Calls for arrests in Nolan Wells’ death were already ricocheting across social media when Terrell Owens added his considerable platform to the conversation. Now, three of Wells’ friends say the Pro Football Hall of Famer crossed from commentary into defamation by boosting accusations that tied them to the 18-year-old’s death. Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour have taken that dispute to federal court after a Mississippi grand jury declined to indict anyone in the case.
The lawsuit was filed October 5 by the young men’s fathers on their behalf, according to People. It centers on a September 26 post Owens shared with his 1.2 million followers after linking to a video that suggested the friends were involved in Wells’ death and had tampered with his phone. “ARREST THEM IMMEDIATELY!! LIKE YESTERDAY!!” Owens wrote.
The friends contend that Owens spread accusations without evidence days after a grand jury had declined to recommend criminal charges. They have repeatedly denied involvement in Wells’ death.
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Nolan Wells’ Friends Challenge Accusations Made After His Death
Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, and his body was found two days later. Questions about what happened quickly moved beyond the local investigation as his family raised concerns about unexplained injuries and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
A Jackson County grand jury spent a week reviewing the case before unanimously declining to indict anyone. Its redacted report said investigators found no evidence of an altercation involving Wells and the friends who traveled with him, and jurors criticized what they described as malicious attacks directed at the group. However, the medical findings have left room for continued questions. Both the state medical examiner and a pathologist retained by Wells’ family classified his cause and manner of death as undetermined, while the grand jury said the circumstances were consistent with drowning. Wells’ family has continued pushing for additional scrutiny despite local authorities saying the evidence does not support criminal charges.
Owens had taken an interest in the case before the post at the center of the lawsuit. He donated $25,000 to a reward fund seeking information that could lead to an arrest and conviction connected to Wells’ death. Hudson, Pitalo, and Seymour now argue that the public accusations surrounding them caused harm even after investigators failed to substantiate those claims. Their attorneys, Edward Paltzik and Tyler Cox, said the lawsuit is part of a broader effort to pursue people they believe falsely accused the young men.
“As our powerhouse federal defamation lawsuit against former NFL star wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Terrell Owens proves beyond any doubt, no amount of fame, money, or scare tactics will deter us,” the attorneys told People. The three friends have also filed defamation lawsuits against online content creators. Their attorneys previously indicated that Rev. Al Sharpton and The View co-host Sunny Hostin could face legal claims over comments made while discussing Wells’ death.
Owens had not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of the latest reporting.
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