Federal authorities have charged three out-of-state individuals in connection with a wave of witness intimidation, fake bomb threats, and death threats directed at officials, judges, and witnesses involved in the ongoing investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi.
The death of Nolan Wells, a college football player who was found dead on Horn Island, Mississippi, after a July Fourth boating trip, has drawn intense public scrutiny and generated a sprawling digital information gap filled by online theories and speculation. As local authorities and a private investigation pursue answers regarding the teenager’s final hours, that online friction has crossed into federal criminal offenses.
Federal Charges Filed Against Edward James Porter for Witness Threats
Edward James Porter of Illinois faces federal charges for allegedly transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce to kill or injure regarding calls investigators said he made to two witnesses in the Nolan Wells case. Investigators state that Porter targeted at least two individuals connected to the inquiry.
In phone calls and text messages, he allegedly texted the witness their home address, claimed to be outside, and told a second witness that he would cut them up and put them into a suitcase.
Investigators from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and federal partners traced Porter’s phone number and IP address after receiving data from Piger, Comcast, and Boost Mobile via emergency disclosure requests. One of the witnesses Porter messaged was Bart Edmiston Jr., according to attorney Russell Latino.
Bomb Threats Target George County and Jackson County Offices
In a separate federal case, Michelle Francine Edwards of Cincinnati, Ohio, was charged after allegedly placing fake bomb threats against local government and law enforcement facilities on July 23. Prosecutors state that Edwards targeted the George County Chancery Clerk’s Office and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators reported that Edwards called the George County clerk’s officeâwhere Chancery Court Judge Ashlee Cole worksâmore than 20 times in eight minutes, utilizing *67
to obscure her phone number. During those calls, she allegedly told employees that the clock is ticking,
according to court affidavits.
Less than an hour after the clerk’s office calls, Edwards allegedly contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to report a bomb. The facility was subjected to a complete lockdown and bomb sweep before authorities determined the threat was false.
California Man Charged Over Threats Sent to Judge Ashlee Cole
Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce of Sacramento, California, was charged on July 14 for allegedly sending threatening Facebook messages to a Jackson County Chancery Court judge with direct ties to the case.
Judge Ashlee Cole, whose son was among the group of friends who went on the Horn Island trip, posted a screenshot of Dumarce’s threatening message on Facebook on July 9. The correspondence constituted a threat that a bomb would be mailed to the judge’s office,
according to police records.
Cole noted that her son cooperated fully
with the sheriff’s investigation. Amid the harassment, Cole temporarily deactivated her social media presence and expressed deep concern for the safety of her family and children.
Autopsy Status and Family Investigation Into Wells’ Death
Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old wide receiver on the Southwest Mississippi Community College football team, traveled by boat to Horn Island on July 4. He did not return with his companions that afternoon. Wells’ mother reported him missing around midnight, and search crews discovered his body on the beach on the northwest tip of Horn Island on Monday morning, July 6.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated initially that there was no sign of foul play, and the official state autopsy remains sealed pending presentation to a grand jury. Dissatisfied with initial communications from law enforcement, Wells’ parents retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to direct a private investigation, which included an independent autopsy.
The independent evaluation, conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, concluded that the cause of death was undetermined.
The report documented no bone fractures or deep tissue injuries, but highlighted a red discoloration
at the back of Wells’ skull as inconclusive. Dr. Mitchell wrote that he could not rule out the possibility that non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death,
indicating a need for further information.
While federal authorities continue prosecuting individuals for online harassment and witness intimidation, no arrests or direct charges have been filed against any suspect in connection with Wells’ actual death.
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