Three Mississippi residents face felony charges after authorities say they launched a coordinated campaign of death threats and bomb warnings targeting witnesses, judges, and law enforcement officials investigating the death of teenager Nolan Wells.

Violent Threats Against Witnesses Surface

Edward James Porter faces charges after allegedly making multiple phone calls to two witnesses on July 31, according to court documents. Prosecutors say Porter threatened to kill the witnesses and their families, claimed he knew where they lived, and told one victim he would dismember them and conceal their remains in a suitcase. The aggressive intimidation campaign represents one of three separate cases authorities are pursuing connected to the ongoing Wells investigation.

Wells, whose body was recovered from Mississippi waters after friends reported him missing, had allegedly told companions he planned to catch a later ride from a gathering. His friends departed early due to boat problems, marking the last time anyone saw the teenager alive. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wells family, has raised questions about racial factors and disputed law enforcement theories that Wells drowned, citing his swimming ability and athletic background.

Bomb Threats Target Court Officials

Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce allegedly sent threatening Facebook messages to Jackson County chancery court judge Ashlee Cole on July 11. Screenshots included in court documents show messages from username yaeyae962 warning of an explosive package. The messages stated a bomb would arrive at the judge’s office and detonate within ten seconds of opening. Investigators traced the Facebook account directly to Dumarce. Cole, whose son was present with Wells before his death and cooperated with authorities, publicly shared additional threatening messages from the same account.

Michelle Francine Edwards faces charges for allegedly calling the George County Chancery Clerk’s Office more than twenty times within eight minutes on July 23, warning recipients not to go outside and saying the clock was ticking. Edwards then allegedly shifted targets, calling the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office eight times over nearly twenty minutes with warnings about an explosive device outside the building, court documents state.

Legal Proceedings Move Forward

None of the three defendants has listed legal representation in court records. The Jackson County Public Defender’s Office has not responded to requests for comment about the cases. The charges highlight growing concerns about witness intimidation in high-profile investigations, particularly those involving questions of civil rights and potential racial elements. Federal and state authorities continue investigating Wells’ death while prosecuting those accused of interfering with the judicial process through threats and intimidation.