Mississippi grand jury declines to indict anyone in death of 18-year-old who vanished in coastal waters, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/us/mississippi-grand-jury-declines-indict-anyone-death-18-year-old-vanished-coastal-waters)

22-09-2026

A Jackson County, Mississippi grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against anyone in connection with the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, concluding that his death was consistent with accidental drowning.

Key details reported in the article include:

  • The 23-member grand jury heard testimony from 43 witnesses and reviewed physical evidence, digital records, police reports, and video footage before concluding that no criminal conduct occurred.

  • Wells, a community college football player, vanished on July 4 during a boating trip with friends to Horn Island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His body was recovered from the water two days later.

  • Investigators found no evidence of a physical altercation, argument, or foul play involving anyone on the boats traveling to or from the island.

  • Regarding injuries, the panel noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head was not fatal and could have occurred when a witness saw him slip awkwardly off the side of a boat earlier in the day, though he continued socializing afterward without apparent injury.

  • The report addressed rumors surrounding his phone, stating it was common for visitors to switch boats or leave personal items behind, and Wells’ phone was not the only one returned to the mainland by others.

  • The grand jury denounced widespread online rumors and harassment targeting other boat passengers as malicious and baseless.

  • District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath noted that Mississippi has no statute of limitations on homicide, and the matter can be represented to a grand jury if credible new evidence emerges suggesting non-accidental circumstances.



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