*Three friends of the late Nolan Wells are taking steps toward a defamation lawsuit against Rev. Al Sharpton, arguing that comments he made publicly linked them to serious criminal allegations.
Attorneys representing Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour sent Sharpton a letter on Aug. 21 notifying him of their intent to sue, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The attorneys, Tyler Cox and Edward Andrew Paltzik, are demanding that Sharpton retract and remove what they describe as defamatory remarks.
The legal threat stems from a July 14 interview with TMZ in which Sharpton questioned aspects of the investigation into Wells’ disappearance. He raised questions about the teenager’s cellphone and keys and asked whether authorities had questioned the three friends under oath.
According to the attorneys, those comments were unmistakably directed at their clients. They contend Sharpton’s remarks falsely associated the men with crimes such as murder, hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence.
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The dispute comes as significant questions remain about what happened to Wells, an 18-year-old college football player who disappeared after traveling to Mississippi’s Horn Island on July 4. His body was recovered from the water two days later.
The three men have maintained that Wells stayed on the island with an unidentified woman after they departed by boat for the mainland. Wells’ parents have previously disputed the account that their son voluntarily remained behind, saying it would have been out of character for him.
An independent autopsy arranged by Wells’ family did not establish how he died. Forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. said he could not exclude the possibility that nonaccidental factors played a role, while noting that decomposition and missing anatomical structures limited his examination. Authorities have previously indicated that they suspect drowning.
The state’s official autopsy has been completed, but its findings are sealed and unavailable to the family and public.
The legal dispute adds another layer to a case that has drawn national attention and prompted ongoing questions about the investigation. Wells’ family is also reportedly considering legal action.
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