Mississippi DA says Nolan Wells autopsy report will stay sealed until grand jury review

Prosecutors say releasing the report before it is presented to a grand jury could compromise the investigation.

Mississippi District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath says the autopsy report in the death of Nolan Wells will not be released until it is reviewed by a grand jury. The announcement comes as public interest in the case continues to grow and Wells’ family pushes for answers.

As reported by WLOX, McIlrath released a video statement Thursday. She explained that every death investigation in Jackson County, except natural deaths and non-criminal traffic fatalities, is routinely presented to a grand jury. She said Wells’ case is following that same process.

“The pressure for answers does not change what the work requires,” McIlrath said. “Our responsibility to Nolan and our community is to complete this investigation thoroughly and carefully, without compromise.”

Wells, 18, was found dead in the waters near Horn Island on July 6 after disappearing during a Fourth of July boating trip with friends.His death has drawn national attention. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Wells family, has called for a full and transparent investigation. Rev. Al Sharpton, filmmaker Tyler Perry and NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens have also offered a $125,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction if foul play is established.

Officials defended the decision to withhold findings. McIlrath said Mississippi’s professional conduct rules prevent prosecutors from publicly discussing evidence during an active investigation. She said releasing details too early could influence witnesses or affect future legal proceedings.

“Our restraint in communicating facts and evidence is not an effort to keep the truth from the public,” she said. “It is an effort to protect the integrity of this investigation and the grand jury proceeding.”

The district attorney, McIlrath, also urged the public to avoid misinformation circulating online, saying investigators have examined every credible lead and continue to review all available evidence.Earlier this week, an independent autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell was unable to determine Wells’ cause of death because parts of the airway and lungs had already been removed during the state’s autopsy. Mitchell noted that the practice is common in forensic examinations.

The official autopsy was completed on July 7, but prosecutors confirmed its findings will remain sealed until they are presented to a grand jury. McIlrath said investigators remain committed to uncovering the truth while protecting the legal process that could ultimately bring answers to Wells’ family and the community.