Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour, friends of missing college student Nolan Wells, have sued former NFL star Terrell Owens for defamation. The federal lawsuit alleges that Owens falsely portrayed the three young men as murderers and participants in a coverup after Wells was found dead off Mississippi’s Horn Island. The case follows a grand jury decision not to recommend criminal charges against anyone in Wells’ death.
The lawsuit was filed by the fathers of the three friends on their sons’ behalf on October 5, 2026. The plaintiffs are under 21 and are considered minors under Mississippi law. Owens’ social media post urged that they be arrested and linked to an online video repeating allegations about Wells’ phone and the circumstances of his death.
The friends deny wrongdoing and say the post exposed them to a false narrative and threats. Attorneys also point to digital forensic findings that challenge claims that the young men accessed or deleted messages from Wells’ phone after his death.
| 1) | Lawsuit alleges false arrest narrative |
|---|---|
| 2) | Fourth of July disappearance |
| 3) | Digital forensics challenge deletion claims |
| 4) | Grand jury findings and autopsies |
| 5) | Federal investigation and response |
Lawsuit alleges false arrest narrative
The federal complaint was filed on behalf of Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour by their fathers. It names Terrell Owens, 52, as the defendant and alleges that his September 26 post on X communicated accusations of criminal conduct to his audience.
The lawsuit says Owens’ call for the three men to be arrested presented them as murderers and participants in a murder coverup, despite the absence of probable cause or evidence that they had committed a crime. The plaintiffs are seeking legal accountability for what they describe as a false and damaging portrayal.
“ARREST THEM IMMEDIATELY!!”
Fourth of July disappearance
Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college student, traveled with a large group of friends by boat to Horn Island off Mississippi during a Fourth of July celebration. Hudson, Pitalo and Seymour said Wells did not return to the mainland with the group because he was speaking with a girl.
Wells’ family has disputed that account. His body was found two days after he disappeared in waters off the island’s coast. Images of Wells with his white friends circulated widely online, prompting speculation about the circumstances of his death and, according to the lawsuit, directing suspicion toward the three young men.
Digital forensics challenge deletion claims
The social media material linked in Owens’ post accused the friends of deleting Snapchat messages from Wells’ phone after his death and suggested they could have been involved in killing him. The lawsuit rejects those allegations as unsupported.
Digital forensics expert Andrew Garrett, who was hired by attorney Benjamin Crump, examined the phone. Garrett concluded that no one accessed the device between 2:18 p.m. on July 4, when Wells last unlocked it, and 3:14 a.m. on July 5, when his parents obtained access. Garrett also said Snapchat messages can disappear from a recipient’s phone when the sender deletes them remotely, offering an explanation unrelated to access by the plaintiffs.
Grand jury findings and autopsies
On September 22, a grand jury concluded that Wells’ death was consistent with drowning and declined to recommend charges against anyone. The decision came before Owens’ September 26 post and is central to the plaintiffs’ argument that there was no basis for demanding their arrests.
The grand jury noted that the state autopsy had not been made public and that an independent examination commissioned by Wells’ family found bruising on the back of his head. The family’s forensic pathologist, Roger A. Mitchell Jr., classified the death as undetermined and said he could not rule out non-accidental factors. He cited apparent blunt-force injuries to the head and body and said Wells did not appear too intoxicated to swim.
Federal investigation and response
After the grand jury decision, Wells’ family called for a federal investigation because his body was found on federal land. His father, Elmore Wonsley, said the family was asking the FBI to conduct a full investigation.
The lawsuit also follows reports that the three friends received death threats after online accusations spread. Owens was contacted for comment through his social media accounts and his management company, but no response was included in the available report. The legal action now places the social media allegations before a federal court while questions about the precise circumstances of Wells’ death remain unresolved.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Three friends of Nolan Wells sued Terrell Owens for alleged defamation. |
| 2 | The lawsuit challenges a post calling for the friends’ immediate arrests. |
| 3 | A grand jury declined to recommend charges and found the death consistent with drowning. |
| 4 | Digital forensic findings disputed claims that the friends accessed or deleted messages from Wells’ phone. |
Summary
The defamation lawsuit alleges that Terrell Owens amplified unproven accusations against three friends of Nolan Wells after Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July boat trip and was later found dead. The case does not resolve how Wells died, but it challenges the public claims that his friends were responsible. A grand jury did not recommend charges, while Wells’ family continues to seek a federal investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who filed the lawsuit?
Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour are the plaintiffs. Their fathers filed the federal case on their behalf because the three are under 21.
What did the lawsuit allege about Owens’ post?
It alleged that Terrell Owens falsely portrayed the three young men as murderers and participants in a coverup when he called for their immediate arrests on X.
What did the grand jury decide?
The grand jury said Wells’ death was consistent with drowning and declined to recommend charges against anyone. It also noted evidence of bruising described in the autopsy findings.
Why is the FBI being asked to investigate?
Wells’ family requested a federal investigation because his body was found on federal land and because questions remain about the injuries and circumstances surrounding his death.