The mystery surrounding the tragic death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has taken another dramatic turn, with one of his former high school football teammates now preparing to sue social media users over claims linking him to the case.
Bart Edmiston Jr., a 21-year-old University of Wyoming punter who once played alongside Wells at Ocean Springs High School, says he has become the target of false accusations, online harassment, and even a "credible death threat" following the teen's unexplained death.
According to his attorney, Russ Latino, Edmiston plans to file a defamation lawsuit against individuals who have spread allegations connecting him to Wells' death.
"Let me be abundantly clear," Latino wrote in a public statement. "Bart Edmiston Jr. did not kill or in any way contribute to the tragic death of Nolan Wells."
The attorney said the online speculation has placed Edmiston, his family, and friends in danger, adding that both the FBI and state and local law enforcement have been notified about the threats.
The allegations appear to have stemmed from internet sleuths analysing background audio from a Sea Tow distress call, where some claim they hear the name "Bart." Others circulated an old high school photograph they alleged showed Edmiston with Katie McCormack, the woman Nolan was reportedly speaking with before he disappeared.
Latino firmly rejected those claims, stating the woman in the photo is not McCormack and insisting Edmiston had never dated or even known her before Wells' death.
To further clear his name, Latino said Edmiston voluntarily turned over his boat, GPS records, and cellphone data to investigators and has fully cooperated with authorities.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Wells' death remains unresolved.
The Mississippi teenager disappeared on July 4 after travelling with friends to Horn Island aboard multiple boats. After one boat reportedly began taking on water due to bilge pump problems, friends said Wells chose to remain behind and planned to return on another vessel.
However, McCormack has disputed that version of events through her sister, claiming Wells believed he was rejoining his friends' boat rather than intentionally staying behind.
Two days later, a U.S. Park Ranger discovered Wells' body.
An independent autopsy commissioned by the Wells family, announced by attorney Ben Crump, concluded that both the cause and manner of death remain undetermined. The examination noted red discoloration on the back of Wells' head but found no skull fractures or lacerations. Pathologists also cautioned that decomposition, along with organs removed during the state's earlier autopsy, limited their ability to reach definitive conclusions.
The official state autopsy and toxicology findings have yet to be released publicly and remain sealed pending presentation to a grand jury.
The case has also triggered widespread harassment of others connected to the tragedy. Warren Hudson, one of the friends who was aboard the disabled boat and placed the distress call, previously revealed he skipped Wells' funeral after receiving threats over social media.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has also warned that anyone attempting to threaten or intimidate investigators or prosecutors working on the case could face legal consequences.
With investigators still withholding key forensic findings, questions surrounding Nolan Wells' death continue to mount. At the same time, Edmiston's planned lawsuit signals that the legal battle over online accusations may become almost as contentious as the investigation itself.
