A new development in the Nolan Wells case is raising fresh questions after the Wells family reportedly retained a local law firm and offered to coordinate a forensic examination of Nolan’s cellphone — just one day after reports highlighted that the device had not yet been turned over to police.

According to the account provided, investigative reports had raised concerns that Nolan Wells’ cellphone remained outside police custody 30 days after his death. The timing of the family’s response has now become a major point of discussion.

The cellphone could potentially be an important piece of evidence in any investigation because digital devices can contain communications, photographs, location information, application data and other records that may help investigators reconstruct a person’s final days.

The reported development came shortly after questions were publicly raised about why the phone had not been surrendered.

A newly retained law firm representing the Wells family reportedly sent a letter to the District Attorney stating that the family was “ready and willing” to coordinate a mutually agreeable date for a joint forensic examination of the device.

That offer represents a notable shift in the situation.

A cellphone can potentially provide investigators with a detailed digital timeline.

Depending on what information remains available, forensic investigators may be able to examine communications, timestamps, photographs, location-related information and other digital records.

But the mere existence of a phone does not mean it contains evidence of wrongdoing.

It also does not establish that the Wells family intentionally withheld evidence.

Those are questions that would need to be determined through verified investigative findings.