A grand jury in Mississippi ruled out criminal conduct in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, concluding his death was consistent with drowning. Wells vanished on July 4 during a boating trip to Horn Island but was found two days later.
The Jackson County grand jury, comprising 23 members, decided not to press charges after reviewing testimony from 43 witnesses and inspecting physical and digital evidence, police reports, and visuals. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath shared the report on Monday.
Wells, who played wide receiver for Southwest Mississippi Community College, disappeared after traveling to the Gulf Coast with friends. According to the report, the circumstances of Wells’ discovery indicated drowning. There was no evidence of a crime linked to his death.
The report noted bruising on Wells’ head but stated it wasn’t a fatal injury. Investigators couldn’t determine how Wells obtained the bruise despite multiple testimonies.
One witness claimed Wells awkwardly slipped off a boat but continued to socialize without signs of injury. There was also no evidence of physical conflict or argument on the day.
The family’s private autopsy had initially marked Wells’ cause of death as undetermined. However, questions about his alcohol use surfaced. A July 5 email from the Marine Patrol noted his heavy alcohol consumption without specifying its source.
Investigations revealed Wells used a fake ID to purchase alcohol and no adult provided him alcohol. Toxicology tests were inconclusive, but they confirmed no presence of cocaine.
Another point of interest was Wells’ cellphone, returned to the mainland without him. The report explained that this was common among island visitors.
Public speculation and false accusations targeted those on the trip and their associates. Despite this, Wells’ family was invited to present evidence from their investigation. However, it didn’t reveal any leads justifying criminal charges.
If new evidence appears, the case may be reconsidered, as Mississippi does not limit the time for possible homicide cases.