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Jury Issues “No True Bill” in Nolan Wells Death

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 11:09 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

McIlrath Announces No Charges

Angel Myers McIlrath announced the jury issued a “no true bill,” filing no charges in Nolan Wells’ death.
The medical examiner and an independent autopsy listed the death as undetermined and noted non-fatal head bruising.
Andrew Garrett’s forensic team recovered 1 million phone artifacts, uncovering deleted messages about “sketchy” individuals on Horn Island, with no tampering.
Ben Crump demanded the full autopsy report, calling the investigation incomplete and urging continued inquiry.

Summary

Clarke Urges Probe

NAACP general counsel Kristen Clarke urged the Justice Department to launch an independent federal probe.
Hip-hop activist Willie D announced a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction.
Civil-rights groups filed letters demanding release of the state autopsy and full investigative file.
Potential defendants consider defamation suits against media figures who linked the friends to the death.
Mississippi’s no-statute-of-limitations rule keeps the case open for future grand-jury review.

History

Historical Context

After Byron De La Beckwith’s 1964 trials ended in hung juries because black voters were barred from juries, investigative reporting in the 1980s exposed illegal state-sponsored jury screening. Pressed by Myrlie Evers and the NAACP, Mississippi reopened the case, and on February 5 1994 a mixed jury convicted Beckwith, finally ending a 31-year cold-case in Mississippi.

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McIlrath Announces No Charges

Angel Myers McIlrath announced the jury issued a “no true bill,” filing no charges in Nolan Wells’ death.
The medical examiner and an independent autopsy listed the death as undetermined and noted non-fatal head bruising.
Andrew Garrett’s forensic team recovered 1 million phone artifacts, uncovering deleted messages about “sketchy” individuals on Horn Island, with no tampering.
Ben Crump demanded the full autopsy report, calling the investigation incomplete and urging continued inquiry.

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