Mississippi Grand Jury Declines Indictment in Death of Teen Nolan Wells

A Mississippi grand jury concluded on September 18 that there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who was found dead on Horn Island on July 6. The jurors, after hearing testimony from more than 40 witnesses and reviewing GPS data, cellphone extracts and video evidence, determined the cause and manner of death were "undetermined" and that the findings were "consistent with drowning."

Civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, highlighted bruising on the back of Wells' head noted in the medical examiner's report and called for the district attorney to keep the investigation open. > "Nolan Wells' parents deserve answers," Crumb said, urging clarification of the blunt-force trauma.

NAACP general counsel Kristen Clarke also urged a comprehensive, independent inquiry, asking the district attorney to release the full autopsy report. > "Nolan's family deserves nothing less than a full, fair, and independent investigation that is exhaustive and leaves no stone unturned," she wrote.

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath, in a recorded statement, said the family's concerns about racial motive were unfounded and that the evidence did not support criminal conduct by anyone on the boats that traveled to or from the island. She also disputed claims that the state had improperly seized Wells' cellphone, noting the family retained control of the device and that a 282-page selection of its data had been provided to the grand jury.

An independent autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, along with the state examiner, also listed the cause of death as undetermined, describing drowning as a diagnosis of exclusion. The report noted bruises on Wells' head and back but said they were not fatal injuries.

The grand jury report, partially redacted, stated that public assertions that Wells was the only Black teenager on the island were inaccurate and contributed to speculation. It also affirmed that a thorough search of Horn Island on July 5 would have located any body present at that time.

Legal actions may continue: the family’s attorneys have signaled possible civil litigation, and some of Wells' friends have indicated they may sue public figures for defamation.

The case remains open to further investigation and potential civil suits, as the district attorney's office faces ongoing pressure from civil-rights groups and the family for greater transparency.