- Parents of a Mississippi teen who was found dead after a Fourth of July boat trip have rejected a grand jury’s ruling that there isn’t evidence to warrant charges in his death.
- The grand jury found no evidence of criminal conduct in Nolan Wells’ death and said based on various factors, including the position and condition of Wells' body when found two days after he was last seen, his death was “consistent with drowning.”
- Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, said at a news conference Tuesday that she doesn’t understand how the grand jury concluded that her son accidentally drowned after an independent autopsy found bruising on the back of his head, but couldn’t determine the cause of death.
- A witness testified told the grand jury that he saw Wells slip awkwardly off the side of a boat at around 3:30 p.m. on July 4, but that Wells continued to socialize after the fall and didn’t appear injured. The panel said it couldn’t determine whether the fall caused bruising on Wells’ body.
- During its investigation, the grand jury issued 132 subpoenas and heard from 43 witnesses through direct testimony, sworn statements and recorded interviews, according to the report. It weighed evidence, including cellphone data and forensic reports, videos and GPS data.
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