Summary: A Jackson County grand jury returned a "No True Bill" in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, and prosecutors will not file criminal charges. The state medical examiner said the circumstances were consistent with drowning but could not determine a definitive cause or manner of death. Independent pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee criticized the autopsy for not documenting an examination of the sphenoid sinus—a site some studies associate with drowning—and noted lung findings consistent with fluid. Deleted text messages from Wells' phone and conflicting accounts from friends and family leave important questions unanswered.
Expert: Key Autopsy Area Was Not Examined in Nolan Wells Case, Raising New Questions
Facebook/Christine Wonsley
Jackson County prosecutors say a grand jury found no evidence of a crime in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, returning a "No True Bill." While the State of Mississippi's Chief Medical Examiner said the circumstances were consistent with drowning, the official autopsy could not determine a definitive cause or manner of death.
Independent Pathologist Flags Missing Examination
Dr. Priya Banerjee, a board-certified forensic pathologist unaffiliated with the investigation, told People on Sept. 25 that the autopsy did not document an examination of the sphenoid sinus. "The pathologist did not check the sphenoid sinus. It's not even mentioned," Banerjee said. She pointed to research cited by the National Library of Medicine that links "accumulation of fluid" in the sphenoid sinuses with drowning.
"There is no A equals B for drowning," Banerjee cautioned. "If there's a gunshot wound to the head, there's a gunshot wound to the head."
What the Autopsy Shows—and What It Doesn't
Neither the state's autopsy nor an independent report commissioned by Wells' family specifies findings for the sphenoid sinuses. Banerjee told People she suspects there was fluid in Wells' lungs: "Those lung weights aren't the heaviest I've ever seen but they're still heavier than normal. And in the setting of decomposition, they do probably have fluid in them, which is water consistent with drowning."
The grand jury report noted bruising on Wells' body but said those marks were not determined to be a fatal injury. "Further, the Grand Jury found no evidence of any fatal injury or organic disease to Mr. Wells' body," the report stated.
Christine Wonsley/Facebook
Digital Forensics And Timeline Questions
Digital evidence has drawn scrutiny as well. TMZ reported that Andrew Garrett, a digital forensic investigator retained by the family, found text messages apparently deleted from Wells' phone after he last used it at 2:18 p.m. on July 4 and before the family regained access. Garrett said it could not be determined who deleted the messages or why.
According to reporting in The Globe, Wells traveled to Horn Island with friends on the morning of July 4. He was last seen near the island at about 3 p.m. and was found deceased on July 6. Friends say Wells stayed behind on Horn Island with an unidentified woman while others left for the mainland around 4:30 p.m.; Wells' parents say that account would be inconsistent with his character. The friends have retained legal representation.
What Remains Unresolved
The case remains closed to criminal charges after the grand jury decision, but several questions persist: whether the sphenoid sinus was adequately evaluated, what the full autopsy findings would show when compared with independent reviews, and who—if anyone—deleted messages from Wells' phone. Family members and outside experts have called for greater transparency and clarity about the scope of the autopsy and the digital evidence timeline.
Sources: Jackson County Grand Jury report; State of Mississippi Chief Medical Examiner; People (interview with Dr. Priya Banerjee); TMZ; The Globe.
Help us improve.
