Nolan Wells funeral absence explained by best friend Warren Hudson
Warren Hudson says death threats and concern for Nolan Wells' family kept him from attending his best friend's funeral.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Warren Hudson says he missed the Nolan Wells funeral because he did not want his presence to pull attention from Wells' grieving family, and because he feared threats he says have poured in since his friend's death.
Hudson, described by TMZ as Wells' best friend, discussed the decision in an interview with Brandon Tatum on The Officer Tatum Show. He said staying away was painful, but he believed attending such a public service could create a distraction.
He also said safety was a major concern. According to Hudson, he has received thousands of death threats in recent days, and he did not want to put himself or his relatives at risk by appearing at the funeral.
Why did Warren Hudson skip Nolan Wells' funeral?
Hudson gave two reasons on The Officer Tatum Show: he said he wanted the service to remain centered on Wells and Wells' family, and he said he feared for his safety because of threats he claims he has received.
Hudson called the choice horrible, according to TMZ's account of the interview, but said it reflects the way his life has changed since Wells' death became the subject of intense public attention.
The funeral explanation came during a broader interview in which Hudson addressed the final hours before Wells was found dead. Hudson has denied having anything to do with Wells' death, according to TMZ, and told Tatum that Wells refused requests from the group to leave Horn Island with them.
Hudson said on the show that people on Horn Island do sometimes arrive by one boat and depart on another. Even so, he said the group did not want Wells to remain on the island, which Hudson also described in the interview as dangerous.
Wells went missing during the Fourth of July weekend, TMZ reported. His body was later found off Horn Island, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Authorities initially suggested Wells drowned, according to TMZ. Wells' parents and their attorney, Ben Crump, have challenged that account and had an independent autopsy performed, TMZ reported.
The case has drawn more attention as friends, family members and others connected to Wells have spoken publicly. TMZ has also reported on an emergency call involving a friend at Horn Island and on Hudson's comments about a viral pool photo that he said was not taken over the Fourth of July weekend.
Hudson's latest remarks add his explanation for a question that had followed him since the service: why Wells' best friend was not there. His answer, according to the interview, was a mix of respect for the family and fear over the threats he says he has received.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.