密西西比大陪审团裁定不对黑人青年韦尔斯之死提起指控Mississippi Grand Jury Declines to Indict Anyone in Death of Black Teen Nolan Wells

杰克逊县大陪审团在9月14日至9月18日举行听证后正式作出结论，裁定对涉案人员不予起诉。大陪审团在部分公开的报告中明确表示，没有可靠证据证明在7月4日乘坐Triton号、Palm Beach号或Tideline号船只往返霍恩岛的任何人存在与韦尔斯死亡相关的犯罪行为，并指出针对同行船员的指控并非基于事实。该陪审团由来自杰克逊县各阶层的23名居民组成，成员年龄在27岁至68岁之间，其中包括13名男性和10名女性。

Following proceedings held from September 14 to September 18, the Jackson County grand jury concluded that no criminal charges were warranted in the death of Nolan Wells. In its partially redacted report, the panel stated that it found no credible evidence to support allegations that anyone traveling to or from Horn Island on July 4 aboard the Triton, Palm Beach, or Tideline boats engaged in criminal conduct related to Wells' death, adding that public accusations against the vessel occupants lacked factual basis. The panel consisted of 23 grand jurors representing a cross-section of Jackson County residents, ranging in age from 27 to 68 and including 13 men and 10 women.

地方检察官安吉尔·迈尔斯·麦基尔拉斯在周一晚间发布的视频讲话中强调，大陪审团的职责不仅在于起诉有罪之人，也在于为被错误指控的人洗清嫌疑。麦基尔拉斯表示，没有任何证据表明韦尔斯的失踪和死亡出于种族动机，并指出韦尔斯与同行的朋友彼此关爱，当天是他自愿留在岛上，没有任何证据可以反驳这一点。检方同时指出，民权律师本·克朗普团队此前已知晓未发现针对韦尔斯的犯罪证据，批评相关方助长了未经证实的猜测。

Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated in a video release that in addition to prosecuting wrongdoing, the grand jury must exonerate those falsely accused. McIlrath affirmed there is absolutely no evidence that Wells' disappearance and death were racially motivated, noting that Wells loved his friends, they loved him, and he chose to remain on the barrier island that day. The district attorney also criticized civil rights attorney Ben Crump's legal team, asserting they had previously informed her office that they found no evidence of a crime committed against Wells but continued to allow unfounded public rumors to circulate.

大陪审团在调查期间发出了132份传票，听取了43名证人的证言，并邀请了7人出庭作证。陪审员审查了来自霍恩岛的照片与视频、手机提取数据、全球定位系统（GPS）记录以及物理证据，其中包括由韦尔斯家属代理律师本·克朗普团队提交的调查材料。综合考量现场数据与各方陈述后，大陪审团认定没有发现任何针对韦尔斯的犯罪行为或致命外伤。

During its inquiry, the grand jury issued 132 subpoenas, heard testimony from 43 witnesses, and invited seven individuals to testify before the panel. Jurors conducted an extensive review of physical and digital records, including Horn Island photos, video recordings, cellphone extractions, and GPS data, alongside investigative materials provided by civil rights attorney Ben Crump's team representing the Wells family. Following this review of testimony and electronic evidence, the panel determined that there was no credible indication of fatal trauma or criminal wrongdoing committed against Wells.

法医检验方面，州法医于7月7日完成了尸检，家属于7月10日另行委托了独立尸检。大陪审团报告指出，遗体的发现时间、具体位置和身体状况均符合溺水特征，因无其他明确致死原因，将溺水认定为排他性诊断。报告证实韦尔斯后脑存在两处非致命性淤伤，但确切成因尚不明确；杰克逊县验尸官布鲁斯·林德此前表示遗体未见直接的外伤痕迹或谋杀迹象，法医亦未在遗体上发现致命伤或器质性病变。

Forensic examinations included a state autopsy conducted on July 7 and an independent autopsy arranged by Wells' family on July 10. The grand jury concluded that the position, condition, time of discovery, and location of Wells' body were consistent with drowning, establishing drowning as a diagnosis by exclusion due to the absence of other fatal causes. While the report acknowledged bruising on the back of Wells' head, it characterized the injury as non-fatal with an undetermined cause, aligning with Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd's earlier assessment that the body showed no immediate signs of fatal trauma, organic disease, or foul play.

7月4日独立日当天，韦尔斯与多名朋友乘船前往距离密西西比州大陆约10英里的霍恩岛度假。杰克逊县治安官约翰·莱德贝特此前说明，韦尔斯当天下午未随同行的朋友一起返回大陆。代理律师本·克朗普的办公室记录显示，韦尔斯最后一次在岛上露面是在当天下午3点左右；其母亲在当晚晚些时候向警方报案失踪。大陪审团报告提及，当天出海的船只中，Triton号曾出现进水并被拖行了一小段距离，但各船乘员陈述的事发经过属实。

On July 4, Wells traveled with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island situated roughly 10 miles south of the Mississippi mainland, to celebrate Independence Day. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated that Wells did not return to the mainland with his group that afternoon, and records from attorney Ben Crump's office indicated that the teenager was last seen on the island at approximately 3 p.m. Wells' mother reported him missing later that evening. According to the grand jury report, accounts provided by occupants of the vessels were truthful, including details that one boat, the Triton, took on water and required towing over a short distance.

同行友人向执法部门陈述，韦尔斯当天留在岛上是为了与一名女孩交谈，并告知同伴自己稍后会另行乘船返回大陆。大陪审团报告认定，游客搭乘非去程船只从岛屿返回大陆的情况并不反常或可疑。7月6日，搜救人员在霍恩岛西北端水域发现了韦尔斯的遗体。大陪审团指出，尽管韦尔斯是其社交圈子中唯一的黑人朋友，也是该群体中唯一未归的人，但当天岛上并非只有他一名黑人。

Friends traveling with Wells told authorities that he chose to remain on the island to speak with a girl, telling his companions he would arrange to return to the mainland later. The grand jury concluded that returning from the barrier island on a vessel different from the one taken out was neither unusual nor suspicious. On July 6, searchers discovered Wells' body in the water off the northwestern tip of Horn Island. The grand jury report also noted that while Wells was the only Black member of his immediate friend group and the only one who did not return, he was not the only Black individual on the island that day.

在大陪审团报告发布后，民权律师本·克朗普在社交媒体及公开声明中明确表示，不予起诉的裁决并未解答韦尔斯的真正死因，反而留下了更多疑问。克朗普强调，密西西比州官方病理学家在韦尔斯后脑发现了两处淤伤，而家属委托的独立尸检也记录了血迹痕迹以及头部和背部的近期钝器伤。克朗普指出，至今没有任何人合理解释这些伤痕从何而来及其对死亡的影响，检方与密西西比州并未查明确切死因，有关部门必须继续开展调查。

Following the grand jury's report, civil rights attorney Ben Crump stated on social media and in a formal release that the 'no true bill' outcome failed to resolve how Wells died, asserting that the finding leaves the family with more questions than answers. Crump highlighted that Mississippi's state pathologist identified two bruises on the back of the teenager's head, while an independent autopsy documented traces of blood alongside recent blunt force injuries to his head and back. Crump emphasized that no party has explained how those injuries occurred or their potential contribution to Wells' death, adding that neither state authorities nor the legal team know the definitive cause of death and urging Mississippi officials to keep investigating.

韦尔斯的父母克里斯汀和埃尔莫尔·旺斯利对韦尔斯自愿留在岛上的说法表示怀疑。其父亲埃尔莫尔·旺斯利此前接受哥伦比亚广播公司（CBS）采访时表示，韦尔斯平时总是和同伴共同行动，不会选择独自留下来。地方检察官麦基尔拉斯则对克朗普团队提出公开指责，称其法律团队早已知晓没有针对韦尔斯的犯罪证据，却未能阻止不实流言的传播。韦尔斯的父母预计将在周二晚些时候就大陪审团裁决向公众发表正式讲话。

Wells' parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, questioned witness accounts that their son willingly chose to remain behind on Horn Island. Elmore Wonsley previously told CBS Mornings that Wells always stayed with his group and would not have stayed on the island alone without returning with his companions. In response to the public pushback, District Attorney Myers McIlrath criticized Crump's legal team, asserting they previously acknowledged to prosecutors that they found no evidence of a crime committed against Wells but failed to curb unfounded rumors. Wells' parents were scheduled to address the public later on Tuesday.