Friend cites death threats for skipping funeral of missing college athlete

Warren Hudson told host Brandon Tatum on The Officer Tatum podcast that he did not attend the funeral of his friend, 18-year-old college football player Nolan Wells, because of safety concerns. Hudson said he feared that his presence would distract from the family amid intense social-media discussion and that he and his family had received thousands of death threats.

"I would never want to take the attention off of Nolan and his family. They don’t deserve that," Hudson said. He added that the threats made it unsafe for him to travel to the service, despite his desire to say a final goodbye. Wells' body was discovered on July 6, two days after he vanished during a July 4 boating trip on Horn Island. An independent autopsy listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined pending further investigation. The closed-casket funeral in Ocean Springs was attended by local officials and public figures, including director Spike Lee and former NFL player Terrell Owens. Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed her grief during the service. The case remains under investigation, with authorities still seeking answers about the circumstances of Wells' disappearance and death.