Grand jury finds no evidence of criminal conduct in the death of Nolan Wells

Key Points:

• A Mississippi grand jury declined to indict anyone in the death of Nolan Wells, a teenager found dead off the Mississippi coast in July, concluding no credible evidence of criminal conduct related to his death.
• The grand jury's investigation, which included over 40 witnesses and extensive evidence review, found Wells likely died from drowning, though the exact cause remains undetermined; bruises were noted but not deemed fatal.
• Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Wells' family, criticized the grand jury's decision, highlighting unresolved questions about Wells' injuries and circumstances leading to his death, and released an independent autopsy recommending the investigation remain open.
• The investigation faced challenges including concerns over cellphone evidence handling and communication delays with Wells' family, with District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath defending the process and disputing claims of withheld evidence or non-cooperation.
• Potential civil litigation is anticipated, with Wells' family notifying friends involved in the trip, and defamation suits being considered by a former teammate and some friends against public figures following social media attacks and threats connected to the case.