ORLANDO, Fla. — A Mississippi grand jury has found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who disappeared after a Fourth of July gathering on Horn Island.
The state medical examiner ruled Wells died from drowning. His body was recovered from the water two days after he was reported missing.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy report found no water in his lungs or airways, despite the grand jury report suggesting Nolan Wells' death was an accidental drowning. The cause and manner of death remain undetermined, with documented evidence of head injuries noted in the report.
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 24, 2026
The state medical examiner ruled Wells died from drowning. His body was recovered from the water two days after he was reported missing.
Earlier this week, a grand jury reviewed the case and determined there was not enough evidence to support a criminal case.
A digital reconstruction of Nolan Wells' phone location tracks the phone's movements the day he died The phone extraction also shows that messages in group chats he was a part of continued syncing to his phone even after his death. https://t.co/vC4K2CE234
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 24, 2026
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing interests connected to the investigation, said aspects of the state medical examiner’s autopsy report warrant further scrutiny.
There are claims that Nolan Wells' head injuries were the result of a simple slip and fall. The evidence tells a different story. https://t.co/jqPHLmaeA0
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 24, 2026
“It’s significant. It can’t just be discounted,” Crump said. “We have reason to believe that this could be a factor — a significant factor — into what happened to Wells.”
Crump said the results of a separate, independent autopsy are still pending.
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