A man from California was taken into custody for allegedly sending violent threats to the mother of a friend of Nolan Wells, who was with Wells on the day he vanished.
On July 4, Nolan Wells, who was 18 years old, went missing following a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island near Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. His remains were discovered by a National Parks Service ranger on July 6 after search efforts by crews.
Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce, aged 27, was arrested for charges of interstate transmission of threatening communication based on federal court records. He allegedly sent several threats through Facebook Messenger to Jackson County Chancery Court Judge Ashlee Cole, including a bomb threat to her office.
Judge Cole is the mother of Warren Hudson, a friend of Wells and one of the people present on Horn Island when Wells disappeared. Messages allegedly sent by Dumarce warned Judge Cole of a package with explosive potential, advising her to have others present to witness it.
Authorities traced Dumarce through the email linked to his Facebook account. The charge could result in up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
An analysis by Attorney Ben Crump during a news conference on July 22 indicated the discovery of a “red discoloration” on Wells’ head, with no conclusion yet on cause or manner of death. The official autopsy results remain pending.
Dumarce allegedly contacted Judge Cole’s office multiple times, and further investigation by law enforcement is underway.
Nolan Wells was a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, aiming to progress to the Division I level. His untimely disappearance remains a point of focus for those following the case.