Nolan Wells case takes major turn as grand jury declines to indict anyone

No one will face criminal charges over the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was found two days after he disappeared from a Fourth of July party on Mississippi’s Horn Island.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced Monday that a grand jury unanimously declined to return an indictment after hearing from 43 witnesses and reviewing evidence, including material from an independent investigation commissioned by Wells’ family.

“The death of Nolan Wells has devastated our community. Outsiders and influencers have attempted to exploit Nolan’s death to divide and create chaos here, but we are better,” McIlrath said, according to People.

The state medical examiner and an expert hired by Wells’ family determined the cause and manner of death remained undetermined, with drowning considered a diagnosis of exclusion.

The grand jury found the position, condition and location of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning and also found no evidence of a fatal injury, altercation or involvement by his friends.

Wells had bruising on the back of his head, but investigators found it was not fatal.

A witness said Wells had fallen from a boat earlier that day but continued socialising afterwards.