The father of the young man who called himself Nolan Wells’ best friend is putting up a significant reward, hoping to finally get answers in the mysterious death of the 18-year-old athlete.
Dr. Benjamin Hudson, whose son Warren has publicly identified as Wells’ closest friend, announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. He told TMZ the family is desperate for the truth.
“We still donโt know what happened,” he said, while also insisting he does not believe any of the friends who were on the boat trip with Wells are responsible.
The Hudson family says they’ve been bombarded with thousands of death threats since the case made national headlines. According to Dr. Hudson, the intense media spotlight is actually making it harder for witnesses to come forward, which is why they decided to add the reward money.
But the Wells family isn’t focusing on that. Instead, they are taking aim at another one of their son’s friends, Tracestin Shepherd. Shepherd recently appeared on a podcast alongside Warren Hudson, defending himself against rumors of racism or wrongdoing in the case.
He expressed frustration that the tragedy has become so racialized.
Nolan’s parents, however, are questioning where Shepherd’s priorities really lie. “It sounds more like he’s focused on getting people to know him,” Wells’ father, Elmore Wonsley, told NewsNation. “Our son should be in college right now.”
The grieving family is conducting their own investigation with civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
Wells vanished after a Fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi. Friends returned without him, saying he stayed behind to talk to a girl, and his body was found two days later in the water. Authorities initially suggested accidental drowning, but Wells’ mother insists witness accounts “are not lining up.”
The investigation remains open, and no charges have been filed. With a $50,000 reward now on the table, will anyone come forward with the missing piece of this puzzle?
