
September 22nd, 2026
A grand jury in Mississippi found no crime in the death of Nolan Wells.
He was 18 years old.
He was Black.
Wells went on a boat trip on July 4.
He went to a party on Horn Island.
He disappeared.
His body was found two days later.
It was on the northwest tip of the island.
District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced the news late Monday.
The grand jury said Wells' death was "consistent with drowning."
They looked at his body's position and condition.
The Mississippi medical examiner's office looked at the body.
A doctor hired by Wells' family also looked.
Both said they do not know the cause of death.
The grand jury sent 132 subpoenas.
They heard from 43 witnesses.
They looked at phone data, forensic reports, videos and GPS data.
Lawyers for Wells' family spoke.
Ben Crump is a civil rights lawyer.
They said the report raises more questions than answers.
They said McIlrath ended the case too fast.
They said she did not explain injuries to the back of Wells' head and body.
They want the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.
They also want McIlrath to release the case file.
They want the full autopsy report too.
McIlrath spoke in a video.
She said she cannot accept false stories.
She said people say race was the reason for Wells' death.
She said that is not true.
She said lawyers for Wells' family told her office last month.
Those lawyers said their own investigation found no crimes.
Lawyers for three of Wells' friends spoke.
They said the report clears their clients.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said transparency and accountability matter.
He said Nolan's life mattered.
September 22nd, 2026

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