The family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells is calling for a further investigation into his d#ath after a Mississippi grand jury declined to bring criminal charges in the case.

Wells disappeared on July 4, 2026, after traveling to Horn Island with friends for a Fourth of July outing. His body was recovered two days later in waters near the island.

A Jackson County grand jury reviewed the evidence and determined that no criminal charges were warranted. Its report said the position, condition, timing of discovery and location of Wells’ body were consistent with drowning, while finding no credible evidence that people traveling to or from Horn Island had engaged in criminal conduct connected to his d#ath.

However, the official state autopsy listed Wells’ cause and manner of d#ath as undetermined. A separate autopsy commissioned by his family also reached an undetermined conclusion and identified blunt-force injuries, including bruising to the back of his head. The independent findings did not establish what caused those injuries or whether they contributed to his d#ath.

The family and civil-rights attorney Ben Crump have continued to raise questions about the circumstances surrounding Wells’ final hours. Investigators working with the family have also reported recovering deleted Snapchat messages and examining cellphone GPS information as part of their effort to reconstruct the timeline.

On October 5, Wells’ family called for a federal investigation, saying the grand jury’s decision left them with unresolved questions. His mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family wants the case to be reopened and examined further.

At this stage, there is no official finding that Wells was intentionally harmed, and the grand jury did not find credible evidence supporting allegations of criminal conduct by those who traveled with him. The conflicting questions surrounding the autopsy findings and the circumstances before Wells entered the water remain the focus of the family’s calls for additional scrutiny.

For Wells’ family, the search for answers continues even after the grand jury’s decision. They are now seeking a federal review in hopes of clarifying what happened to the young football player on July 4.

Source: ABC News, Reuters, CBS News, Mississippi Public Broadcasting