Mississippi Grand Jury Finds No Evidence of Crime in Nolan Wells Death

A Mississippi grand jury has returned a no true bill in the July death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, concluding there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone with a crime. The 23-member panel reviewed findings from the state’s Chief Medical Examiner and a pathologist hired by the Wells family, both of whom were unable to definitively determine the cause of death. While the report noted that the condition of the body was consistent with drowning, it emphasized that no fatal injuries or organic diseases were identified.

Following the grand jury's decision, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Wells family, presented recovered digital data and phone-tracking information during a press conference. Crump and forensic experts suggested that deleted Snapchat messages and GPS data warrant further investigation. In response, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath criticized Crump’s characterization of the case, challenging him to provide any credible evidence of foul play to her office. The grand jury stated that the case could be revisited if new, non-accidental evidence emerges in the future.