The investigation surrounding the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has taken another significant turn after a California man was arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages to the mother of one of Nolan’s close friends.

Wells was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ two days after mysteriously disappearing during a Fourth of July gathering on Horn Island, where he had traveled with a large group of friends.

According to federal authorities, Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce, 27, was arrested on Thursday and charged with interstate transmission of a threatening communication. Reports from The Sacramento Bee, WLOX, and The Sun Herald state that, if convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Investigators say they identified Dumarce through the email address linked to his Facebook account. Authorities allege that he sent multiple threatening messages through Facebook Messenger to Judge Crystal Cole, a Jackson County chancery judge. Some of the messages reportedly included images of her children.

One message allegedly read:

“There will be a package coming to your guys office in the next few days. It’s gonna blow you away when you see it. LoL. Probably best to have the boys there to see as well.”
Judge Cole is the mother of Warren Hudson, one of Nolan Wells’ friends who was with him on Horn Island before he disappeared.

Hudson has previously explained that he and Wells traveled to the island together with dozens of other people and several boats. According to his account, Wells later decided to remain at the gathering with a young woman while the rest of the group prepared to leave.

However, Wells’ parents have questioned that explanation, saying it was completely unlike their son to stay behind—especially since he reportedly did not have his phone with him. Friends have said Wells intentionally left his phone behind to avoid damaging it in the water.

Many details surrounding Nolan’s final hours remain unknown.

Hudson was also the first person to contact Nolan’s mother, Christine Wonsley, late on July 4 to report that Nolan could not be found.

In an earlier social media statement, Judge Cole said her son “loved Nolan dearly,” adding that he fully cooperated with investigators and was interviewed by the sheriff’s department.

She also expressed concern for her family’s safety, writing that the intense reaction on social media had left her fearful for her children.

Earlier this month, Cole revealed that she and her family had received numerous online 💬 threats, sharing screensH๏τs of some of the messages.

Meanwhile, Nolan Wells’ parents have also said they have been subjected to both online and in-person harᴀssment as they continue searching for answers about their son’s disappearance and death.

“We can’t grieve the way we need to because we’re being disrespected. We’re being called racist and bad parents. That’s not how we were raised, and it’s not how we raised our children. We just want the truth,” Nolan’s father, Elmore Wonsley, said. “Any parent would want that. Any father would want that. Any mother.”

Source: People