Grand jury issues no indictments in death of Nolan Wells, DA says

By Taylor Vance | Originally published by Mississippi Today

A grand jury found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the death of Nolan Xavier Wells, a Black teenager whose body was found near a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast two days after he went missing on the Fourth of July.

The condition of his body was consistent with drowning, according to a redacted copy of the Jackson County grand jury report that District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath released Monday night on Facebook.

She said the grand jury issued no indictments in the death.

“In addition to bringing prosecutions against the guilty, the grand jury must also exonerate those who have been falsely accused,” McIlrath said in a video that accompanied the report.

The decision by the grand jury not to indict someone is not the same as an acquittal of a potential crime. There is no statute of limitations for murder charges in Mississippi. If new evidence ever surfaces in connection with Wells’ death, a grand jury can meet in the future to consider whether that evidence shows someone may have committed a crime. 

The grand jury issued 132 subpoenas during its investigation and heard from 43 witnesses as it reviewed whether criminal wrongdoing had occurred, according to the report. 

As part of that review, the grand jury considered physical and digital evidence and heard testimony from witnesses and investigators. The grand jury reviewed cellphone data and forensic reports, with photographs, videos and GPS data. 

McIlrath said she took her oath as district attorney a little over a year after burying her own child.

“When I was sworn in, I promised to fight for and protect you and your children as I would my own. I meant it then, and I mean it now,” she said. “The death of Nolan Wells has devastated our community. Outsiders and influencers have attempted to exploit Nolan’s death and create chaos here. But we are better together.”

Emails released to social media by the district attorney’s office also show she shared the report with attorneys representing Wells’ family and his estate. Ben Crump, an attorney representing the Wells family, did not immediately respond to Mississippi Today’s request for comment. 

The state’s chief medical examiner ruled that Wells’ death could not be determined, but believed drowning was a likely conclusion, according to the report. This resembled the conclusion of an independent pathologist in a July 19 report, which said they could not rule out foul play and urged further investigation. 

The independent autopsy was performed in Washington and paid for by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose organization provides free autopsies for people who died in custody of law enforcement, corrections officers or immigration officials.

The state’s medical examiner found bruising on Wells’ shoulder, buttocks and head, but concluded those were not fatal injuries. The cause of the bruising is unclear. The report says the grand jury heard testimony from someone who saw Wells “slip awkwardly” off the side of a boat on July 4. 

The case garnered national attention and widespread debate that has been linked to Mississippi’s long history of investigators not examining the deaths of Black people with the same rigor as those involving white victims.

Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, have said they want answers to what happened to their son, and the case drew national attention from media, celebrities and politicians.

“In a world that can often feel dark, be like Nolan,” his mother said at his funeral. “Be the light that brightens the lives of those around you. Be the warmth for those who may be feeling the coldness of the world. Love deeply, protect fiercely and welcome others with kindness and remain faithful knowing that God is always with you.”

Wells was an 18-year-old student athlete from Ocean Springs. He had been a standout wide receiver for the Ocean Springs High School team, then went on to Southwest Mississippi Community College, where he had played his freshman season.

Friends of Wells have said they faced death threats and defamation from their names, pictures, and personal information being shared online, as the case drew national attention. 

In late August, two people from out of state appeared in federal court on charges that they threatened to kill or hurt witnesses in the investigation. A trial date was set for one person in October, and the other in November.

The report also addressed several social media rumors that circulated in the wake of this attention, such as a call to Sea Tow, an emergency boat towing company. The grand jury determined that social media interpretations of the call were “not true and accurate.” 

The report also concluded: 

• Wells attended a pool party a week prior, and photos circulating from the party were not taken on July 4. 
• Wells did not have cocaine in his system. 
• Wells did not have any altercation or argument with anyone on the barrier island before his death 
• It is common for people visiting Horn Island to return to the mainland in boats they did not initially travel to the island in. 
• Wells was not the only Black person on Horn Island on July 4.

McIlrath had said results of the investigation and the state’s autopsy results wouldn’t be released until after Wells’ case was presented to a grand jury, as calls from the family and others grew for more transparency in the case. 

The Congressional Black Caucus in August expressed frustration and a lack of transparency and its members wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to ask for a federal review of Wells’ death.   

Update and Correction, 9/21/2026: This story has been updated to add details about the death investigation and the grand jury report and to correct the spelling of McIlrath.

This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Source: Original Article