Mississippi grand jury says evidence points to drowning in teen's death, finds no criminal conduct

Eighteen‑year‑old Nolan Wells vanished after a Fourth of July outing on Mississippi's Horn Island and was later found dead offshore. A grand jury of 23 Jackson County residents reviewed the case and reported no credible evidence linking any passengers of the Triton, Palm Beach or Tideline boats to criminal activity. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the investigation must also exonerate those wrongly blamed, while Sheriff John Ledbetter recalled Wells was last seen on the island in the afternoon. Family attorney Ben Crump noted the autopsy could not determine the exact cause of death, though the jury said drowning was the most likely scenario.