A Mississippi grand jury has concluded that there is no evidence to support criminal charges in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, bringing a closely watched investigation to a pivotal-but perhaps not emotionally conclusive-end.
Wells, a Black teenager, was found dead following a Fourth of July trip with friends to Horn Island, a remote barrier island off the Mississippi coast. Photographs showing Wells surrounded by White friends during the outing subsequently circulated online, fueling speculation about what happened before his death and whether race played any role in the tragedy.
According to a report released by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office, the grand jury unanimously determined that investigators found no evidence of criminal or racially motivated wrongdoing. The inquiry reportedly included witness testimony, physical and digital evidence, GPS records and cellphone data.
The grand jury also found that the position and condition of Wells' body, along with when and where it was discovered, were consistent with drowning.
The findings appear to close the possibility of criminal prosecution unless new evidence emerges. Nevertheless, the announcement leaves a difficult question for those who followed the case: will the detailed investigative conclusion finally quiet public suspicion, or will unanswered personal questions surrounding Wells' final hours continue to trouble his family and community?
CNN said it had contacted civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Wells family, for a response to the grand jury's report. The family's reaction could determine whether the findings bring a measure of closure-or lead to renewed calls for additional scrutiny.
