No criminal charges will be filed against the friends who were with Nolan Wells before his death on Horn Island, Mississippi, after a Jackson County grand jury concluded there was insufficient evidence that anyone committed a crime or acted with racial motives.
Wells, 28, died on July 4, 2026. His body was discovered on Horn Island the following day.
According to WAPT, the grand jury returned a “no true bill,” meaning jurors did not find sufficient evidence to indict anyone after reviewing the circumstances surrounding Wells’ disappearance and death.
The investigation included witness statements, physical and digital evidence, GPS information, cellphone records, video footage and investigative reports.
Grand jury examined claims surrounding Wells’ final hours
The case attracted attention in part because of claims about the people Wells was with before he disappeared.
Some accounts described Wells as the only Black person traveling to Horn Island with three white friends. The district attorney disputed that characterization, saying Wells traveled with a larger group and met additional friends after arriving on the island.
According to the investigation, the group used three boats: the Triton, Palm Beach and Tideline.
The grand jury concluded that Wells chose to remain on Horn Island after the boats departed. Jurors said they found no credible evidence connecting his friends to criminal conduct surrounding his death.
Investigators also examined what happened aboard the Triton on July 4.
The boat reportedly developed problems with its motor and bilge pump and began taking on water. At one point, it was briefly towed so the water could be removed.
A witness told investigators that at approximately 3:30 p.m., Wells slipped awkwardly from the side of a boat. The witness could not determine whether Wells struck his head during the incident.
However, Wells reportedly continued spending time with the group afterward and did not appear to be seriously injured.
Cause and manner of death remain undetermined
Despite the grand jury’s decision, questions remain about precisely what happened to Wells.
Both Mississippi’s state chief medical examiner and an independent doctor listed the cause and manner of his death as undetermined, although drowning was identified as a cause of death.
The medical findings reportedly showed no evidence of a fatal injury or an underlying disease that would explain his death.
Investigators also examined bruising found on Wells’ body.
Toxicology testing found no cocaine in his system and, according to the report, no evidence indicating previous cocaine use.
Another detail examined by the grand jury involved the timing of the search for Wells.
A search of Horn Island was conducted on July 5 before his body was discovered. The grand jury said it believed Wells would have been located during that search had his body been on the island at the time.
That finding, however, did not result in evidence sufficient to establish that another person was criminally responsible for his death.
Prosecutors say case could be reconsidered if new evidence emerges
The district attorney said investigators found no evidence supporting the conclusion that Wells’ death resulted from criminal conduct or was racially motivated.
The grand jury also expressed sympathy for Wells’ family and friends and noted that the evidence presented during the investigation indicated he was well regarded by the people who knew him.
The decision does not necessarily prevent the case from being examined again if significant new evidence emerges.
Mississippi has no statute of limitations for homicide. If credible evidence is discovered in the future indicating that Wells’ death was not accidental, the matter could be presented to another Jackson County grand jury for consideration.
For now, however, the grand jury’s unanimous decision means no one will face criminal charges based on the evidence presented in the investigation.
