Grand jury declines to indict anyone in the death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells

Updated on: September 22, 2026 / 1:41 AM EDT / CBS News

Grand jury declines to indict anyone in the death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells

TL;DR

  • A grand jury found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the death of Nolan Wells, 18, who died after a July 4th outing on Horn Island.
  • The jury concluded that the condition and location of Wells' body were consistent with drowning.
  • Allegations of criminal conduct and racial motivation circulating on social media were dismissed by the grand jury as unfounded.
  • Wells' friends stated he chose to stay behind on the island to speak with a girl, intending to return later.
  • Wells' family and their attorney, Ben Crump, expressed doubts about the circumstances and are calling for further investigation.
  • The grand jury noted that individuals who traveled to Horn Island cooperated fully with the investigation.