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Jackson County grand jury returns no true bill in Nolan Wells death

Ocean Springs, MississippiPublished 22 Sep 2026

1HornIS
1HornIS

Zach123abc / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Jurors said they found no credible evidence of a crime after the 18-year-old's body was found off Horn Island.

On Sept. 21, 2026, a Jackson County grand jury unanimously returned a no true bill in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was found off Horn Island on July 6 after a July 4 boat trip. Jurors said they found no credible evidence of a crime or a racial motive, and that where the body was found was consistent with drowning. The state medical examiner and an independent autopsy both left the cause undetermined. NOLA.com reported 25 jurors; WLOX and the New York Post reported 23.

Shared facts

Nolan Wells, 18, went to Horn Island with friends by boat on July 4, 2026.

Nolan Wells was Black.

Horn Island is about 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Wells did not return to the mainland with the group that evening.

The group traveled on three boats.

The grand jury found that Wells chose to stay on Horn Island after the boats left.

A witness said Wells slipped awkwardly off a boat on July 4 and kept socializing without appearing seriously hurt.

Wells' phone returned to the mainland without him, and the grand jury said his was not the only phone to do that.

Wells bought his own alcohol with a fake ID, and no adult over 21 provided alcohol to him or his friends.

Wells' body was found off Horn Island on July 6, two days after the boat trip.

The state medical examiner and an independent autopsy left the cause and manner of Wells' death undetermined.

The grand jury found that the position, condition, time, and location of Wells' body were consistent with drowning, which was not ruled out.

Examiners found non-fatal bruising on the back of Wells' head.

The grand jury could not say what caused bruising on Wells' head, buttocks, or shoulder.

Examiners found no fatal injury or organic disease.

Toxicology found no cocaine in Wells' system and no evidence he had used cocaine.

The independent pathologist was able to examine the retained neck structures and other organs needed for the autopsy.

The jury reviewed witness testimony, physical and digital evidence, GPS data, phone records, video, and investigative reports.

The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses.

The grand jury had the Jackson County Sheriff's Office investigative file, including phones, video, and witness material.

The grand jury heard from the forensic pathologist the family hired and sought the family's other evidence.

A Jackson County grand jury unanimously returned a no true bill and issued no indictment in Nolan Wells' death.

The grand jury found no credible evidence that anyone who traveled to or from Horn Island committed a crime connected to Wells' death.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said there is absolutely no evidence that Wells' death was racially motivated.

McIlrath and the grand jury said Wells was not the only Black person on Horn Island, and that the story of three white boys returning without him was false.

Mississippi has no statute of limitations on homicide, and the grand jury said the case can be presented again if credible new evidence suggests the death was not accidental.

McIlrath said Wells' death has devastated the community.

Disputed facts

Sources disagree on whether the Jackson County grand jury had 23 or 25 members.

Shared opinions

Ben Crump said he and the family will not rest until they know what happened to Wells.

McIlrath said outsiders and influencers tried to exploit Wells' death to divide the community.

McIlrath said the community is better together.

TheGrio

Grand jury declines to charge anyone in Nolan Wells’ death, finds no evidence of foul play

Brandon Caldwell

Published 21 Sep 2026 accessed 22 Sep 2026

Facts

McIlrath said Wells went to Horn Island with a large group of friends and met more friends there.

Colin Kaepernick funded the independent autopsy for the Wells family.

Toxicology reports found no drugs in Wells' system.

Wells' death became national news.

On Sept. 20, Christine Wonsley wrote on Facebook that she wanted to hug Wells, hear his jokes, and have him back.

Christine Wonsley yearned to hear her son on her birthday.

TheGrio reported that the grand jury acknowledged Wells' character.

Opinion

TheGrio said the grand jury decision left Wells' friends, family, and community with more questions and no true answers.

TheGrio said a Mississippi community grappled with a firestorm of questions about what happened to Wells.

NOLA.com

Grand jury refuses to indict in death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells

Kasey Bubnash

Published 21 Sep 2026 accessed 22 Sep 2026

Facts

The high school friends Wells traveled with were white.

Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton stepped in and expressed concerns about the investigation.

The pathologist confirmed that Wells' internal neck structures were appropriately retained by the state medical examiner.

The report, as quoted by NOLA.com, said twelve jurors are white, five are Black, one is Asian, two are Hispanic, two are Native American, and one identified as other.

The medical examiner and the independent pathologist called drowning a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other possibilities were ruled out.

NOLA.com reported that the grand jury was sworn in on April 20.

Seven people were called to testify before the grand jury.

NOLA.com reported that the jurors range in age from 27 to 68.

The medical examiner and the pathologist disagreed about bruising on Wells' shoulder and buttocks.

The jurors extended sympathies to Wells' family and friends.

Opinion

McIlrath called the grand jury investigation thorough and exhaustive.

NOLA.com said the discovery fueled rampant online speculation about how Wells died.

WLOX

Grand jury finds no foul play in death of Nolan Wells, court documents state

WLOX Staff

Published 21 Sep 2026 accessed 22 Sep 2026

Facts

The Wells family's lawyers reported finding no criminal evidence to refer to prosecutors.

The grand jury found that Wells rode on the Triton.

The Triton took on water because of a bilge-pump and motor failure and had to be towed by another boat.

The grand jury noted online speculation that there had been a fight involving Wells and allegations against his friends and their families.

A rumor said the state medical examiner withheld major organs before the family's pathologist inspected the body.

The jury said viral photos of Wells at a pool party were from before July 4.

The independent pathologist confirmed that standard procedure was followed.

The grand jury said a viral SeaTow call from the Triton did not match the original recording.

McIlrath's office posted a redacted version of the grand jury findings on Facebook.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Newsweek

Nolan Wells grand jury declines charges after teen's death: Read report

Published 21 Sep 2026 accessed 22 Sep 2026

Facts

Authorities had previously said they believed Wells drowned.

Investigators said Wells was last seen on the island around 3 p.m.

Other people also stayed on the island to socialize.

A U.S. park ranger found the body.

A search involved local and state agencies, the Coast Guard, first responders, and the United Cajun Navy.

The Wells family had questioned the circumstances and called for an independent investigation.

The family hired attorney Ben Crump.

Crump said Wells was a beloved son, teammate, and friend who went to celebrate the Fourth of July and never came home.

The sheriff's office had asked for video and pictures from Horn Island, especially footage of alleged altercations.

Authorities had not confirmed that a dispute occurred, though social media showed many people and boats around the island.

Opinion

Crump said the family deserves answers and the truth.

New York Post

Nolan Wells’ death ‘consistent with drowning,’ no evidence it was criminal or racially motivated, grand jury finds

Zoe Hussain

Published 21 Sep 2026 accessed 22 Sep 2026

Facts

The New York Post reported that Wells' body did not have a throat after the state autopsy, which hindered the independent exam.

Wells' friends took their boat back after a mechanical problem, and Wells stayed behind.

The grand jury called attacks on those friends and their families malicious and false.

The grand jury said it was common for visitors to remain on Horn Island on holidays after their own group left.

McIlrath said Wells and his friends loved one another.

Opinion

The New York Post said Wells' friends have faced conspiracy theories and harassment from online sleuths over why they left and allegedly had his phone and keys.

Crump said Mississippi is trying to close the chapter on Wells' death without getting to the truth.

The New York Post said Ben Crump slammed the grand jury decision.