A Mississippi grand jury says it found no crime in the July death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose case drew national scrutiny and civil rights advocates to the Gulf Coast. After hearing from more than 40 witnesses and reviewing GPS, cellphone, and video evidence, jurors concluded there was "no credible evidence" that anyone on three boats traveling to and from Horn Island on July 4 committed a crime tied to his death, per NPR. Jurors said Wells' death was consistent with drowning, calling it a "diagnosis by exclusion," though the official cause and manner remain undetermined.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, is calling for the probe to remain open, saying key questions about how Wells entered the water and his condition at the time are still unanswered. He notes that non-fatal injuries to the back of Nolan's head have yet to be explained. A witness reported seeing Wells "slip awkwardly off the side of a boat," though it was unclear if he hit his head, per ABC News. The grand jury concluded Wells had been drinking alcohol he bought with a fake ID and chose to stay behind on the island when his friends left, "which is common for visitors to Horn Island on holidays," per CBS News.
Wells' parents have questioned why Wells' phone was found at a friend's house. But though they publicly said they believed messages had been deleted, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath says a report from Crump's team showed that was not the case. Some of Wells' friends have suggested they may sue for defamation following what the grand jury report describes as "public clamor and private malice." "Witnesses, public officials, and others who are completely unrelated to this case have been subjected to threats of harm and intimidation by an angry mob," says Myers McIlrath.
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