Nolan Wells’ Best Friend Denies Anyone Touched His Phone — But What His Mother Says Was Missing After It Was Returned Is Now Raising Even More Questions

Nolan Wells’ self-described best friend has addressed concerns the teen’s mom had about potentially deleted content on her son’s phone after he went missing.

Wells, 18, disappeared after a Fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi, and was found dead in the water two days later.

His mom, Christine Wonsley, said that when his phone was returned to the family, they had concerns after finding no pictures or videos on his two Snapchat accounts, calling it “suspicious” and triggering fears that content may have been deleted.

Nolan Wells sitting on a couch, facing right, with "The Officer Tatum Show" logo in the upper left.
Nolan Wells’ self-described best friend had addressed concerns the teen’s mom had about potentially deleted content on her son’s phone after he went missing.YouTube / The Officer Tatum
A photo of Nolan Xavier Wells in sunglasses and a red necklace.
Wells, 18, disappeared after a Fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island, Mississippi, and was found dead in the water two days later.via REUTERS

But Wells’ pal Warren Hudson –– who was on the fateful trip with him — insists he has no knowledge that anyone deleted anything from the promising athlete’s phone.

“There was no reason for us to get on Nolan’s phone, no one touched Nolan’s phone… If none of us had touched Nolan’s phone then y’know there’s no reason for anything to be deleted,” Hudson told YouTuber The Officer Tatum.

“No one even was in contact with his phone until it was moved from the boat to the truck, and none of us have access to Nolan’s password to get on his phone and delete anything,” the friend explained.

“We had no reason to delete anything… There’s nothing to hide here,” said Hudson — who previously told The Post that he considered Wells his “best friend.”

Asked if he deleted anything from Wells’ phone, Hudson responded, “No, of course not.”


The Post did not immediately hear back from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Wells’ family, when asked for comment on Hudson’s claims.

Hudson previously explained why Wells’ phone was left on the boat while they were at the barrier island, saying, “When you’re waist-deep in water, no one’s carrying their phone in their hand.”

He also claimed that one of his “panicking” pals yelled for Wells to “get the F on the boat” after the vessel started experiencing issues.

“And Nolan said no I’m staying out here… I’m gonna ride in with somebody else.”

He insisted the friend asked Wells “multiple times to get on the boat” before they left the island without him.

Wells was laid to rest Monday at a packed hometown funeral, where his devastated mom begged mourners to “keep Nolan’s memory alive.”

Preliminary findings from an independent autopsy listed the teen’s cause and manner of death as undetermined pending investigation.

Wells’ parents had flown their son’s body over 800 miles to Washington, DC, for the autopsy.

Dr. Roger Mitchell noted in his report a 12-by-8-inch red discoloration in the deep soft tissues on the back of Wells’ head.

However, extensive decomposition and the absence of associated injuries meant the findings were inconclusive for perimortem injury, the report states.

“This finding, however, is significant enough to be highlighted in this preliminary report for further investigation,” according to the report.

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