A man from California has been detained after allegedly sending violent threats linked to the disappearance of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who went missing after a July 4 boat trip with friends to Horn Island off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.
Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce, 27, faces charges for transmitting threatening communications across state lines, as indicated by federal court documents. The threats were sent to Judge Ashlee Cole, whose son, Warren Hudson, was with Wells on the day of his disappearance. Cole received threatening messages via Facebook Messenger, including one mentioning a bomb being sent to her office.
“There will be a package coming to your guys’ office in the next few days,” Dumarce allegedly wrote to Cole.
Dumarce’s threats also included graphic descriptions of bloodshed and suggested a quick demise for Cole. Authorities linked Dumarce to these communications through the email tied to his Facebook account.
The charges against Dumarce carry a potential prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of $250,000.
Wells’ remains were discovered by a National Parks Service ranger on July 6 at Horn Island’s northwestern tip. Though an independent autopsy by Dr. Roger Mitchell found a “red discoloration” on Wells’ head, the cause of death remains inconclusive pending further investigation. Official autopsy results have not been disclosed.
Ben Crump, the family attorney, mentioned Wells’ aspirations to play college football at the Division I level. However, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources records state that Wells chose to stay on Horn Island when Hudson and others returned to the mainland.
The FBI has not commented on the case, and Hudson is not suspected of any misconduct. Judge Cole confirmed receiving multiple threats, including phone calls, related to the matter.
Leave a Reply