09/22/2026
Nolan Wells Grand Jury Report Released No Indictments, New Autopsy and Toxicology Details Revealed
BREAKING NEWS tonight in the Nolan Wells case.
After months of questions, speculation and national attention, the Jackson County grand jury has released its findings into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells.
And the conclusion is significant:
No one will be indicted based on the evidence presented to this grand jury.
The 23-member panel unanimously returned what is known as a “no true bill,” finding no credible evidence that anyone who traveled to or from Horn Island with Nolan on July 4 engaged in criminal conduct connected to his death.
But the newly released report goes much further.
For the first time, we're learning important details about the official autopsy, toxicology testing, Nolan's head injury, his cellphone, the troubled boat, witness testimony and some of the allegations that have circulated online since his death.
What the Grand Jury Reviewed
This was not a review based on only a handful of interviews.
According to the report, investigators issued 132 subpoenas, and the grand jury heard testimony from 43 witnesses.
Jurors reviewed physical evidence, cellphone forensic reports, GPS information, security-camera footage, photographs, videos, law-enforcement interviews, forensic reports and other investigative material.
The grand jury also requested evidence gathered through the Wells family's independent investigation.
After reviewing that material, the panel unanimously concluded that the evidence did not establish probable cause for criminal charges.
What Does the Report Say About Nolan's Death?
This is one of the most important findings.
Both the Mississippi State Chief Medical Examiner and the independent forensic pathologist retained by Nolan's family determined that Nolan's cause and manner of death were undetermined.
So the grand jury did not establish drowning as a definitive medical cause of death.
However, the report states that the position and condition of Nolan's body, the location where it was discovered and the timing of its discovery were consistent with drowning.
The report further states that neither forensic expert excluded accidental drowning.
In other words:
Cause of death: undetermined.
Manner of death: undetermined.
But accidental drowning remains consistent with the evidence reviewed by the grand jury.
