Nolan Wells’ death was “consistent with drowning,” and there was no foul play, a grand jury found after reviewing the official autopsy and other evidence in the highly publicized case.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office found the 18-year-old’s cause and manner of death undetermined — echoing the results of an independent autopsy carried out by a pathologist hired by Wells’ family.
“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 found 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 traveling to Horn Island — 10 miles off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast — with a group of pals on July 4.
The college football athlete’s friends took their boat back to the mainland after running into a mechanical issue, but Wells stayed behind.
His body was discovered 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 statement released Monday.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
