Grand Jury Finds No Criminal Evidence in Nolan Wells’ Death

A Mississippi grand jury has found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, concluding that the circumstances surrounding the discovery of his body were consistent with drowning.

The decision brings a major development to a case that attracted widespread attention after Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island with friends and was found dead two days later.

The Jackson County grand jury unanimously returned a “no true bill,” meaning no one was indicted in connection with Wells’ death. The jury reviewed testimony from 43 witnesses and issued 132 subpoenas as part of its investigation.

Grand jury finds circumstances consistent with drowning

Wells’ funeral was held July 20, 2026. Christopher Oquendo for NY Post

According to the grand jury report, the position, condition, timing and location of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning.

However, the finding does not establish drowning as a definitive medical cause of death.

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office had previously classified both the cause and manner of Wells’ death as undetermined. An independent autopsy commissioned by Wells’ family reached the same overall conclusion.

The grand jury noted that drowning was considered a diagnosis consistent with the available evidence, while the medical findings did not identify a definitive cause.

Investigators also found bruising on the back of Wells’ head. The injury was determined not to be fatal, and the grand jury reported no evidence of another fatal injury or an underlying disease that could explain his death.

What happened on July 4?

Wells, a Black 18-year-old and college football player, traveled to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, with friends to celebrate Independence Day.

At some point during the trip, Wells remained on the island while his friends returned toward the mainland after their boat experienced mechanical problems.

His body was discovered in the water near Horn Island on July 6.

The investigation later examined what happened during the hours before his disappearance, including witness accounts, physical evidence and digital records.

According to the grand jury report, one witness said they saw Wells slip awkwardly from the side of a boat at around 3:30 p.m. on July 4. The witness could not say whether Wells struck his head during the fall, but testified that Wells continued socializing afterward and did not appear to be injured.

The grand jury did not determine that this incident caused the bruising found during the autopsies.

Investigation included extensive digital and physical evidence

The grand jury reviewed a substantial amount of evidence before reaching its decision.

Its examination included witness testimony, physical evidence, interviews and recorded statements, photographs, videos, maps, GPS and location data, as well as cellphone extractions and other investigative records.

The panel also reviewed forensic examinations of Wells’ cellphone conducted as part of the family’s independent investigation.

According to the Mississippi Free Press, the materials included a 21-page mobile-device examination report and a 261-page report concerning Snapchat conversations.

The grand jury’s investigation involved 132 subpoenas and testimony from 43 witnesses. A separate local report said the 23-member jury reviewed cellphone forensic reports, GPS information and security-camera footage.

Prosecutor rejects claims of a racial motive

The case generated intense public discussion, including allegations that Wells’ disappearance and death may have been racially motivated.

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath rejected those claims, saying investigators found no evidence that race played a role in Wells’ death.

“Nolan’s friends loved Nolan and Nolan loved them,” McIlrath said, according to the report. She also said Wells had chosen to remain on the island and that investigators found no evidence contradicting that conclusion.

The grand jury likewise found no credible evidence that anyone involved in the July 4 trip had engaged in criminal conduct.

A decision that may not end every question

The grand jury’s decision means no criminal charges were issued based on the evidence presented during this investigation.

But authorities have not declared that every possible question surrounding Wells’ death has been medically resolved. His official cause and manner of death remain classified as undetermined, while the grand jury found the circumstances consistent with drowning.

Mississippi has no statute of limitations for murder. According to the grand jury report, if credible new evidence were to emerge suggesting that Wells’ death was not accidental, the matter could be presented to a grand jury again.

For now, however, the investigation has produced no evidence supporting criminal charges or a racial motive.

The finding closes a major chapter in the investigation into what happened to Nolan Wells on Horn Island — while leaving the precise medical cause of his death officially undetermined.