Grand Jury clears friends in Nolan Wells’ Horn Island death investigation
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. —
A Jackson County grand jury has unanimously returned a “no true bill” in the death investigation of Nolan Xavier Wells, meaning no one will be indicted based on the evidence presented.
Wells died July 4 in Jackson County. His body was found the following day on Horn Island.
The grand jury report says it conducted a comprehensive investigation, reviewing witness testimony, physical and digital evidence, GPS data, cellphone records, videos and investigative reports.
The grand jury found no credible evidence that Wells’ death was criminal or racially motivated.
In a video statement, the district attorney addressed claims that Wells was the only Black person in a group of friends who traveled to the island.
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“The narrative that three white boys and a Black boy went to an island and only white friends returned spread like wildfire,” the district attorney said. “This was false.”
The district attorney said Wells went to Horn Island with a large group of friends and connected with additional friends while there.
“There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan’s death and disappearance were racially motivated,” the district attorney said.
The grand jury found that Wells traveled to Horn Island with friends on three boats — the Triton, Palm Beach and Tideline — but chose to remain on the island after the boats left. It found no credible evidence that anyone who traveled to or from the island engaged in criminal conduct related to Wells’ death.
“Nolan’s friends loved Nolan and Nolan loved them,” the district attorney said. “Nolan chose to stay on the island that day and there is not a scintilla of evidence to contradict that.”
The grand jury also found that the Triton had a bilge pump and motor malfunction on July 4 and was taking on water. The boat was briefly towed, allowing water to drain from its interior.
The report says a search of Horn Island was conducted July 5 before Wells’ body was found. The grand jury said it was confident his body would have been discovered during that search if he had been on the island at the time.
Both the Mississippi state chief medical examiner and an independent doctor concluded that the cause and manner of Wells’ death were undetermined, although drowning was listed as a diagnosis. The report says there was no evidence of a fatal injury or organic disease.
The grand jury reviewed evidence of bruising on Wells’ body and a reported fall from a boat. A witness told investigators Wells slipped awkwardly from the side of a boat around 3:30 p.m. July 4, but could not say whether he struck his head. The witness said Wells continued socializing and did not appear injured.
The report also says toxicology results found no cocaine in Wells’ system and no evidence that he had ever used cocaine.
The district attorney said the allegations surrounding Wells’ death were amplified despite evidence that contradicted them.
“The flames of that narrative, set against the backdrop of Mississippi’s terrible history, were fanned by both people who knew the truth and those who didn’t,” the district attorney said.
The grand jury report acknowledges that Mississippi has no statute of limitations for homicide cases. It says that if credible evidence later suggests Wells’ death was not accidental, the matter should be presented to a Jackson County grand jury for further consideration.
The grand jury expressed sympathy to Wells’ family and friends, saying the evidence presented convinced jurors of Wells’ outstanding character.