BREAKING NEWS: Grand Jury Declines Criminal Charges in Death of Nolan Wells

PULSE RADIO 96.1 | NEWS

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. — A Jackson County grand jury has unanimously declined to issue criminal indictments in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, concluding that the evidence presented did not establish criminal wrongdoing in the teenager’s death.

The grand jury returned what is known as a “no true bill,” according to a report released Monday night by Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. The decision means no criminal charges will be filed based on the evidence currently available. 

Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His body was recovered in the water near the island two days later.

Grand Jury Says Evidence Is “Consistent With Drowning”

According to the report, jurors determined that the position, condition, location and timing of the discovery of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning.

However, both the Mississippi State Chief Medical Examiner and an independent forensic pathologist retained by Wells’ family ultimately classified Wells’ cause and manner of death as undetermined. Accidental drowning remained consistent with the evidence and was not ruled out. 

Both examinations identified bruising on the back of Wells’ head, but investigators concluded that the injury was not fatal. The cause of that injury remains uncertain, according to the grand jury report. 

43 Witnesses, 132 Subpoenas and Digital Evidence Reviewed

The decision followed an extensive investigation.

The 23-member grand jury heard testimony from 43 witnesses and reviewed evidence that included cellphone forensic reports, GPS information, security-camera footage and investigative records. A total of 132 subpoenas were issued during the investigation. 

Jurors also considered evidence gathered through the Wells family’s independent investigation. According to the released findings, the family’s legal team reported that its investigation had not identified evidence of potential criminal activity that warranted referral to prosecutors. 

The grand jury also rejected allegations that Wells’ disappearance or death was racially motivated and said it found no evidence that his friends were responsible for his death. 

Wells’ Family Had Been Searching for Answers

The ruling comes after months of national attention surrounding Wells’ death.

His parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, repeatedly sought answers about what happened to their son after he traveled to Horn Island with friends.

The case ultimately attracted the attention of the Congressional Black Caucus, which requested an independent federal review by the U.S. Department of Justice. At the time, the Justice Department confirmed it had received the request and said appropriate personnel were reviewing it. 

The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, previously said Wells’ family wanted to understand exactly how their son ended up dead after what was supposed to be a Fourth of July outing.

No Indictment Does Not Permanently Close the Door

The grand jury’s decision is significant, but a no true bill is not the same thing as an acquittal following a criminal trial.

Mississippi has no statute of limitations for murder. The grand jury report specifically leaves open the possibility that the case could be presented to another grand jury if credible new evidence emerges indicating that Wells’ death resulted from criminal activity. 

For now, however, the official conclusion is clear: the grand jury found insufficient evidence to support criminal charges in Nolan Wells’ death.

For a family that has spent months asking what happened to their 18-year-old son, the legal decision may resolve the immediate question of whether anyone will be indicted—but it does not change the fact that Wells’ precise medical cause and manner of death remain officially undetermined. 

Pulse Radio 96.1 will continue following developments in the Nolan Wells case.