Three individuals charged with threatening witnesses in Nolan Wells case

Mississippi prosecutors have charged three separate individuals with threatening witnesses and public officials linked to the investigation of Nolan Wells, a 17-year-old who was found dead on Horn Island on July 6.

Edward James Porter is accused of making multiple phone calls on July 31 in which he threatened to kill two witnesses and their families, saying he knew their addresses and describing graphic violence.

Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce faces charges after a Facebook user named “yaeyae962” allegedly sent bomb threats to a Jackson County Chancery Court judge on July 11. The messages warned of a package that would explode shortly after being opened.

Michelle Francine Edwards was charged for bomb threats made on July 23, first to the George County chancery clerk’s office and later to the Jackson County sheriff’s office, including repeated calls warning of a ticking clock and urging recipients not to go outside.

The investigation into Wells’ death began after he disappeared following a July 4 celebration on Horn Island. His mother and a friend reported him missing, and civil-rights attorney Ben Crump has questioned whether racial factors played a role, noting that Wells was one of the few Black participants that day and disputing law-enforcement suggestions that he may have drowned.

"There will be a package coming to your guys office in the next few days. It’s gonna blow you away when you see it lol," the alleged bomb-threat message read.

No attorneys have been listed for Porter, Dumarce or Edwards, and attempts to obtain comment from the Jackson County public defender’s office have not been answered.