The Nolan Wells Fundraiser Has Raised Over $100,000 to Support Friends Facing Threats, Public Scrutiny and Potential Legal Action
A fundraiser created to support several friends who were with Nolan Wells before his disappearance has raised more than $100,000 as public debate surrounding the young man’s death continues to intensify.
Wells disappeared after attending a boat gathering during the July 4 weekend. His body was recovered two days later near the northwest tip of Horn Island. Nearly one month later, his family continues to press authorities for answers about what happened during his final hours.
The GiveSendGo campaign was established by Dr. Benjamin Hudson, whose son, Warren Hudson, has been identified as one of Wells’ friends. Organizers say the money will help the young people and their families respond to possible lawsuits, threats and accusations that have spread online since Wells’ death.
In the fundraiser’s description, Hudson accused attorney Ben Crump, the Rev. Al Sharpton and unnamed local activists of spreading false narratives about Wells’ friends.
Related: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Blames Ben Crump and Al Sharpton for Threats in Nolan Wells Case
Hudson said the campaign has two primary purposes. The first is to help defend the friends against any wrongful-death lawsuits filed by Crump or other attorneys representing Wells’ family.
The second is to assemble a legal team capable of pursuing potential slander and libel claims against social media personalities, news organizations and others accused of spreading misinformation.
“If you believe in truth, due process, and holding people accountable through the rule of law and not through internet mobs, we ask for your support,” Hudson wrote.
No public finding has established that the friends committed a crime or caused Wells’ death.
Hudson Family Reports Death Threats
Hudson said his family has received thousands of threats since Wells’ body was discovered.
“We don’t know what happened,” Hudson said. “We have been completely transparent from the beginning because we want to know what happened, too.”
Hudson previously announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information that could help explain Wells’ disappearance and death.
The fundraising campaign argues that Wells’ friends have been publicly condemned before investigators have determined what happened, leaving the young people and their families facing harassment while also trying to mourn.
Wells’ Mother Continues Seeking Answers
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has also spoken publicly about the harassment her family has received while advocating for a fuller investigation.
Wonsley has sought information from Meta and TikTok regarding her son’s final online communications and activity. In a Facebook post Sunday, she defended her family’s continued demands for what she described as a fair and transparent investigation.
“If ADVOCATING for our deceased child to have a fair, honest and transparent investigation while asking local authorities to treat his case as if it were their own makes you feel some type of way please UNFRIEND and BLOCK me because this is MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE,” Wonsley wrote.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We just want the TRUTH! His father and I WILL NOT STOP SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH!”
The competing public campaigns underscore how far the conversation has expanded beyond the central unanswered question: what happened to Nolan Wells between the July 4 boat gathering and the discovery of his body two days later.
Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or announced evidence proving criminal wrongdoing by anyone who was with Wells before he disappeared.
