Nolan Wells death case: Mississippi grand jury declines to indict anyone; black teen's cause of death remains undetermined

Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black teenager's death on a Mississippi barrier island has ended without criminal charges after a grand jury unanimously declined to indict anyone, even as the medical cause and manner of Wells' death remain officially undetermined.

The Jackson County grand jury reviewed the case after Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island with friends. His body was found two days later near the island. The case attracted national attention after Wells' family, civil rights advocates and attorney Ben Crump raised questions about the circumstances of his disappearance and the transparency of the investigation.

According to Reuters, the grand jury said there was no credible evidence that people who travelled to or from Horn Island on July 4 aboard the Triton, Palm Beach or Tideline boats had engaged in criminal conduct connected to Wells' death. The grand jury unanimously returned a "no true bill", meaning no indictment was issued.

What happened to Nolan Wells

Wells had travelled from the Ocean Springs area to Horn Island with friends for Fourth of July celebrations. He was last seen on the island during the afternoon of July 4.

His friends later told authorities that Wells chose to remain on the island after the boat he arrived on left. According to CBS News, his friends said he wanted to stay behind to speak with a girl and planned to return to the mainland later.

Wells' parents questioned that account. His father, Elmore Wonsley, previously told CBS News that his son normally stayed with the group and that he did not understand why Nolan would voluntarily remain behind.

Wells was reported missing later on July 4. His body was found on July 6 at the northwest end of Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Authorities had not alleged foul play in the case, but uncertainty around the circumstances led to wider scrutiny.

Why the cause of death remains undetermined

The latest grand jury report said the "position of, the condition of, time of discovery, and location" of Wells' body were consistent with drowning.

However, that does not mean the grand jury established drowning as a definitive medical cause of death.

Reuters reported that both the Mississippi chief medical examiner and another forensic expert determined that the cause and manner of Wells' death were undetermined. The grand jury report described drowning as a "diagnosis of exclusion" and said neither forensic expert had ruled out accidental drowning.

An independent autopsy commissioned by Wells' family also failed to determine the cause and manner of death. CBS News reported in July that the examination found red discoloration in tissue at the back of Wells' head, although the reason for the discoloration was unknown.

The independent pathologist also faced limitations because the body had undergone decomposition by the time of the examination. The examination therefore did not establish that Wells had been killed or that another person caused his death.

Grand jury reviewed extensive evidence

The grand jury's investigation went beyond the publicly known accounts of the July 4 trip.

According to the released report, the 23-member grand jury reviewed evidence including phone forensic reports, GPS information, surveillance footage and other physical and digital evidence. It also heard testimony from 43 witnesses and issued 132 subpoenas, according to Mississippi Today and local reporting.

The grand jury said people who travelled to and from Horn Island on the three boats cooperated with investigators. It said they provided marine GPS devices, surveillance footage, cellphones and statements during the investigation.

The jury ultimately found no credible evidence supporting allegations of criminal conduct.

Family and civil rights advocates had sought answers

The case drew national attention after Wells' family questioned aspects of the investigation. Civil rights advocates and Crump called for greater transparency and a comprehensive investigation.

Crump had highlighted what he described as contradictions in accounts surrounding Wells' final hours. He also represented the family during its efforts to obtain an independent autopsy.

The case also generated extensive discussion online, including allegations involving people who had travelled with Wells. The grand jury rejected those allegations, saying there was no credible evidence to support criminal conduct.

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said in a video statement that the grand jury's role included clearing people who had been falsely accused.

"There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan's disappearance and death were racially motivated," McIlrath said, according to Reuters.

She also said Wells' friends loved him and that he loved them.

What the grand jury decision means

The decision means no one will face a criminal indictment based on the evidence presented to the Jackson County grand jury in connection with Wells' death.

But the decision does not provide a definitive medical explanation for how Wells died. The grand jury found circumstances consistent with drowning, while the forensic experts' recorded cause and manner of death remained undetermined.

The distinction is important because a finding of no criminal conduct is separate from a medical determination of cause of death.

For now, the official findings do not establish that Wells was murdered, nor do they conclusively establish accidental drowning as the medical cause of his death. The grand jury instead concluded that the evidence before it did not support criminal charges against anyone involved in the July 4 trip.

Inputs from Reuters