‘Stop playing games:’ Jackson County DA responds to claims made at press conference on Nolan Wells phone data

Key Points:

• Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath affirmed the accuracy of information released after a grand jury's no true bill in the Nolan Wells case, standing by the thoroughness of the investigation.
• Attorney Ben Crump and his team, representing Nolan Wells' family, alleged that some Snapchat data was deleted from Wells' phone, as detailed by forensic expert Andrew Garrett, though McIlrath stated no evidence was provided that someone physically accessed the phone after Wells' last use.
• McIlrath criticized Crump's team for delaying a private phone extraction and selectively sharing findings with the grand jury, asserting the state's investigation was comprehensive and that the grand jury received all relevant evidence including cell phone data, surveillance, and GPS information.
• The autopsy reports from both the State Medical Examiner and an independent expert found no fatal injuries or disease causing Wells' death, with drowning not ruled out; the grand jury considered these findings in their report.
• McIlrath challenged Crump to present any new evidence of wrongdoing, emphasizing the state's openness to cooperation, and expressed confidence in the investigative agencies and grand jury process while questioning Crump's motives and trustworthiness.