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Grand jury declines charges in Nolan Wells death; family contests drowning conclusion

A Mississippi grand jury found no criminal evidence in the death of the Black college student, but his family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump dispute the drowning determination.

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What to know

  • A Mississippi grand jury found no criminal evidence in 18-year-old Nolan Wells' death and concluded it was consistent with drowning, but his family contests this based on autopsy findings of blunt force trauma.
  • The grand jury conducted an extensive investigation, issuing 132 subpoenas and hearing from 43 witnesses, though both the state medical examiner and an independent autopsy have not definitively determined the cause of death.
  • Civil rights attorney Ben Crump argues the district attorney failed to adequately investigate alternatives like blunt force trauma before certifying drowning as the cause.
  • The case has sparked intense racial speculation given that Wells was Black and all other members of the island party were white, in the context of Mississippi's history of racial tension.

Nolan WellsNolan Wells 18-year-old college studentBen Crump Civil rights attorney for Wells familyChristine Wonsley Nolan Wells' motherAngel Myers McIlrath District Attorney

Grand jury declines charges in Nolan Wells death; family contests drowning conclusion
Independent UK

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesvideos

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  1. background

    Ben Crump accuses DA of incomplete investigation — Crump released an independent autopsy report and challenged the district attorney for failing to rule out blunt force trauma as a cause of death, arguing that common sense dictates this must be investigated before concluding drowning.

  2. background

    Wells' family and Ben Crump reject grand jury drowning conclusion — At a news conference, Wells' mother Christine Wonsley and civil rights attorney Ben Crump disputed the grand jury's findings, emphasizing that autopsy evidence showed blunt force trauma to the back of the head and body. Crump stated that all other causes must be ruled out before certifying a drowning death.

  3. 1

    Grand jury announces no charges in Wells case

    District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced that a grand jury found no evidence of criminal conduct in Wells' death. The jury, which issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses, concluded his death was consistent with drowning based on the position and condition of his body.

    “How can a jury come to the conclusion of drowning, despite knowing that there was trauma to his body, and despite hearing many inconsistencies?”
    — Christine Wonsley, Nolan Wells' mother · source

    1. 2 outlets first by Independent UK, 1d ago · also Atlanta News First · read ↗

  4. background

    Nolan Wells goes missing during island party after boating trip — The 18-year-old Black college student disappeared during a July 4 party on Horn Island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His body was discovered two days later.