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There has been a major update in 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells' case.
As widely reported, the teenager disappeared during a July 4 boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island around 10 miles off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. His body was found in the water near the island two days later, on July 6.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office listed his cause and manner of death as undetermined - a conclusion that was also reached by an independent pathologist hired by Wells’ family.
However, after examining evidence gathered during the investigation, a 23-member grand jury found nothing indicating that Wells’ death was the result of a crime.
"The Grand Jury finds that the position of, the condition of, time of discovery, and location of Mr. Wells’ body is consistent with drowning," the grand jury report filed on Friday in Jackson County read.
Last week, the grand jury reviewed evidence from the investigation, including sworn testimony from forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, who conducted the Wells family’s independent autopsy, a forensic examination of Wells’ cellphone, and evidence gathered during the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigation.
Mitchell’s examination had previously identified a 12-by-8-inch area of red discoloration on the back of Wells' head that had not initially been reported. This raised questions about whether the teenager had suffered trauma before his death.
But decomposition and the absence of associated injuries meant Mitchell was not able to determine the teen's cause and manner of death.
The independent examination was also complicated because Wells' body did not have a throat following the original post-mortem carried out by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office.
As part of the grand jury proceedings, Mitchell was given "full access" to examine Wells’ internal neck structures.
"There was bruising on the back of Mr. Wells’ head which was not a fatal injury. Further, the Grand Jury found no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells’ body," the reports said.
The grand jury also heard sworn testimony about an incident earlier on July 4 that could potentially explain some of the bruising.
A witness said Wells slipped "awkwardly" off the side of a boat at around 3:30PM, although they could not say for certain whether the college football player hit his head during the fall.
Wells reportedly continued socializing afterward and did not appear to be injured.
"While the Grand Jury found no other evidence to explain the bruising to the back of Mr. Wells’ head, or suspected bruising on his buttocks and shoulder, the Grand Jury cannot say without absolute certainty that this fall caused this bruising," the report said.
The grand jury also examined questions surrounding alcohol, drugs, and online claims about Wells’ death.
Per the report, Wells bought alcohol using a fake ID, while there was no evidence that anyone over the legal drinking age gave alcohol to him or his friends on July 4. It also found no proof that Wells had taken cocaine.
In addition to this, investigators said there was no evidence supporting "public allegations" that anyone traveling to or from Horn Island was responsible for his death or had committed a crime beforehand.
Wells’ friends have faced intense backlash and speculation over why they left him on the island and why his phone returned to the mainland without him.
"The Grand Jury finds that Mr. Wells’ phone was not the only phone to travel back to the mainland without its owner," the report stated.
The report also rejected claims that Wells was the only black person on Horn Island that day, saying such allegations fueled "misidentification, speculation, and rumors."
"There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan’s death and disappearance were racially motivated," District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said.
"Nolan’s friends loved Nolan and Nolan loved them," she added. "Nolan chose to stay on the island that day, and there is not a scintilla of evidence to contradict that."
However, Wells’ family continues to question whether his death has been fully explained.
Attorney Ben Crump said: "Today, the State of Mississippi is attempting to close the chapter on Nolan Wells’ death without getting to the truth."
"This grand jury result leaves us with more questions than answers," he added. "Nolan’s family will not rest until we know what happened to him, and neither will we."
