A man from Illinois has been arrested and charged with transmitting threatening communications across state lines, allegedly targeting witnesses connected to the investigation of Nolan Wells, a student-athlete found dead in July. Edward Porter, of Berwyn, is accused of making a series of threats via calls and text messages on a Friday, according to court documents.
Porter allegedly told one witness that he knew their address in Mississippi and threatened to murder their family. He is also accused of threatening the family of a second witness and vowed to kill any law enforcement officers who responded to the scene. Court documents state Porter told a witness he was "going to cut [them] up and put [them] into a suitcase."
Investigators were able to identify Porter after subpoenaing records from Boost Mobile, which linked his cell number to the alleged threats. If convicted, Porter faces up to five years in prison for transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce with the intent to kill or injure.
Porter is the third individual to face charges in connection with alleged threats made to witnesses in the Wells investigation. Previously, Michelle Francine Edwards of Cincinnati, Ohio, was charged for allegedly making bomb threats to Mississippi government buildings using a blocked phone number. The George County Chancery Clerk’s Office reportedly received 21 calls from a blocked number within eight minutes, with the caller issuing warnings like "Do not go outside" and "The clock is ticking." Edwards also allegedly contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, making bomb threat statements.
Another individual, Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce, was charged with interstate transmission of a threatening communication. He allegedly sent a series of threatening messages to Judge Ashlee Cole, who is the stepmother of one of Wells’ friends. Cole reportedly received death threats and warnings about bombs being sent to her home.
Nolan Wells was discovered deceased on July 6 on Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He had been on a boat trip with friends two days prior when the group encountered an issue with the boat’s bilge pump. Wells reportedly chose to stay on the island rather than return to the mainland.
Questions have surrounded Wells' death, prompting two autopsies: one conducted by the state and an independent examination. The state autopsy has been completed, but its results have not yet been publicly released. The independent autopsy, commissioned by Wells' family, concluded that the cause and manner of death were "undetermined pending investigation." The family's legal team, including attorney Ben Crump, stated that foul play could not be ruled out. Wells was reportedly found with a mark on the back of his head, and his body had undergone significant decomposition.