Warren Hudson has addressed the claim that content was deleted from Nolan Xavier Wells‘ cell phone, as attorney Ben Crump responds to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ recent comments and Wells’ friends reportedly receive litigation notices.
Warren Hudson Addresses Claim That Content Was Deleted From Nolan Xavier Wells’ Phone
On Friday, July 24, Officer Tatum released part four of his sit-down interview with Warren Hudson via YouTube. As The Shade Room previously reported, a portion of the interview touched on why Hudson did not attend Wells’ funeral. In sum, he stated that his family has received numerous death threats, and he shared that he did not want to take attention away from Wells. Additionally, during the conversation, Hudson recalled the night of July 4, specifically the events after a family friend of the Wells’ arrived at the residence he was staying at. This, with the intent to retrieve Wells’ cell phone.
Hudson explained that when they were on Horn Island, “alot of people” — who did and didn’t ride out to the island with he and his friends — had left their cell phones on their boat. Additionally, he noted that they still had many of the phones when they arrived back at the resident.
“We just handed it over, we didn’t think anything of it,” Hudson explained, referring to the moment they gave Wells’ phone to the family friend. “… There was no issue at all ofus giving the phone to her.”
In addition, Hudson said that none of them “had a reason to go through Nolan’s phone.”
“And the boat was having issues. Why would our concern be getting on Nolan’s phone or something?” he said. “I mean, I don’t even know Nolan’s password. None of our friends do… I didn’t even touch Nolan’s phone. None of us touched Nolan’s phone… until we handed it to mom that was at my buddy’s house.”
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In addition, Hudson explained that “absolutely” does not believe anyone deleted anything from Wells’ phone.
“…We had no reason to delete anything. There’s nothing to hide here. We had no reason to delete anything, and we never did,” he said.
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Ultimately, when asked if he killed Wells, had anything to do with his death, or deleted anything out of his phone, or felt anything that occurred was due to race, Hudson repeatedly answer, “Of course not — Absolutely not.”
“I know a bunch of my friends that are Black that were out there that day… Nolan was not the only Black person out there by no means,” Hudson said.
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Tracestin Shepherd Also Spoke With Officer Tatum — Says Nolan Wells' Mom Does Know Him
Immediately during his sitdown with Officer Tatum, Tracestin Shepherd responded to Christine Wonsley claiming that she doesn’t know him. As The Shade Room previously reported, Wonsley made the statement earlier this month. And she seemed to imply that Shepherd and her son may have been good friends, but not close enough that she knew him in-depthly.
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Speaking with Tatum, Shepherd explained that he met Wells in 9th grade. And he came to know Wells as his “best friend.” Additionally, he stated that he “beats himself up” over not being able to alter how the events of July 4 played out.
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“I’m already trying to mourn my friend’s death as is. And I’m playing myself for it. To put that in my head [that I had anything to do with his death] is a next level of hurt that can’t be truly explained,” he said. “It’s hard to put into words, genuinely. It’s backstabbing from a sense of community I thought I had with my skin color… I’m supposed to be one of them. But I come up and I speak and now, I’m the person to blame. I’m not dark enough for them. I’m not Black enough for them. Now I’m the issue? It doesn’t make sense.”
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As the interview went on, Shepherd mentions that he takes peace in knowing one of the last things he said to Wells was that he loves him. And he also knows he has donated to Wells’ family and done everything in his “power” to “help” and “pay respects.”
Speaking on Ben Crump, Shepherd doubled down on his previously shared sentiments that he’s hurt the case, and has made it about race when it is not.
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“Everybody I’ve seen — we back each other. And for them to push this narrative… just shows me, you have no idea who you’re dealing with or who you’re messing with,” he said. “And I think he’s taking the grieving parents and manipulating and turning — making it sound all bad.”
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Ben Crump Responds To Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves
Amid the recent statements from Warren Hudson and Tracestin Shepherd, Ben Crump has released one of his own. Over the weekend, Crump took to his Instagram account to share a lengthy message. This, in response to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves recently saying that he and Reverend Al Sharpton are “stoking division for personal gain” amid the investigation into Wells’ death.” As The Shade Room previously, Gov. Reeves that Crump and Sharpton are “to blame for the threats” against those involved in the case.
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“This has never been about casting aspersions or attacking anyone. Our sole purpose is to uncover the truth on behalf of our clients, the family of Nolan Wells, and to determine what happened to their son while he was on Horn Island on July 4. I have always stood for the truth, no matter who it implicates or exonerates. I stand for justice, no matter who it convicts or acquits. We are demanding transparency so that everyone can see the facts for themselves and have confidence that this investigation follows the evidence wherever it leads,” Crump concluded.
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Nolan Wells' Friends Reportedly Receive Litigation Notices
Meanwhile, on Monday, July 27, the Magnolia Tribune published a report asserting that on July 20, the day of Nolan Wells’ funeral, “several of Wells’ friends and their parents” received spoliation letters sent from the Carroll Bufkin, PLLC. Per the outlet, the law firm is based in Mississippi, where Crump is not licensed, but associates with the attorney.
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Per Google Search result a spoliation letter is a “formal written notice sent by an attorney requesting that the recipient preserve certain evidence relevant to a legal claim. It puts the other party on notice that a legal matter is pending or anticipated and that destroying or altering evidence could result in legal consequences.”
Per the Magnolia Tribune, the notice usually “serve[s] as the first step in an anticipated civil lawsuit.”
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“You are hereby placed on notice that litigation concerning the death of Nolan Wells is reasonably anticipated. Accordingly, you have an immediate legal duty to preserve all materials of all kinds within your possession, custody, or control that may be relevant in any way to the claims or defenses. This duty includes not only to you, but also your family members. It also extends to any person or entity providing services to you, acting on your behalf, or who is subject to your control,” the letter reportedly reads.
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Per the outlet, the notice is 10 pages long, and the materials that are being asked to be preserved are “text messages, group chats, emails, phones and laptops, social media accounts, photos and videos, and boat maintenance records and fuel purchases.”
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To see the documents, click here.
