A Mississippi grand jury ruled that Nolan Wells‘ death was consistent with drowning and found no evidence of a crime or racial motive, clearing his friends of allegations. The decision has sparked legal threats from the youths’ attorneys against critics, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who called the pending lawsuit “meritless.”
The Jackson County grand jury’s “no true billdecision, announced without a formal press release, concluded that 19-year-old Nolan Wells' remains—found on July 6 near Horn Island—showed no signs of foul play.
The Grand Jury finds that the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Mr. Wells’ remains is consistent with drowning,” the panel wrote, according to Fox News. The remains were discovered two days after Wells, 19, disappeared on July 4 during a boat trip to Horn Island, a barrier island along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, with a group of friends.
Friends’ Legal Push Against Online Accusations
Nolan Wells' friends cleared by grand jury as lawyers
Attorneys for Wells’ friends, including Edward Andrew Paltzik and Russell Latino, have vowed to hold online accusers accountable. Paltzik, representing Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour, directly addressed civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, demanding an apology: “@AttorneyCrump NO TRUE BILL. You should apologize immediately to completely innocent young men… The statement, shared on social media, reflects the group’s frustration over months of speculation linking them to Wells’ death. Paltzik also sent several legal notices to social media influencers and media figures on behalf of the three men he represents.
Latino, who represents Bart Edmiston’s family, emphasized that the narrative that three White boys and a Black boy went to an island and only three White friends returned spread like wildfire. This was false. He criticized unscrupulous charlatans and grifters for exploiting the tragedy, while acknowledging the grand jury’s role in validating the friends’ innocence. The Edmiston family looks forward to bringing accountability to those who exploited tragedy to divide and injure,
Latino said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
District Attorney Denies Racial Motive, Criticizes Crump’s Team
Hell is coming with us
Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath reiterated that there was absolutely no evidence of racial motivation in Wells’ death.
McIlrath also sharply criticized attorney Ben Crump’s team, which she said knew early on that the death wasn’t racially motivated. What I am suggesting is that the Crump team knew better but did not do better,
she said. Crump, however, disputed the findings, citing an independent autopsy that allegedly revealed blunt force injuries to Wells’ head and back. His comments, reported by Fox News, contrast with the grand jury’s conclusion and the DA’s assertion that there is absolutely no evidence to support the allegations that Nolan’s disappearance and death were racially motivated.
Sharpton Faces Defamation Threats, Refuses to Retract
Rev. Al Sharpton has rejected threats of a defamation lawsuit from Wells’ friends, calling the legal action “meritless. His attorneys argued that the pending suit lacks a defamatory statement, as the plaintiffs seek an apology for questioning Wells' death rather than retracting specific false claims.
It asks Reverend Sharpton to apologize to three young men for having asked why an eighteen-year-old died,” the response stated. Sharpton’s legal team also warned they would counter-sue if the friends’ attorneys were involved in pushing the defamation accusations.
This is not going to distract us from the question that brought us here: 'What happened to Nolan Wells?'
Sharpton said, emphasizing his role in advocating for the family’s pursuit of answers. The friends, including Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour, had announced their intention to file a lawsuit against Sharpton, with their lawyer Tyler Cox filing an intent to sue letter. Sharpton’s attorneys explained that he wasn’t inserting himself into Nolan’s mysterious death but was asked to participate in the conversation around it.
The case has become a flashpoint in debates over online misinformation and legal accountability. While the grand jury’s decision closes the criminal investigation, the friends’ legal actions and Sharpton’s defiance highlight the enduring tensions between public speculation, racial narratives, and the pursuit of justice. Wells’ friends, who were subjected to months of online rumors and speculation, now face a legal battle over claims of defamation, while Sharpton maintains his stance that the family deserves answers.