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No criminal charges in death of Nolan Wells
A Mississippi grand jury has found that no criminal charges should be filed in connection with the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose disappearance and death drew national attention after a Fourth of July gathering on Horn Island.
The Jackson County grand jury unanimously returned a “no true bill,” meaning no one will be indicted based on the evidence reviewed in the case. The panel said it found no credible evidence that people who traveled to or from the island engaged in criminal conduct related to Wells' death.
The decision was announced Monday night by Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath.
Wells Disappeared After a July 4 Outing
Wells traveled with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast, to celebrate the Fourth of July.
According to investigators, Wells did not return to the mainland with the group. He was reported missing, and his body was recovered from the waters off Horn Island on July 6, two days after the outing.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance generated widespread questions, particularly online, about what happened after Wells was last seen.
His family also hired its own legal and forensic team to investigate his death.
Grand Jury Reviewed Extensive Evidence
The 23-member grand jury heard testimony from 43 witnesses and reviewed a wide range of evidence, including police reports, interviews, videos, photographs, maps, digital evidence, phone forensic information and GPS records.
The panel also considered evidence gathered through the family's independent investigation.
The grand jury concluded that the people connected to the boats involved in the trip had cooperated with the investigation and found no credible evidence supporting allegations of criminal conduct.
Drowning Is Considered Consistent With the Evidence
The grand jury report said the position, condition, timing of discovery and location of Wells' body were consistent with drowning.
However, the report also makes clear that the precise cause and manner of death could not be definitively established. Both the Mississippi State Chief Medical Examiner and an independent forensic pathologist described the cause and manner as undetermined, with drowning considered a diagnosis of exclusion.
Toxicology results also did not provide a definitive explanation. Because of decomposition, investigators said the available samples were not particularly reliable for determining substance levels.
What Investigators Found About His Injuries
The investigation found bruising on the back of Wells' head, but the grand jury determined that the injury was not fatal.
The panel found no evidence of a fatal injury or underlying organic disease. One witness said they saw Wells slip awkwardly from the side of a boat around the time he was last seen, although the witness could not say whether Wells struck his head. The witness said Wells continued socializing afterward and did not appear injured.
The grand jury also found no evidence that Wells was involved in a physical fight or argument on July 4.
Questions About His Phone
Another point that drew public attention was Wells' cellphone, which ultimately returned to the mainland without him.
The grand jury concluded that the phone's movement was not unusual or suspicious. The report noted that other people at the island gathering also placed phones or belongings on different boats and returned to shore separately from the items they had brought.
The findings pushed back against several theories that circulated publicly following Wells' disappearance.
Family Attorney Says Questions Remain
Although the grand jury found no basis for criminal charges, Wells' family and their attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, have continued to question the circumstances surrounding his death.
Following the grand jury decision, Crump said the finding does not fully explain how Wells died and called for continued scrutiny of the evidence.
The grand jury report itself leaves open the possibility of further review if credible new evidence emerges. Mississippi has no statute of limitations for homicide cases, and the report states that evidence suggesting Wells' death was non-accidental could be presented to a grand jury again.
For now, however, the criminal investigation has resulted in no charges.
Source: WKRN News 2
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