Story perspectives

Grand Jury Clears Wells Death, Rejects Charges

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 3:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the grand jury returned a no true bill, so no charges for Wells' death.
The grand jury said the death matched drowning, while autopsies listed the cause as undetermined.
Attorney Ben Crump and Wells' parents demanded release of the grand jury file and a Justice Department probe.
Mississippi law lacks a homicide statute of limitations, so the case can be reopened with new evidence.

History

Historical Context

In 1965, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division opened a federal probe into the murder of activist James Chaney, securing convictions of three perpetrators. The investigation cost $2.5 million and resulted in 15 years of imprisonment for the convicted men. Today, Mississippi Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced a grand jury’s no-true-bill ruling in Aiyana Wells’ death, while lawyer Ben Crump presses for a Justice Department review. The 1965 precedent shows federal involvement can override local inaction, suggesting Mississippi’s unlimited homicide limitation may enable future reopening of the case.

1 of 2

Story summary

Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the grand jury returned a no true bill, so no charges for Wells' death.
The grand jury said the death matched drowning, while autopsies listed the cause as undetermined.
Attorney Ben Crump and Wells' parents demanded release of the grand jury file and a Justice Department probe.
Mississippi law lacks a homicide statute of limitations, so the case can be reopened with new evidence.

1 / 2