Nationwide — Nolan Wells’ friends will not face criminal charges in connection with his death after a Jackson County grand jury found no evidence that anyone committed a crime or acted out of racial motives. The unanimous decision came after jurors reviewed the events surrounding the 28-year-old’s disappearance and death on Horn Island in Mississippi.
Wells died on July 4, 2026, and his body was found on the island the next day. According to WAPT, the grand jury returned a “no true bill,” meaning it found insufficient evidence to indict anyone. Jurors reviewed witness statements, physical and digital evidence, GPS data, cellphone records, videos, and investigative reports as part of the investigation.
The case also examined claims about the group Wells was with before his disappearance. Some accounts described him as the only Black person among three white friends who traveled to the island. The district attorney disputed that description, saying Wells went to Horn Island with a larger group and met up with other friends after arriving. The group traveled on three boats, the Triton, Palm Beach, and Tideline. The grand jury found that Wells decided to stay on the island after the boats left and found no credible evidence that his friends engaged in criminal activity connected to his death.
Investigators also looked into events aboard the Triton. The boat developed problems with its motor and bilge pump and began taking on water on July 4. It was briefly towed to help remove the water. A witness also told investigators that Wells slipped awkwardly from the side of a boat at around 3:30 p.m. The witness could not determine whether he hit his head but said Wells continued spending time with the group afterward and did not appear seriously injured.
Questions about how Wells died remained unresolved. Both the Mississippi state chief medical examiner and an independent doctor listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined, although drowning was listed as a cause of death. The report found no evidence of a fatal injury or underlying disease. Investigators also examined bruising on his body. Toxicology testing found no cocaine in his system and no evidence that he had previously used cocaine. A search of Horn Island was conducted on July 5 before his body was found. The grand jury said it believed his body would have been located during that search if he had been on the island at that time.
The district attorney said the investigation found no evidence that Wells’ death was racially motivated or caused by criminal conduct. The grand jury expressed sympathy to his family and friends and said the evidence showed that Wells was well regarded by those who knew him. The report also noted that Mississippi has no statute of limitations for homicide. If credible evidence later emerges showing that Wells’ death was not accidental, the case can be presented to a Jackson County grand jury again for further review.