As the investigation into Nolan Wells’ death continues, one of the questions drawing the most attention involves the contents of the 18-year-old’s cellphone after it was returned to his family.
Now, Warren Hudson, who has described himself as Nolan’s best friend and was with him on the Fourth of July boating trip, is publicly responding to concerns that information may have been removed from the device.
Family Raises Concerns About Missing Content
After Nolan’s phone was returned, his mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family noticed that photos and videos were missing from his Snapchat accounts.
She described the discovery as suspicious and questioned whether anything may have been deleted before the phone was returned, believing the missing content could potentially help explain Nolan’s final hours.
The concerns have since become one of several unanswered questions in the ongoing investigation.
Warren Hudson Denies Anyone Accessed the Phone
Speaking during an interview on The Officer Tatum Show, Hudson firmly denied that he or anyone else in their group accessed Nolan’s phone.
“There was no reason for us to get on Nolan’s phone. No one touched Nolan’s phone,” Hudson said.
He added that, to his knowledge, no one had Nolan’s password or the ability to access the device.
“None of us had access to Nolan’s password to get on his phone and delete anything,” he explained.
Hudson also rejected suggestions that anyone had a reason to remove information from the phone.
“We had no reason to delete anything. There’s nothing to hide here,” he said.
When asked directly whether he had personally deleted anything, Hudson responded simply, “No, of course not.”
Why the Phone Was Left Behind
Hudson also explained why Nolan’s phone remained on the boat while the group was at Horn Island.
According to him, it was common for visitors to leave their phones behind to avoid damaging them while swimming or spending time in the water.
“When you’re waist-deep in water, no one’s carrying their phone in their hand,” he said.
Hudson stated that the phone stayed on the boat throughout their time on the island and was not moved until it was transferred from the boat to a truck after the group returned to the mainland.
His Account of Nolan’s Final Moments
During the interview, Hudson also repeated his account of the events leading up to Nolan’s disappearance.
He said the group’s boat began experiencing mechanical problems with its bilge pump, prompting everyone to prepare to leave the island.
According to Hudson, several friends repeatedly urged Nolan to return to the boat, but Nolan declined, saying he planned to stay behind and find another ride back to the mainland.
Hudson said the group asked Nolan multiple times before eventually departing without him.
Investigation Remains Active
Nolan disappeared during the Fourth of July outing to Horn Island, Mississippi, and his body was recovered two days later.
His family has continued seeking answers and commissioned an independent autopsy after raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to the preliminary findings, both the cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending additional investigation.
The report also noted an area of discoloration in the deep soft tissue on the back of Nolan’s head. However, the forensic pathologist stated that advanced decomposition and the lack of additional associated injuries made it impossible to determine whether the finding resulted from trauma around the time of death.
Investigators continue working to establish a complete timeline of Nolan’s final hours.
As the case remains under investigation, questions surrounding Nolan’s cellphone—and whether it may contain information that could help explain what happened—continue to be a focus for both investigators and his family.