PASCAGOULA, Miss. – A Jackson County grand jury announced Monday that it found no evidence of criminal conduct in the death of 18‑year‑old Nolan Wells, whose body was recovered after a Fourth of July party on Horn Island. The panel said the circumstances of the discovery were “consistent with drowning,” and noted that both the state medical examiner and an independent forensic pathologist hired by the family listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined.
Grand jury process and findings
The grand jury, convened by District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath, issued 132 subpoenas and heard testimony from 43 witnesses, including cellphone data, forensic reports, video footage and GPS records. After weighing the evidence, the jurors concluded that there was no basis for criminal charges. The report added that if credible evidence of non‑accidental death emerges, the matter should be presented to the grand jury for further consideration.
Family and civil‑rights response
Family attorneys, led by civil‑rights lawyer Ben Crump, called the report “more questions than answers.” They argue that the investigation failed to determine the source of blunt‑force injuries found on Wells’ head and body, and they renewed a request for an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Crump also urged District Attorney McIlrath to release the full autopsy report and the investigation file.
Rev. Al Sharpton, speaking at Wells’ funeral, invoked Mississippi’s history of racial violence, citing the lynching of Emmett Till and the assassination of Medgar Evers, and urged transparency and accountability for the case.
Prosecutor defends the investigation
In a 15‑minute video posted to social media, District Attorney McIlrath expressed frustration with what she called “false narratives” suggesting the death was racially motivated. She emphasized that the grand jury found no evidence supporting claims of a racist or corrupt system, and she reiterated her office’s commitment to a fair and thorough investigation.
Friends cleared of wrongdoing
Attorneys for three of Wells’ friends, who had faced online speculation, said the grand jury’s findings relieve them of any legal liability. “He said that he felt like he could breathe for the first time,” said attorney Tyler Cox, noting that the clearance does not bring Nolan back but allows the friends to mourn without the cloud of criminal suspicion.
Unresolved questions
Wells’ parents and their lawyers continue to question why he remained on the island after his friends departed, why his phone was left behind, and whether the phone’s contents were tampered with. The grand jury report noted that the family’s experts did not provide evidence of criminal activity related to the phone.
A witness testified that Wells slipped off a boat around 3:30 p.m. on July 4 but continued socializing afterward, showing no obvious injury. The panel could not determine whether that fall caused the bruises observed on his body. An independent autopsy commissioned by the family reported apparent blunt‑force injuries before death, but the cause of those injuries remains unknown. Alcohol was detected in the post‑mortem fluid, though the test’s reliability was questioned because decomposition can produce ethanol.
Community reaction
The case has reignited discussion about Mississippi’s racial history and the challenges Black families face when seeking answers in a majority‑white setting. While the grand jury’s conclusion ends the criminal investigation, the family and civil‑rights advocates say the search for truth continues.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
