Jackson County DA defends released information after civil rights attorney cites deleted phone data in Nolan Wells case
Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the data released after a grand jury review is accurate, countering claims by attorney Ben Crump that deleted Snapchat messages on Nolan Wells' phone indicate foul play.
Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath affirmed Thursday that the information her office disclosed following a grand jury’s no-true-bill finding is "true and accurate" and that she stands by it. Her statement came after civil-rights lawyer Ben Crump held a press conference with his team and a digital-forensics specialist, Andrew Garrett of Garrett Discovery, who said that some Snapchat data had been removed from the 18-year-old’s phone between the last known use and when his parents retrieved the device.
Garrett noted the deletions but said he could not assess intent. When asked if the removed content involved Snapchat, he confirmed it did. McIlrath responded that the deletions were not the result of anyone physically accessing Wells’ phone; rather, they reflected actions by other Snapchat users. She added that the grand jury report, which the district attorney’s office reviewed, included cell-phone downloads, surveillance footage, GPS logs and a printed phone report, but did not receive the full 30-hour digital extraction presented at the press conference.
The DA’s office said it was provided only with two emails containing about 300 pages of selected findings and that no evidence had been shown indicating the phone was accessed after Wells’ last use. McIlrath urged the Crump team to submit any contrary evidence to the grand jury, noting that the family had been offered a “standing invitation” to present additional material.
Regarding the autopsy, the grand jury considered reports from both the State Medical Examiner and an independent pathologist, Dr. Mitchell. Both concluded there was no fatal injury or disease causing Wells’ death, though they differed on whether superficial bruising was present. Neither report indicated a definitive cause, and drowning was not ruled out.
McIlrath concluded by expressing confidence in the investigation conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies, and she reiterated her willingness to provide the family with the grand jury report and related correspondence.