Black Audio Engineer Jeanetta Brantley Stands Behind Nolan Wells Recording, Invites FBI Review

Netta Brantley, a Black audio engineer, says she never expected a 37-second emergency call connected to Nolan Wells' death to place her at the center of a national debate. The veteran audio engineer is defending her enhancement of the recording after critics accused her of altering the sound, insisting she relied on traditional editing techniques rather than artificial intelligence.

Brantley, who has more than 15 years of experience in audio production, said she spent about nine hours cleaning up the Sea Tow dispatch call after hearing what she believed were faint background voices on the original recording. Recalling her initial reaction, she said, "I just wanted to hear what I thought I heard before I even attempted to touch it."

Starting with traditional digital audio workstations instead of AI software, Brantley said she intentionally avoided tools that could generate or fabricate speech. She explained that AI was "the 100% main reason" she chose not to use AI-assisted software because it "can introduce sounds that were never there to begin with," creating the possibility of fabricated speech.

Her conclusions have been challenged by attorney Russell Latino, who represents the family of one of Wells' friends and has described the enhanced recording and transcript as "doctored." Brantley has rejected those allegations, maintaining that she did not alter the recording or add artificial voices.

The recording has become one of the most closely watched pieces of evidence in the case as public interest continues to grow. Brantley has urged the FBI to conduct its own forensic review, saying, "They have better equipment. They have the equipment to break down and analyze the words being said," although the agency has not publicly announced that it will examine the recording.

Attorney Ben Crump has said the Wells family retained independent forensic audio experts to conduct their own review. Wells, an 18-year-old Southwest Mississippi Community College football player, disappeared during a July 4 outing at Horn Island before his body was found two days later.

Authorities have completed an autopsy but have not publicly released the findings. The investigation remains active as Brantley continues calling for a more advanced forensic review of the recording.