Several individuals with no apparent connection to the Nolan Wells case have faced criminal charges for allegedly making threats against Mississippi public officials in recent weeks. Wells, an 18-year-old college freshman, was found dead following a boat trip to Horn Island off the Mississippi Gulf coast in July.
One defendant, Michelle Francine Edwards of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. According to court records, Edwards allegedly used a blocked number to call the chancery clerk’s office in George County approximately 21 times in July, making statements including “do not go outside,” “the clock is ticking,” and “die.” Court documents also allege Edwards made calls to the Jackson County sheriff’s office in which she claimed a bomb was placed outside the building. These calls prompted authorities to lock down the building and conduct a bomb sweep with canine units. If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
A second defendant, Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce from Sacramento, California, was arrested on the same charge after allegedly threatening Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole through Facebook. Court documents indicate messages traced to Dumarce referenced sending a “package” and contained references to violence. Judge Cole responded publicly on Facebook, stating “we realize that the truth will not stop the calls for the death of our small children” and expressing a desire to assist Wells’s family in finding answers.
The Wells case has drawn significant attention due to the racial composition of those involved. Wells was Black while three friends on the boat trip were white, prompting social media speculation about whether racial motivation was involved. An independent autopsy funded by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick found unexplained findings but listed the cause and manner of death as undetermined. The official state autopsy has been completed but results have not been released publicly, with findings first being sent to a grand jury investigating the case. Civil rights leaders have called for transparency and answers regarding the circumstances of Wells’s death.
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