A grand jury has found there wasn’t enough evidence to bring charges in the death of Nolan Wells. As previously reported, Wells was a Black teen who was found dead after a July 4 boating trip off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Amid his family swiftly questioning the manner of his death, the internet and Black community have rallied behind them, especially his mom, Christine Wonsley. But now, it appears the state of Mississippi is stepping back from the viral case, following the grand jury review.
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Details About Grand Jury Review In Nolan Wells’ Case
Angel Myers McIlrath, the district attorney overseeing Wells’ case, announced the no-charges decision late Monday (Sept. 21). The update comes after months of intense speculation about how the 18-year-old disappeared from a popping party and why the friends who ferried Wells to the island left without him.
The grand jury in Jackson County, Mississippi, found no evidence of criminal conduct. It noted that examinations of his body by the Mississippi medical examiner’s office and an independent forensic pathologist found the cause and manner of death to be undetermined. Nolan Wells’ family hired the independent pathologist.
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“If credible evidence comes to light in the future that suggests Mr. Wells’ death was non-accidental, this matter should be represented to the Jackson County Grand Jury for further consideration,” the panel’s report said.
The grand jury also debunked public assertions that Wells was the only Black person on Horn Island on July 4.
“These false assertions have led to misidentification, speculation and rumors concerning the death of Mr. Wells,” it said.
The report concluded with the panel expressing sympathy for Wells’ family. “The evidence received in this matter convinced the Grand Jury of Mr. Wells’ outstanding character,” it said.
Wells’ Family Lawyers React To Grand Jury Findings
Lawyers for Nolan Wells’ family, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, said the grand jury’s report leaves more questions than answers. Also, they accused the district attorney of ending the investigation despite not determining what caused blunt force trauma on the back of Wells’ head and body.
Additionally, they renewed their request that the U.S. Department of Justice conduct an independent investigation and called on DA McIlrath to release the investigation file and the full autopsy report by the medical examiner.
“Today, the State of Mississippi is attempting to close the chapter on Nolan Wells’ death without getting to the truth,” Crump said in a statement.
Ben Crump, Wells’ family and the NAACP planned a news conference for Tuesday, Sept. 22. Additionally, Crump shared an official statement about the grand jury findings, which can be read below.
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District Attorney Expresses Frustration Over Case Speculations
Following the grand jury review, Angel McIlrath posted a 15-minute social media video on Monday night. The district attorney expressed frustration about inaccurate speculation by some members of the public about what happened to Nolan Wells. She also said that lawyers for Wells’ family told her office last month that their own investigation found no evidence of crimes.
“What I cannot accept, what I cannot ignore, is that false narratives that Nolan’s death was somehow racially motivated, and that this is a case of another young Black man denied justice by a racist, corrupt system, were perpetuated and allowed to spread. There is not a shred of evidence to support these narratives,” she said.
Recap Of Investigation Into Nolan Wells’ Death
Nolan Wells disappeared while celebrating the Fourth of July with friends on Horn Island, an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. His body was discovered on the island’s northwestern tip two days after he was last seen.
Shortly after, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office officials said investigators did not suspect foul play. That statement sparked widespread concerns about whether law enforcement would conduct a thorough investigation in a state with a brutal history of racism and civil rights violations. District Attorney McIlrath repeatedly promised a fair and thorough investigation into his death.
Meanwhile, Nolan Wells’ parents and their lawyers voiced suspicions after Wells’ friends left the island without him. The friends claimed that he wanted to stay behind and talk to a girl. Wells’ phone was on the boat that took him to the island, which was later towed partway back to the mainland after taking on water.
Ben Crump and Nolan Wells’ parents have cast doubt on why a teenager would choose to stay on an island without his phone. They also speculated that messages on his phone had been tampered with and alleged that his friends were reluctant to turn over his keys. Lawyers for Wells’ friends said the friends are cooperating with authorities.
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Associated Press contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
