A close friend of 18-year-old Nolan Wells says the Mississippi teen was repeatedly urged to board a departing boat during a Fourth of July outing on Horn Island but chose to stay behind, according to new details shared by the friend.

Warren Hudson, who has described himself as Wells’ “best friend” and like a brother, said one of their companions yelled for Wells to get on the boat after it began taking on water. “Nolan, get the F on the boat,” the friend allegedly shouted while panicking, Hudson recounted in an interview. Wells reportedly replied that he was staying and would return later with someone else.

Hudson said the boat, which had taken on about six inches of water due to a bilge pump problem, was towed away from the island around 4:30 p.m. Wells, a promising football player from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, had gone to the barrier island roughly 10 miles off the Gulf Coast with a large group of friends for an all-day gathering involving multiple boats. His body was found in the water two days later, on July 6.

Hudson addressed questions about why Wells’ phone remained on the boat, explaining that people on the island typically leave devices behind because they are often waist-deep in murky water. He said he and others realized Wells might be missing that night and that he contacted Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, around 11 p.m. before calling the Coast Guard.

The circumstances surrounding Wells’ death have drawn intense scrutiny from his family, who are represented by attorney Ben Crump, and from online observers. Questions have focused on why Wells was left behind, the handling of his phone and keys, and conflicting accounts of the day. Friends have maintained that Wells decided to stay amid the large crowd on the island.

A preliminary independent autopsy listed both the cause and manner of death as undetermined, noting decomposition and a red discoloration on the back of Wells’ head that could indicate trauma but was inconclusive. Official autopsy results are being withheld pending grand jury review. Authorities have said they have found no immediate evidence of foul play, though the investigation remains active. Wells was laid to rest in a packed funeral attended by figures including Spike Lee, Terrell Owens, and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Hudson has previously spoken out against rumors blaming him or other friends for Wells’ death, calling them hurtful and fact-free. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies continue to investigate.

Sources

• New York Post