Grand jury says Nolan Wells' death aligns with drowning, finds no foul play

A grand jury in Jackson County examined the official and independent autopsies of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college football player who vanished after a July 4 outing on Horn Island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The jury found that the position, condition, time of discovery and location of his body were consistent with drowning, and noted only minor bruising on the back of his head that was not lethal. Both the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office and the family-hired pathologist reported the cause and manner of death as undetermined, with no fatal injuries or organic disease identified.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated there is absolutely no evidence supporting claims of a racially motivated killing. The case remains open for further updates.