Grand Jury Clears Criminal Charges in Nolan Wells' Drowning

WHO:

NBC News - The grand jury was made up of 23 grand jurors from a “cross section of citizens” from Jackson County aged between 27 and 68, including 13 men and 10 women, with demographic representation of 12 Caucasians, five African Americans, one Asian, two Hispanics, two Native Americans, and one individual who preferred ‘other.’

CNN - Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black teen.

CNN - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath.

CNN - Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd.

CNN - Friends of Wells: Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour.

CNN - Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wells family.

ABC News - Jackson County Grand Jury.

WHAT:

CNN - The grand jury report stated that the investigation involved reviewing physical and digital evidence, as well as GPS and cellphone data.

NBC News - The grand jury report was partially redacted and posted to the District Attorney's Facebook page.

NBC News - The grand jury report noted that the state’s chief medical examiner and a forensic pathologist retained by Wells’ family both “opined that the cause and manner of Mr. Wells’ death is undetermined and that drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion.”

NBC News - The grand jury acknowledged that if evidence emerges in the future “that suggests Mr. Wells’ death was non-accidental,” it would be presented to and taken into consideration, noting that there is no statute of limitations on homicide cases in Mississippi.

NBC News - The grand jury found "no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body," and noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head "which was not a fatal injury."

CNN - The grand jury report stated that the "exact cause of the injury" to the back of Wells' head remains uncertain.

NBC News - The grand jury report stated that there was bruising on the back of Wells’ head "which was not a fatal injury."

CNN - The grand jury found “no credible evidence to support the public allegations that any persons who rode to or from Horn Island on July 4, 2026 ... engaged in any criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Wells.”

NBC News - The grand jury returned a “no true bill,” meaning it did not find sufficient evidence to indict anyone with a crime.

NBC News - The grand jury report stated that the “position of, condition of, time of discovery, and location” of Wells' body is "consistent with drowning."

CNN - The grand jury report stated that the "exact cause of the injury" to the back of Wells' head remains uncertain.

NBC News - The grand jury report was partially redacted and posted to the District Attorney's Facebook page.

NBC News - The grand jury found that the narrative surrounding Wells' death was fueled by speculation and misinformation.

NBC News - The grand jury acknowledged that if evidence emerges in the future “that suggests Mr. Wells’ death was non-accidental,” it would be presented to and taken into consideration.

CNN - The grand jury report stated that the "position of, condition of, time of discovery, and location" of Wells' body is "consistent with drowning."

NBC News - The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, with seven people invited to testify before the panel.

NBC News - The grand jury found "no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body," and noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head "which was not a fatal injury."

NBC News - The grand jury report was released late Monday night.

NBC News - The grand jury concluded that it was common for people on Horn Island to “socialize on boats and in the water,” and that it was “not unusual or suspicious” for people to return from the island on different boats.

NBC News - The grand jury found "no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body," and noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head "which was not a fatal injury."

NBC News - The grand jury acknowledged that if future evidence suggests Mr. Wells' death was non-accidental, it would be considered.

CNN - The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, with seven people invited to testify before the panel.

NBC News - The grand jury report stated that it found “no credible evidence to support the public allegations that any persons who rode to or from Horn Island on July 4, 2026 ... engaged in any criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Wells.”

NBC News - The grand jury concluded there was no evidence that Wells had any sort of physical altercation or argument with anyone the day he was last seen.

NBC News - Wells’ funeral on July 20 attracted hundreds of people.

NBC News - The grand jury returned a “no true bill,” meaning it did not find sufficient evidence to indict anyone with a crime.

NBC News - The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, with seven people invited to testify before the panel.

CNN - The grand jury report stated that the “position of, condition of, time of discovery, and location” of Wells' body is "consistent with drowning."

ABC News - The grand jury report was released late Monday night.

NBC News - The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, with seven people invited to testify before the panel.

NBC News - The grand jury report stated, “The grand jury finds no credible evidence to support the public allegations that any persons who rode to or from Horn Island on July 4, 2026 ... engaged in any criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Wells.”

ABC News - The grand jury report stated that the "position of, condition of, time of discovery, and location" of Wells' body is "consistent with drowning."

CNN - The grand jury found "no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body," and noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head "which was not a fatal injury."

CNN - The grand jury acknowledged that if evidence emerges in the future “that suggests Mr. Wells’ death was non-accidental,” it would be presented to and taken into consideration, noting that there is no statute of limitations on homicide cases in Mississippi.

CNN - The grand jury found "no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body," and noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head "which was not a fatal injury."

CNN - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan’s death and disappearance were racially motivated.”

CNN - Edward Paltzik, an attorney for Wells' friends, stated, “We said it all along: Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour were always completely innocent. There was never any doubt. They are terrific people.”

CNN - The grand jury acknowledged that if evidence emerges in the future “that suggests Mr. Wells’ death was non-accidental,” it would be presented to and taken into consideration.

CNN - A grand jury unanimously found no evidence to support bringing charges in the death of Nolan Wells.

ABC News - The grand jury report stated that the "position of, condition of, time of discovery, and location" of Wells' body is "consistent with drowning."

CNN - Wells' body was found on July 6 in the water near Horn Island.

CNN - The grand jury found "no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body."

CNN - The grand jury acknowledged that if future evidence suggests Mr. Wells' death was non-accidental, it would be considered.

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred off the coast of Mississippi, specifically near Horn Island.

ABC News - Wells' body was recovered in the waters off Horn Island.

WHEN:

CNN - Nolan Wells would have turned 19 on a Wednesday.

CNN - Wells was found dead on July 6.

CNN - The state autopsy was performed on July 7, and a separate autopsy requested by Wells' family was performed on July 10.

CNN - The grand jury report was released on a Monday.

WHY:

NBC News - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “The narrative that three white boys and a Black boy went to an island and only white friends returned spread like wildfire. This was false.”

NBC News - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said, “Nolan’s friends loved Nolan, and Nolan loved them. Nolan chose to stay on the island that day and there is not a scintilla of evidence to contradict that.”

NBC News - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated that the Crump team previously informed her office that they’d found no evidence a crime had been committed against Wells.

NBC News - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said, “I’m not suggesting that a grieving mother police the rumors surrounding her child’s death. What I am suggesting is that the Crump team knew better but did not do better.”

NBC News - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “I’m not suggesting that a grieving mother police the rumors surrounding her child’s death. What I am suggesting is that the Crump team knew better but did not do better.”

CNN - District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan’s death and disappearance were racially motivated.”

CNN - The grand jury conducted a comprehensive investigation due to speculation surrounding the circumstances of Wells' death, particularly regarding racial motivations.

HOW:

NBC News - The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, with seven people invited to testify before the panel.

NBC News - The grand jury's investigation involved reviewing physical and digital evidence, as well as GPS and cellphone data.

NBC News - The grand jury conducted a comprehensive investigation involving witness testimony, physical and digital evidence, as well as GPS and cellphone data.

CNN - The grand jury conducted a comprehensive investigation involving witness testimony, physical and digital evidence, as well as GPS and cellphone data.

CNN - The grand jury's investigation involved witness testimony, physical and digital evidence, as well as GPS and cellphone data.

ABC News - Authorities believed Wells drowned based on the evidence reviewed by the grand jury.

(UPDATED September 23, 2026 01:19 UTC)

A grand jury report has been released, revealing that the investigation into Mr. Wells' death involved a thorough review of physical and digital evidence, including GPS and cellphone data. The report, which was partially redacted and shared on the District Attorney's Facebook page, concluded that both the state’s chief medical examiner and a forensic pathologist retained by Wells' family found the cause and manner of death to be undetermined, with drowning being a diagnosis of exclusion. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that the narrative surrounding the case was misleading, asserting that there is no evidence to contradict that Nolan chose to stay on the island with his friends that day.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 18:59 UTC)

A grand jury report has revealed that the exact cause of the injury to the back of Wells' head remains uncertain, with both the state’s chief medical examiner and a forensic pathologist retained by Wells' family concluding that the cause and manner of his death is undetermined, noting that drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion. The report also highlighted that there was bruising on the back of Wells' head, which was not considered a fatal injury. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that the narrative surrounding the incident, suggesting that three white boys and a Black boy went to an island and only the white friends returned, is false, stating that Nolan chose to stay on the island that day and there is no evidence to dispute that.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 15:57 UTC)

A grand jury has concluded that there is no credible evidence to support allegations of criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Wells, who was found in a condition consistent with drowning. The jury returned a "no true bill," indicating they did not find sufficient evidence to indict anyone, after issuing 132 subpoenas and hearing from 43 witnesses. However, they noted that if new evidence emerges suggesting Mr. Wells' death was non-accidental, it would be considered, as there is no statute of limitations on homicide cases in Mississippi.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 14:59 UTC)

A grand jury report has revealed that the exact cause of the injury to the back of Wells' head remains uncertain, while also noting that the narrative surrounding his death was influenced by speculation and misinformation. The report, which was partially redacted and shared on the District Attorney's Facebook page, acknowledged that if new evidence emerges suggesting Wells' death was non-accidental, it would be considered. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath mentioned that the Crump team had previously informed her office that they found no evidence of a crime committed against Wells, and the grand jury's investigation included a thorough review of physical and digital evidence, along with GPS and cellphone data.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 13:59 UTC)

A grand jury report has concluded that the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Wells' body are consistent with drowning, finding no evidence of fatal injury or organic disease. The panel issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, with seven individuals invited to testify, while also noting that bruising on the back of Wells' head was not a fatal injury. The report also stated that socializing on boats and in the water is common on Horn Island, and if future evidence emerges suggesting that Wells' death was non-accidental, it will be taken into consideration, as there is no statute of limitations on homicide cases in Mississippi.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 13:03 UTC)

A grand jury has issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses as part of its investigation, with seven individuals invited to testify. The report concluded that there was no credible evidence to support allegations of criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Wells, and it found no indication of any physical altercation on the day he was last seen. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that the narrative surrounding the case was misleading, stating that the Crump team should have acted more responsibly in addressing the rumors.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 09:57 UTC)

A grand jury has returned a “no true bill,” indicating that there was not enough evidence to indict anyone in connection with the case. The report, which was released late Monday night, stated that the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Wells' body were consistent with drowning, and it noted that the narrative suggesting foul play involving three white boys and a Black boy was false. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that Nolan's friends loved him and that he chose to stay on the island that day, with the grand jury finding no evidence to dispute that.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 07:58 UTC)

A grand jury in Jackson County, composed of 23 citizens aged between 27 and 68, has concluded its investigation into the death of Mr. Wells, issuing 132 subpoenas and hearing from 43 witnesses. The report stated that there was no credible evidence to support allegations of criminal conduct related to the incident on Horn Island on July 4, 2026, and noted that socializing on boats in the area is common and not suspicious. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that while she does not expect a grieving mother to manage rumors, she believes the Crump team should have acted more responsibly.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 05:56 UTC)

A grand jury report has concluded that the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Wells' body are consistent with drowning, finding no evidence of fatal injury or organic disease. While there was bruising on the back of Wells' head, it was determined not to be a fatal injury, and the grand jury stated that if future evidence suggests his death was non-accidental, it would be considered. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that there is no evidence to support claims that Nolan's death and disappearance were racially motivated, following a thorough investigation that included witness testimony and digital evidence.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 04:59 UTC)

A grand jury has concluded that there is no evidence of fatal injury or organic disease in the case of Nolan Wells, noting only non-fatal bruising on his head. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath emphasized that there is absolutely no evidence to support claims that Wells' death and disappearance were racially motivated, while attorney Edward Paltzik defended the innocence of Wells' friends, stating they were always terrific people. The grand jury also mentioned that if new evidence arises in the future suggesting Wells' death was non-accidental, it would be taken into consideration, and it's worth noting that he would have turned 19 on a Wednesday.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 03:58 UTC)

A grand jury has unanimously found no evidence to support bringing charges in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was discovered in the waters off Horn Island. The grand jury's report concluded that the circumstances surrounding Wells' death were consistent with drowning, noting no signs of fatal injury or disease, and acknowledged that future evidence could prompt further investigation. The inquiry included witness testimony and various forms of evidence, as speculation about the circumstances of Wells' death had raised concerns, particularly regarding potential racial motivations.