Mississippi grand jury decides not to charge anyone in death of Nolan Wells
Also reported by PBS NewsHour
Summary
A grand jury in Jackson County, Mississippi, decided not to charge anyone in the death of Nolan Wells, a Black teenager who died after a July 4 boat trip. The jury found no credible evidence of criminal activity or racial motivation related to his death.Key Facts
- Nolan Wells died after a boat outing with friends on July 4, 2026, near Horn Island, Mississippi.
- The Jackson County grand jury met from September 14 to 18 and reviewed testimony from 43 witnesses and 132 subpoenas.
- The grand jury examined physical and digital evidence, including phone data, GPS, videos, and forensic reports.
- The jury found no proof that anyone on the boats acted criminally or that Wells’ death was racially motivated.
- Wells’ family hired an independent pathologist who found unexplained injuries on Wells’ head and back, but the official cause of death remains undetermined.
- The grand jury reported that Wells may have stayed behind on the island and returned to the mainland on a different boat, which the family disputes.
- The jury included 23 members of diverse racial backgrounds and concluded no evidence supported claims of racial violence.
- Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the investigation showed no criminal conduct or racial hate.
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