Grand Jury Clears Friends in Death of Mississippi Teen Nolan Wells

A Mississippi grand jury has concluded its investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, determining there is no evidence of criminal conduct by the friends who were with him when he died. The jury declined to issue any indictments following a four-day session that ended on September 18.

Wells was found dead on Horn Island on July 6, 2026, two days after he traveled there with a group of friends to celebrate Independence Day. He was the only Black teenager in his social circle and the sole individual from his group who did not return from the trip to the barrier islands.

In its report, the grand jury stated it found “no credible evidence” that anyone riding on the boats named the Triton, the Palm Beach, or the Tideline engaged in criminal behavior related to Wells’ death. The jury determined that Wells’ cause of death was consistent with drowning, characterizing it as a “diagnosis by exclusion” after ruling out other potential causes based on multiple autopsies and the location where his body was recovered.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that the evidence indicated Wells chose to remain on the island on the afternoon of July 4, describing the decision to stay behind as “not unusual or suspicious.” The report noted that accounts from boat occupants were truthful, including testimony that the Triton took on water and required a tow.

McIlrath released a recorded statement alongside the grand jury findings, asserting, “Nolan chose to stay on the island that day, and there is not a scintilla of evidence to contradict that.” The district attorney also highlighted that an extensive search of Horn Island had been conducted on July 5, the day before Wells’ body was discovered, and expressed confidence that his remains would have been found then had they been present on the island at that time.

The grand jury heard testimony from more than 40 witnesses and reviewed a wide array of evidence, including GPS data, cellphone extractions, photographs, and videos. The proceedings also considered findings from the team of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Wells’ family.

Crump responded to the announcement on Facebook, stating, “No True Bill Does Not Resolve How Nolan Wells Died.” His comments followed the release of the grand jury report on Monday, signaling that while the legal threshold for criminal charges was not met, the family’s quest for answers regarding the circumstances of the death continues.