Nolan Wells’ death was “consistent with drowning,” and there was no foul play, a grand jury discovered after reviewing the official post-mortem and other evidence in the extremely publicized case.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office discovered the 18-year-old’s cause and method of death undetermined — echoing the outcomes of an unbiased post-mortem carried out by a pathologist employed by Wells’ household.
“The Grand Jury finds that the position of, the condition of, time of discovery, and location of Mr. Wells’ body is consistent with drowning,” according to the report filed Friday in Jackson County.
The grand jury also discovered no evidence that a crime resulted in Wells’ death.
“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.
Wells, who was black, died after touring to Horn Island — 10 miles off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast — with a group of buddies on July 4.
The faculty soccer athlete’s associates took their boat back to the mainland after working into a mechanical challenge, but Wells stayed behind.
His physique was found on July 6 in the water off the island.
“There is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan’s death and disappearance were racially motivated,” District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said in a assertion launched Monday.
This is a developing story. Please examine back for updates.