By admin 
A Florida man is the latest person arrested for making threats to harm a witness tied to the ongoing investigation into the death of Nolan Xavier Wells, according to records obtained by the Sun Herald.
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Brandon Ephriam Washington, 30, of Jacksonville, Florida, was arrested Aug. 12. According to booking and other records, Washington is accused of making threats to kidnap or injure. He is expected to face prosecution in federal court in Wyoming.
After an appearance in federal court in Florida, a judge released Washington on a personal recognizance bond with additional requirements, including regular reporting to pretrial services and a prohibition against making direct or indirect contact with Bart Edmiston Jr. without his attorney present.
He is expected to face prosecution in federal court in Wyoming, where the alleged crime occurred.
Attorney Russell Latino, who also founder and chief executive officer of the online news site Magnolia Tribune, is representing the Edmiston family and confirmed the arrest.
Bart Edmiston Jr., 21, was a friend of Wells from Ocean Springs. He is now a punter at the University of Wyoming. Both he and his father have received threatening phone calls or text messages from two different people, including Washington.
Wells went missing, found dead
Wells, 18, of Ocean Springs, was reported missing July 4 after traveling with friends on one of three boats to Horn Island, about 10 miles off the Mississippi Coast, to celebrate Independence Day. Two days later, Wells’ body was found off the northwest tip of Horn Island.
His friends returned to the mainland without Wells, saying he stayed behind to talk to a girl. Wells left his phone on the boat with friends, something his parents doubt because Wells was far from the mainland.
Edmiston Jr.’s name appeared in an incident report from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources because he helped tow the boat Wells had traveled to Horn Island on after a malfunctioning bilge pump prompted a call to Sea Tow, a membership-based marine assistance company that provides towing and other support to boaters.
The friends ultimately canceled the call for help from Sea Tow after Edmiston was able to tow the other boat for a distance.
Second arrest for threats against one family
Washington is the second person arrested for making threats to harm, injure or kill members of the Edmiston family.
Like the other defendant, he is accused of making the threats by phone and text message.
Edward James Porter, 32, of Berwyn, Illinois, near Chicago, was indicted in August in the Southern District of Mississippi on a federal charge of transmitting a threatening message in interstate commerce to kill Bart Edmiston Sr., according to a federal agent investigating the case.
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Both Edmiston Jr. and his father have received threats of bodily harm since Wells’ death.
Porter was first arrested July 31 on a federal criminal complaint. He is accused of committing the crime in Jackson County, in the Southern District of Mississippi, and elsewhere.
According to the federal agent investigating the case, Porter sent text messages saying he had the family’s home address and included the address in the messages.
Porter also threatened to kill the father, cut up his body and put the remains in a suitcase.
Porter remains jailed without bond pending trial.
Four arrests, with more expected
In addition to Porter and Washington, authorities have arrested a Sacramento, California, man, and a Cincinnati, Ohio, woman in separate federal cases. All four are accused of making threats to injure or kill people connected to the Wells investigation.
Others threatened include Jackson County Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole, members of her family and others associated with the case. Cole’s stepson, Warren Hudson, was among a group of friends who spent July 4 with Wells before he disappeared.
Except Washington, the three others charged so far are jailed pending trial.
Investigations continuing
Meanwhile, a team of lawyers and investigators is working with civil rights attorney Ben Crump on an independent investigation into Wells’ death.
Wells’ parents, Elmore and Christine Wonsley, hired Crump in the aftermath of their son’s death.
Since then, Crump has announced that an independent autopsy concluded that Wells’ cause and manner of death are undetermined and inconclusive. The forensic pathologist, Dr. Roger Mitchell, could not rule out foul play pending further testing, according to Crump.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation into Wells’ death. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
The results of an autopsy by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office, along with toxicology results, are complete, but that information and other evidence collected during the investigation remain sealed pending presentation to a Jackson County grand jury to determine whether criminal wrongdoing occurred.
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