Drowning Suspected in Nolan Wells Case, No Charges
Published September 22, 2026 at 10:36 AM EDT
Nolan Xavier Wells in an undated photo released by family attorney Ben Crump Law/Reuters
PASAGOULA, MS —An investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has concluded without criminal charges, after a Jackson County, Mississippi, grand jury reviewed evidence surrounding his disappearance during a July 4 outing near Horn Island.
Wells went missing during a holiday gathering with friends on the Gulf Coast. His body was recovered from the water two days later. A grand jury reviewed physical and digital evidence, heard testimony from 43 witnesses and issued 132 subpoenas. The panel ultimately found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing and declined to indict anyone.
The grand jury report said the position and condition of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning. However, the exact cause and manner of death could not be definitively established by either the state medical examiner or an independent pathologist. The report also noted bruising on the back of Wells’ head, but concluded it was not a fatal injury and found no evidence of another fatal injury or disease.
Wells’ family and their attorney, Ben Crump, have challenged the findings and called for additional investigation, pointing to unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of Wells’ disappearance and death. Prosecutors maintain that investigators found no evidence supporting criminal conduct or racial motivation.
Sources
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“Grand jury returns no true bill in Nolan Wells death investigation”
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