Nolan Wells update: Friend strongly blames mother for fueling online backlash and threats after his death
Jax Pitalo, a friend who was with Nolan Wells before his death, has blamed Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, for adding to the online backlash against him and two other friends. During an interview with Brandon Tatum on The Officer Tatum Show, Pitalo said Wonsley’s social media posts helped bring more attention to the friends, who say they have faced threats, harassment and false claims since Wells’ death.
Jax Pitalo says Christine Wonsley’s posts increased the backlash
Pitalo said he regrets that photos shared by Christine Wonsley showed Nolan Wells with him and Morgan Seymour and helped identify the people who were with Wells before he disappeared. He said the posts later became widely shared online, bringing more attention to the friends.“I wish that would’ve never happened,” Pitalo said during the interview, referring to the posts that later spread online.Warren Hudson, who also appeared during the interview, agreed that publicly identifying the friends changed the situation for them. He said he believes the story would not have received the same level of attention if their names and photos had not been shared.Hudson also described how the online attention has affected the group in everyday life. “Going out, we’re always paranoid that someone’s gonna see us, try to beat us up,” he said. “We’re just trying to stay lowkey.”He said the threats have also reached his family. “The threats have been insane,” Hudson said, adding that his stepmother, father, mother, brothers and sisters have received threats. “It’s unbelievable this has been taken to the level it’s at.”The friends have denied being involved in Wells’ death. Their lawyers have also said they are facing harassment, threats and false accusations and are considering defamation lawsuits against people they believe have spread false information about them.A report published by BIN on August 10 said Pitalo, Seymour and Hudson believe they have been treated unfairly and have started a legal defense fund to help with their expenses.
Nolan Wells’ friends speak about Horn Island and his death
Pitalo, Seymour and Hudson were among the friends who went with Wells to Horn Island on July 4. Wells disappeared from the island that day, and his body was found in the water two days later.The circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved. The Associated Press reported that an independent autopsy arranged by Wells’ family was inconclusive and that his cause of death remains undetermined. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has said the investigation is still ongoing.Pitalo also told Tatum that he and the other friends regret going to Horn Island. He said they sometimes think Wells could still be alive if they had never made the trip.Pitalo described Wells as a “brother” and said the group is still dealing with his death while also trying to respond to the attention surrounding the case. Wonsley has not publicly responded to Pitalo’s comments.
