HORN ISLAND — A Mississippi grand jury declined to indict anyone in the death of Nolan Wells, returning a "no true bill" that indicated insufficient evidence to establish probable cause for criminal charges. The 23-member panel concluded its two-month investigation by determining that the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Wells' body were consistent with drowning.

The grand jury found no credible evidence that persons on the boats Triton, Palm Beach, or Tideline engaged in criminal conduct related to the 18-year-old's death. Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated there is absolutely no evidence to support allegations that Wells' death was racially motivated.

The grand jury met from September 14 to September 18, 2026, issuing 132 subpoenas and hearing testimony from 43 witnesses during its proceedings. The panel reviewed GPS data, cellphone extractions, photos, and videos from Horn Island, including a 261-page Snapchat Conversation Report from Wells' cell phone. Seven people were invited to testify before the grand jury.

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office and an independent forensic pathologist concluded that the cause and manner of Wells' death were undetermined. The grand jury found bruising on the back of Wells' head but determined it was not a fatal injury, and found no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to his body. Neither forensic expert had ruled out accidental drowning as a cause of death.

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated that Wells chose to stay on Horn Island and there is not a scintilla of evidence to contradict that. She stated that the narrative that three white boys and a Black boy went to an island and only the white friends returned was false. McIlrath added that Nolan's friends loved Nolan and Nolan loved them.

The district attorney stated that the Crump team previously advised her office that they had no evidence of a crime being committed against Wells. She stated that the family, the Crump team, and anyone close to Wells knew his death was not the result of racial hate or violence. The grand jury report stated that public assertions that Wells was the only Black person on Horn Island on July 4 were false, noting that such claims led to misidentification, speculation, and rumors.

Crump called on the Department of Justice to investigate if Mississippi will not pursue the case to the end. Crump stated that the State of Mississippi is attempting to close the chapter on Wells' death without getting to the truth.

Wells' mother is Christine Wonsley and his stepfather is Elmore Wonsley. Elmore Wonsley stated that Wells was taught to stay with his group and questioned why he would split from them. Wells' parents alleged that messages on his phone were tampered with and that his friends were reluctant to turn over his keys.

Rev. Al Sharpton wrote that the absence of an indictment is not an answer to how Wells died. Sharpton stated that Mississippi's history teaches why families should not be expected to accept unanswered questions surrounding the death of a young Black person. NAACP general counsel Kristen Clarke urged the district attorney to continue the investigation and release the full autopsy report.

The grand jury report stated that the occupants of the Triton, Palm Beach, and Tideline cooperated fully with the investigation. It stated that allegations against the boat occupants were not based in truth and resulted from public clamor and private malice. The report noted that it is not unusual or suspicious for individuals to return from Horn Island on boats different from those they arrived on.

The grand jury included 12 Caucasians, five African Americans, one Asian, two Hispanics, two Native Americans, and one individual who identified as "other." The report expressed sympathy for Wells' family and stated that the evidence convinced them of Wells' outstanding character. It noted that there is no statute of limitations on homicide cases in Mississippi and stated that if credible evidence emerges suggesting Wells' death was non-accidental, the matter should be presented to the grand jury for further consideration.

Why It Matters

The decision not to indict anyone in the death of Nolan Wells concludes a high-profile investigation into the drowning of a Black teenager on a Mississippi barrier island. The case drew national attention due to the racial dynamics of the group involved and conflicting accounts regarding the circumstances of Wells' departure from his friends.

Civil rights leaders and the family's attorney argue that unanswered questions regarding blunt force trauma and potential evidence tampering remain unresolved. The grand jury's finding that the death was consistent with drowning, despite undetermined causes from medical examiners, sets a legal baseline while leaving open the possibility of future review if new evidence emerges.

Timeline

Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour were identified as three of Wells' friends who were on Horn Island on July 4, 2026. Wells traveled to Horn Island with friends on July 4, 2026, and the grand jury report stated that he traveled to the island on three different boats. Wells was last seen on Horn Island at 3 p.m. on July 4, 2026. Wells' friends stated that their boat began taking on water, prompting them to leave the island early, and stated that he chose to stay on the island and catch a ride back later.

The grand jury conducted a thorough search of Horn Island on July 5, 2026. Wells' body was found on Horn Island on July 6, 2026.

What's New

Ben Crump posted on social media that "No True Bill Does Not Resolve How Nolan Wells Died." Ben Crump called on the Department of Justice to investigate if Mississippi will not pursue the case to the end.

Ben Crump stated that the grand jury result leaves more questions than answers. Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour were identified as three of Wells' friends who were on Horn Island.

How Sources Differ

The Jackson County Grand Jury report states that the grand jury expressed confidence that had Wells' body been on Horn Island during the July 5 search, it would have been discovered. Jackson County Sheriff's Office records state that Wells' body was found at the northwestern tip of Horn Island.