A grand jury has decided not to charge anyone in the death of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old from Mississippi who went missing after celebrating the Fourth of July on Horn Island, a popular tourist destination off the coast of the state. The grand jury found no criminal wrongdoing in the teen’s death, stating there is no credible evidence that anyone who traveled to or from the island on July 4, 2026, on the boats Triton, Palm Beach, or Tideline, was involved in any criminal activity related to Wells’ death. The report also dismissed allegations against those on the boats as unfounded, saying they were the result of public speculation and private hostility rather than actual wrongdoing. Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said in a video statement that the grand jury also cleared those who had been falsely accused, emphasizing that there was no evidence suggesting the death was racially motivated. Nolan had traveled to Horn Island with friends to celebrate the Fourth of July but did not return to the mainland that afternoon. He was last seen on the island at 3 p.m., according to the office of attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family. His mother reported him missing later that night, and his body was found off the coast of the island on Monday, July 6, about 10 miles south of the Mississippi mainland. An independent autopsy commissioned by the family could not determine the cause of death. However, the grand jury concluded that the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning. Friends of Wells told authorities that he had decided to stay on the island to speak with a girl, telling them he would return to the mainland later. However, Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, previously told "CBS Mornings" they did not believe their son would have chosen to stay behind. Elmore Wonsley said, "No, he wouldn't. Nolan always stays with the group." Crump, representing the family, noted that there were many inconsistencies in the accounts, which has led to public concern. He pointed out that while friends said Wells told a girl he would return to the boat, the boys said he had said, "No, I'm going to stay with her." The grand jury, made up of 23 people from a cross-section of Jackson County residents, said in its report that those who traveled to or from Horn Island on the three boats fully cooperated with the investigation. They provided evidence such as marine GPS devices, surveillance footage, cell phones, and statements to both law enforcement and the Wells family. The report also noted that it was common for visitors to stay on the island after the boats they arrived on had departed, especially on busy holiday days.