{"id":5973,"date":"2026-08-03T21:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/08\/03\/nolan-wells-death-at-least-two-people-charged-over-alleged-threats-to-officials\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:00:11","slug":"nolan-wells-death-at-least-two-people-charged-over-alleged-threats-to-officials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5973","title":{"rendered":"Nolan Wells death: at least two people charged over alleged threats to officials"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"84188798-ca6f-4aff-8962-a812585fcdf4\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a person looking at an image \" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/585d5d66a715c750e2dbca9b9dde5b21e8b6a832\/0_0_7529_5022\/master\/7529.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.1646965068402\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Benjamin Crump, the family attorney, holds a press conference in Chicago last month.<\/span> Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"84188798-ca6f-4aff-8962-a812585fcdf4\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Benjamin Crump, the family attorney, holds a press conference in Chicago last month.<\/span> Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Nolan Wells death: at least two people charged over alleged threats to officials<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Threats come as questions surround death of Mississippi teenager, who was found dead after boat trip with friends<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Several people with no apparent connection to the Nolan Wells case have been criminally charged with making threats amid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/19\/nolan-wells-mississippi-investigation\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">questions<\/a> surrounding the Mississippi teenager\u2019s death in July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The death of the 18-year-old Mississippi college freshman has drawn widespread attention since he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/07\/nolan-wells-body-found-mississippi-island\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">found dead<\/a> following a boat trip to Horn Island, several miles off the Mississippi Gulf coast, with a group of friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Wells\u2019s death has also heightened racial tensions: Wells was Black and three friends he was with were white. The case has prompted speculation on social media, with users questioning whether Wells\u2019s death could have been racially motivated, as well as claims of defamation amid the investigation into the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In the weeks since Wells\u2019s death, several threats have been made against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/mississippi\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Mississippi<\/a> public officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">One case centers on allegations against Michelle Francine Edwards of Cincinnati, Ohio. She has been charged with one count of transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sunherald.com\/news\/local\/counties\/jackson-county\/article316736005.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">According to<\/a> court records, Edwards used a blocked number to call the chancery clerk\u2019s office in George county \u2013 which includes Horn Island \u2013 approximately 21 times in July. \u201cDo not go outside,\u201d Edwards allegedly said during those calls. She also allegedly said \u201cthe clock is ticking\u201d and \u201cdie\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Court records also allege Edwards made several calls to the sheriff\u2019s office in Jackson county, Mississippi. During those calls, Edwards allegedly said, \u201cY\u2019all got a bomb outside, don\u2019t come outside bitch,\u201d before later asking: \u201cY\u2019all still in there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The alleged calls prompted authorities to place the building on lockdown while canine units conducted a bomb sweep.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">If convicted as charged, Edwards could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A separate case centers on allegations against Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce, from Sacramento, California. Vasquez was arrested on the same charge as Edwards after allegedly threatening chancery judge Ashlee Cole, whose son had been on the boat trip with Wells.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ashlee.cole.3110\/posts\/1709091517035795?ref=embed_post\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">According to<\/a> court documents and screenshots Cole posted online, a Facebook account traced to Dumarce sent her a message that read: \u201cThere will be a package coming to your guys office in the next few days. It\u2019s gonna blow you away when you see it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The post used an acronym for \u201claughing at loud\u201d and added: \u201cProbably best to have the boys there to see as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cBlood. So much blood everywhere. Hard to clean. Especially from a boat. But yours will be quick I promise. I got all you info. Not even the FBI can stop this. Once that package is opened, the timer will start.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In response to the messages, the judge <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ashlee.cole.3110\/posts\/1709091517035795?ref=embed_post\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> on Facebook: \u201cWe realize that the truth will not stop the calls for the death of our small children \u2026 We also want to know what happened to Nolan. We will do everything within our power to assist Nolan\u2019s family in their quest for answers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">An independent autopsy performed in July listed Wells\u2019s cause and manner of death as \u201cundetermined, pending investigation\u201d, his family\u2019s lawyer, the civil rights attorney Ben Crump, said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/22\/nolan-wells-autopsy-results\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">According to<\/a> Crump, the independent autopsy \u2013 paid for by the former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick \u2013 found missing neck tissue and unexplained \u201cred discoloration\u201d on the back of Wells\u2019s head.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Black civil rights leaders have called for greater transparency and demanded answers in Wells\u2019s case. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/20\/nx-s1-5897559\/nolan-wells-sharpton-crump-funeral\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Speaking at<\/a> Wells\u2019s funeral, which was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/20\/nolan-wells-memorial\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">paid for<\/a> by film-maker Tyler Perry, the civil rights leader the Rev Al Sharpton said: \u201cFor an 18-year-old young man to no longer be with us, we want answers, not bias either way \u2013 just answers \u2026 I think that for the family, the closure can come if there is justice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cHe was not on that island by himself: somebody saw something and knows something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Meanwhile, as of Monday, an online fundraiser for some of Wells\u2019s friends had collected about $94,000 for the purpose of defending against any potential litigation in connection with the case. \u201cInstead of being allowed to mourn, what followed was an unprecedented online campaign of accusations, harassment, threats and defamation,\u201d the online fundraiser said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Wells\u2019 official state autopsy has been completed, officials <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/nolan-wells-state-autopsy-completed-officials-tell-nbc-news-rcna590107\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told<\/a> NBC. But the results of the autopsy by the Mississippi\u2019s state medical examiner\u2019s office have not been released, with them first being sent to a grand jury investigating Wells\u2019s case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Guardian has contacted the state medical examiner\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/mississippi\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Mississippi<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-crime\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Nolan%20Wells%20death:%20at%20least%20two%20people%20charged%20over%20alleged%20threats%20to%20officials&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/03\/nolan-wells-death-threats-officials?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Faug%2F03%2Fnolan-wells-death-threats-officials&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/aug\/03\/nolan-wells-death-threats-officials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Benjamin Crump, the family attorney, holds a press conference in Chicago last month. Photograph: Scott Olson\/Getty Images View<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5973\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}