A former Mississippi judge has publicly confirmed that law enforcement is failing to fully investigate the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was found off Horn Island on July 4. Judge Carlos Moore, now a practicing attorney, spent 40 minutes detailing what he calls “obvious crimes” that should have already led to arrests, alleging that police are deliberately dragging their feet because “powerful families” are involved in the case
Judge Moore said in an interview that the investigation has been botched from the start. “There are obvious crimes and arrests that need to be made already,” Moore stated. “They are neglecting and refusing to act on them.”
Moore specifically pointed to an audio recording in which Wells can be heard demanding, “Give me my freaking keys, give me my freaking phone.” According to the former judge, that alone constitutes theft. “Someone had his phone who did not have permission to have his phone,” Moore explained.
“If an affidavit was presented to me when I was a judge, I would have signed an arrest warrant for theft. We know who had it. We know who didn’t report it to the family.”
Wells’ body was recovered days after he disappeared during a trip to Horn Island with friends. No arrests have been made, and police have said there was no sign of foul play after only one hour of investigation. Moore and others argue that the quick dismissal is suspicious, especially given that Wells’ friends—who are white—have not been questioned or detained
“If Nolan Wells was any other race,” Moore said, “especially if his friends were Black, they would be in jail right now.”
The former judge also highlighted the lack of search warrants. “It has been eight days, nine days—there should have been search warrants signed by a judge,” Moore said. “Evidence should have been presented
That hasn’t even been done yet.” He noted that the phone found in the possession of one of the last people seen with Wells provides probable cause for a search of their property. “A judge has not even been approached yet,” Moore added.
“Something fishy is going on, and it doesn’t smell right.”
Moore and others also pointed to underage drinking on the island as a potential legal lever to bring in witnesses. “Those individuals could be immediately arrested based on sworn testimony presented to a judge,” he said. “There were a couple hundred people on that island.
Nobody saw nothing. Nobody saw Nolan leave. Somebody knows something.”
The failure to arrest even on minor charges—like providing alcohol to minors—suggests a pattern of protecting the suspects, critics say
Wells’ family has launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $650,000, with a goal of $750,000. Byron Allen, a Black billionaire media mogul, donated $100,000. The family says the money will fund a private investigation and legal fees because they cannot trust the local police.
“We are not accusing anyone,” a family representative said. “We just want to find out what happened to our son.”
The GoFundMe has drawn criticism from commentator Jason Whitlock, who in a live stream questioned the family’s motives and suggested the money could be used to “manipulate the truth.” Whitlock compared the situation to that of Carmelo Anthony’s family, who also raised funds after a death. “I am pointing to Carmelo Anthony as like he laid the blueprint,” Whitlock said.
His remarks have provoked fury online, with many calling him a “miserable old man” for attacking grieving parents.
“Y’all are disgusting,” a prominent social media figure said in response to Whitlock. “These parents lost their son. They didn’t ask for this money.
People are donating free will. Why would anyone have a problem with that?” The same commentator noted that Whitlock has never been married or had children, questioning his right to judge the family’s fundraising.
Judge Moore’s allegations add legal weight to growing public outrage. “We have never seen a case where more than five people kept it solid,” Moore said. “These are sheltered kids who have never been in trouble or jail.
You know they would have been snitching if police had picked them up on a petty charge. But because these are powerful kids with powerful parents—their mom is a judge—nah, nothing happens.”
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has declined to comment on Moore’s accusations, citing the ongoing investigation. But critics say the lack of transparency is itself a red flag. “The police forget how to make people rat when it comes to Nolan Wells,” one commentator said.
“They forget the art of turning somebody into a squealer. It’s not because a Black kid died that they don’t care. It’s because the white people are the suspects.”
Wells’ family continues to demand answers. “If Nolan Wells was any other race, do you think this investigation would be going the way it’s going right now?” the commentator asked.
The video of Judge Moore’s remarks has gone viral, with millions of views across social media platforms. Public pressure is mounting, and calls for federal intervention are growing louder.
“This is how it looks when somebody really wants to solve something,” Moore said. “You don’t say, ‘Do y’all want to talk?’ and then accept ‘We ain’t got nothing to say.’
You get down to the bottom of it. If Nolan Wells was any other race, there would be people in cuffs fighting a bond right now.”
The former judge’s detailed breakdown of specific crimes—theft of the phone, obstruction, underage drinking—has given the public a roadmap for what should have happened. “We can’t arrest him for murder yet,” Moore said, “but we can arrest him for stealing a pizza. We bring him in, hold him in jail, interrogate the hell out of him, and then add murder charges later if the evidence comes out
That’s basic police work.”
As of this report, no arrest warrants have been issued. The Wells family has retained private investigators and is expected to press for a grand jury hearing. The GoFundMe continues to climb, now near $700,000.
“They are raising the goal every time they reach it,” one observer noted. “It may start at $50,000, but now they’re at $750,000. By the end of the day, it will be $850,000.”
Whether the money leads to justice remains uncertain. But Judge Moore’s statements have transformed the narrative from a tragic drowning to a potential cover-up involving the local judiciary. “The very fact that a missing person who ended up dead phone is found on that boat or in that house is probable cause for a search warrant,” Moore said.
“That hasn’t been done. A judge hasn’t even been approached. That tells you everything.”
The case has become a flashpoint in the national conversation about race, privilege, and unequal justice. “If those kids were Black, they would be in jail right now,” Moore said. “Isn’t it funny the police forget how to make people rat when it comes to Nolan Wells?”
The question hangs over Jackson County as the family waits for answers that, so far, have not come.
