Nolan Wells’ best friend skipped funeral due to death threats: ‘Wish I could have been there’ - New York Post

What the report says

The New York Post reported that Warren Hudson, who described himself as Nolan Wells’ best friend, said he skipped Wells’ funeral because of safety concerns and the intense public attention surrounding the 18-year-old’s death. Hudson made the comments on The Officer Tatum podcast released Saturday, explaining that he did not want his presence to shift focus away from Wells and his family at Monday’s service.

According to the Post, Hudson said he and his family had received numerous death threats after Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July outing at Horn Island. Hudson was with Wells during the trip, and he said the reaction online contributed to his decision not to attend the funeral, even though missing it was painful and he wished he could have been there.

Wells’ body was found July 6 near the area where he had gone missing two days earlier. The Post reported that his death remains under investigation. Preliminary findings from an independent autopsy released Wednesday listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined pending further investigation, and the date of death was also listed as unknown.

Wells was laid to rest Monday in a closed casket at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, in a packed service attended by mourners including director Spike Lee and former NFL player Terrell Owens. The case has drawn broad attention because of Wells’ profile as a young college football player and the unresolved questions around his disappearance and death.