator of his estate nearly 6 years after his death ... and they are petitioning the court to have it done ASAP.

Kevin and Derrick Boseman beelined it to a Los Angeles court Friday and submitted legal docs outlining a list of reasons why they believe Chadwick's wife, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, has mismanaged the estate and why she should be removed from having control.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Kevin and Derrick claim Taylor left the entire family in the dark about the status of his estate ... despite a 2022 court order that said their parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, were legally entitled to a combined 50% share. The court order gave Taylor control of the other half after Chadwick died without a will in place.

But, nearly four years later, Chadwick's brothers allege his widow has not finished distributing the estate's assets and has continued controlling it completely on her own.