Eighteen-year-old found dead after boat trip

Nolan Wells, a Mississippi college student, was found dead on Horn Island on July six after boating there with friends on July fourth to celebrate Independence Day.

Wells was only Black friend who didn't return

Wells was the only Black friend in his group and the only one who didn't return from the trip to Mississippi's barrier islands that day.

Grand jury finds no criminal conduct

A Mississippi grand jury decided not to bring indictments, finding no credible evidence that anyone on the boats engaged in criminal conduct related to Wells' death.

“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 on the Triton, the Palm Beach, or the Tideline engaged in any criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Wells.”

Jurors heard from over forty witnesses

The twenty three jurors met from September fourteen to eighteen, hearing from over forty witnesses and reviewing GPS data, cellphone records, photos and videos.

Cause of death likely drowning

The grand jury found Wells' cause of death consistent with drowning based on where his body was found and multiple autopsies, though the cause remains undetermined.

Wells chose to stay on the island

The grand jury found that Wells chose to stay on Horn Island the afternoon of July fourth, and that it was not unusual for individuals to return on boats they didn't travel on.

Body would have been found in search

The grand jury found a thorough search of Horn Island on July fifth would have discovered Wells' body had it been there, raising questions about why it was found a day later.

Crump team disputes drowning conclusion

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump noted bruises on Wells' head and back and said the independent autopsy recommends keeping the investigation open due to uncertainties.

“Mississippi's own pathologist found two bruises on the back of this young man's head and informed investigators of them early in this investigation.”

Crump team later found no evidence of crime

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said after Crump's team released its independent autopsy and received hundreds of tips, they advised her office they had no evidence of a crime.

Questions about Wells' missing cellphone

Wells' parents believed messages were deleted from his phone before it was returned to them, though Myers McIlrath said a report showed nothing had been deleted since his last use.

Myers McIlrath defends investigation secrecy

The district attorney said grand jury secrecy is a shield protecting prosecution integrity and innocent people from false allegations, not a veil to hide behind.

“The secrecy of the grand jury is not a veil that we hide behind. It is a shield that protects the integrity of prosecutions of the guilty and is meant to protect the innocent from the destruction of false allegations.”

Civil litigation may still proceed

Wells' family sent notice of reasonably anticipated litigation to friends and their families on the day of his funeral, and some friends may pursue defamation charges.

No statute of limitations on homicide

Mississippi has no statute of limitations on homicide cases, meaning new evidence could be considered and the investigation could reopen at any time.