The mother of Nolan Wells reports receiving anonymous hate mail, defacing a photo of her legal team, as she and her husband prepare to honor their late son. Nolan Wells, a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, went missing during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island, located 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Friends of Wells informed investigators that he stayed behind on the island to catch a ride with another group. However, his phone and keys were found on the boat his friends used. His body was discovered on July 6 near the island’s northwestern tip.
Anonymous Hate Mail
Christine Wonsley, Wells’ mother, shared an image of a defamatory letter on Facebook. The letter, postmarked from Denver, featured a defaced Associated Press photo of a news conference on July 10, showing civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton and family attorney Ben Crump. Arrows and dollar signs were drawn on their faces, with Wonsley in the middle.
Whoever sent this to my home, may the good Lord have mercy on your soul,Wonsley wrote.Bold enough to send this but not bold enough to list your return address. This is America where grieving parents have to face such behavior because we seek the truth about our son.
Funeral Arrangements
A funeral for Wells is scheduled at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The visitation begins at 9 a.m. with the ceremony following. Reverend Sharpton will deliver the eulogy, and attorney Crump will give a “Call to Justice.” Family, friends, and community will celebrate Nolan’s life and honor his memory.
The family’s GoFundMe has reached over $735,000, including a $100,000 donation from BuzzFeed CEO Byron Allen.
Investigation Updates
The FBI’s Jackson Field Office is aiding the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in some aspects of the investigation. They are also probing interstate threats related to the case. While initial investigations did not suspect foul play, autopsy results are pending with toxicology tests awaited.
Discrepancies in witness statements have led Wells’ family and attorney Crump to dispute the narrative that Wells chose to remain on the island. Video evidence presented by Crump shows a confrontation before Wells disappeared. Crump argues it raises questions about the accounts provided by Wells’ friends.
Witness Tracestin Shepherd claims that he was heard yelling in the video, not Wells, and the recording showed an unrelated altercation involving him, not Wells.
Wells was one of the few Black individuals at the gathering of about 200 people on the island during the celebration. Crump calls for scrutiny of all involved, emphasizing the lived experiences faced by Black people in America.
An independent autopsy will be conducted, funded by Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, with filmmaker Tyler Perry covering the funeral expenses.
The findings from the death investigation will be presented to a grand jury to determine if charges are warranted. Emergency audio from July 4 captured a distress call about a boat failure after Wells was last seen. This new evidence highlights the chaotic circumstances of his disappearance.