Grand Jury Declines Charges in Nolan Wells Death
A Jackson County grand jury reviewed 43 witnesses and 132 subpoenas, then returned a no true bill in Nolan Wells' death. DA: no one charged.
FaithTap · Sep 23, 2026 · 1 min read
A Jackson County, Mississippi grand jury returned a no true bill in the death of Nolan Xavier Wells, 18. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said no persons will be charged after the panel reviewed 43 witnesses, 132 subpoenas, GPS data, cellphone records, videos and reports. Wells disappeared on a July 4th weekend Horn Island outing; his body was found July 6. A state autopsy July 7 and a Colin Kaepernick-funded independent autopsy both ruled cause and manner undetermined.
McIlrath said absolutely no evidence supported claims the death was racially motivated and called false the narrative that three white boys and a Black boy went to an island and only white friends returned. She said outsiders and influencers had tried to exploit the death to divide the community. Attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik said clients Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour were always completely innocent.
CONTESTED: The grand jury report said the body's position, condition, discovery time and location are consistent with drowning; medical findings left the death undetermined and did not rule drowning out. Family attorneys including Ben Crump criticized the investigation and sought a Justice Department inquiry and records release. Christine Wonsley wrote she wanted only to hug her son and hear his jokes. Friends had tried to convince Wells to leave the island before he disappeared.
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