The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells says their search for answers is not over after a Mississippi grand jury declined to issue criminal charges in his death.

Wells was found dead in the water off Horn Island on July 6, two days after he traveled there with friends to celebrate the Fourth of July. A Jackson County grand jury returned a “no true bill,” meaning it did not find probable cause to indict anyone.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the panel heard from dozens of witnesses and reviewed GPS data, phone records, photos, videos, and autopsy findings. The grand jury report said the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning. It found no credible evidence that people who traveled to or from the island that day committed a crime related to his death. McIlrath also said there was no evidence the disappearance and death were racially motivated.

Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, say they still have questions. An independent autopsy cited by attorney Ben Crump’s team reported recent unexplained blunt-force injuries to the back of Wells’ head and other areas of his back. Both the state and independent autopsies listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined. Court documents said accidental drowning was consistent with the evidence but that other explanations were not fully ruled out.

“The grand jury left us with questions,” Crump said. “Nolan’s family deserves answers. What caused recent blunt force trauma to his head? Did it contribute to his death?”

Christine Wonsley said she and Elmore do not believe Nolan simply and accidentally drowned. “And nobody saw anything? And no one knows anything?” she asked.

Crump said a “no true bill” should not mean no further questions. The family and its legal team are calling for a federal investigation and said more information from Nolan’s phone extraction will be discussed at another news conference.

“We’ll never stop until we get to the truth,” Crump said.

Source: News reports, Sept. 22, 2026.