—Barrington Williams, B1Daily

The Mississippi grand jury refused to issue an indictment in the case of Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old who was murdered there. This conclusion answers at least one question: the prosecution could not bring enough evidence to show the grand jury that it was worth pressing any criminal charges. It leaves unanswered the question haunting Wells’ family: What really happened to Nolan?

Wells went missing during a July 4, 2026, vacation trip to Horn Island, located on the coast of Mississippi, and was discovered dead two days later. The grand jury found the facts to be consistent with accidental drowning and could not find any credible evidence that people going to and leaving the island acted criminally toward Wells. Prosecutors also said that the evidence could not prove that there was any racial motivation for the murder.

This conclusion is certainly worth sharing; however, the uncertainty is also something to share.

Both the state’s medical examiner and the private one hired by Wells’ family classified the cause and manner of his death as undetermined. The family’s pathologist found the traces of recent blunt-force trauma, including bruises on Wells’ back and head. The grand jury found that the head bruises were not fatal, while a witness testified that Wells fell from the boat once before but could not confirm that he hit his head when falling. Thus, it is unclear how exactly these injuries were inflicted.

And that difference is huge. “Consistent with drowning” is far from the medical examiner’s determination that it was accidental drowning.

This Is Exactly the Type of Situation Where an Independent Federal Investigation Would Be Beneficial

It should be noted that it is not required that someone be found guilty in order for the federal government to examine the case. Actually, members of the Congressional Black Caucus have already made a request to the Department of Justice and FBI for conducting an independent federal investigation and determining if there are grounds for additional investigation, including civil-rights laws of the federal government. It is also worth mentioning that the CBC emphasized that such federal intervention would not prejudge the issue.

And this is exactly the right approach.

Federal investigators can examine independently forensic evidence, digital records, witness statements, investigative procedures and discrepancies. In case, the findings confirm the conclusions made at the local level, this will be another confirmation. If investigators find materially new evidence, prosecutors can make the appropriate conclusions regarding the next actions to be taken.

In fact, the grand jury itself left such an option. In its report, the grand jury noted that the case could be reviewed by a grand jury again, in case of appearance of credible evidence of non-accidental death. Moreover, in Mississippi, there is no statute of limitations on murder charges.

An Independent Prosecutor Can Help Solve the Problem of Lacking Public Confidence

It should be mentioned that calls for conducting the investigation by a special or independent prosecutor must be regarded as a call for institutional independence, rather than an attempt to point to misconducts of local prosecutors.

The investigation that was conducted in Jackson County was significant. At least, according to the report, there were 132 subpoenas and testimony of 43 witnesses used during the grand jury procedure. All these facts are evidence against the suggestion that authorities had done nothing.

However, the mere amount of subpoenas does not guarantee public confidence.

In case, when the central medical issue is officially unresolved, the conclusions are rejected by the victim’s family, some injuries are not explained and national civil rights organizations and members of Congress ask for an independent review, an independent investigation is required.

If the results of investigation prove that the death was accidental, an independent investigator will say about it. In case, the investigation uncovers evidence of criminal activities, prosecutors will conduct the investigation according to the findings.

Nolan Wells Requires a Determination, Not an Assumption

In addition, there is a line that those supportive of Wells’ family should never cross. There is no proof from the evidence that Wells was killed, and there were no credible evidence presented to the grand jury about any criminal activities, including racial motivations. Those associated with the case must not declare themselves killers without evidence.

However, this does not mean that one cannot question something until every doubt is dispelled.

What is obvious is the following: the cause and manner of death of Nolan Wells remains undetermined.

This is the reason why the Justice Department must seriously consider the appeal that is waiting for it to be heard. Utilize the investigative power of the federal government. Determine if there is federal jurisdiction over the matter. Examine the evidence separately. And, when required, employ the independent prosecutorial framework in order to analyze the results.

Not because the government must presume in advance that someone has committed a crime.

Because an 18-year-old came to the island alive, two days later he was found dead, but there is no proof about how and why he died.

—Barrington Williams, B1Daily