密西西比州少年诺兰·韦尔斯于7月4日与朋友划船后溺水身亡1，两天后遗体被发现1。事件发生近三个月后，美国橄榄球名人堂成员特雷尔·欧文斯于9月26日在Instagram发布视频，暗示韦尔斯的三位朋友删除了证据，并发文称"立即逮捕他们！！早就该如此"1。
这三名青年及其父亲随后在密西西比州地区法院对欧文斯提起诽谤诉讼，声称遭到死亡威胁和骚扰1。此前密西西比大陪审团已于9月末拒绝提起刑事指控，并认定韦尔斯死亡"符合溺水"特征1。检察官Angel Myers McIlrath表示韦尔斯之死与种族无关1，尸检报告显示韦尔斯的气道和胃为空1。然而原告方主张缺乏发现水质的证据来支持溺水判定1。韦尔斯的母亲Christine Wonsley曾表示"我无法接受这项裁决，也无法继续生活"1。原告律师表示将对包括Al Sharpton和Sunny Hostin在内的其他公众人物采取法律行动1。
Three friends of Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells and their father have filed a defamation lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens in Mississippi district court, alleging they have faced death threats and harassment following the athlete's social media statements about the boy's death.1
Wells died following a boating trip to a Mississippi island on July 4th, with his body discovered two days later.1 On September 26, 2024, Owens posted a video on Instagram suggesting that Wells's three friends had destroyed evidence and called for their arrest, stating "Arrest them immediately!! Like yesterday."1 A Mississippi grand jury declined to bring criminal charges at the end of September 2024, concluding that Wells's death "was consistent with drowning."1 The county prosecutor, Angel Myers McIlrath, stated that Wells's death was unrelated to race.1 An autopsy found Wells's airways and stomach to be empty.1
The plaintiffs contend that the evidence does not support a drowning determination, citing the lack of water discovered.1 Wells's mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed her inability to accept the grand jury's ruling, stating "I cannot take that ruling, and I cannot move on with my life."1 According to the plaintiffs' attorneys, they plan to pursue legal action against other public figures, including Al Sharpton and Sunny Hostin, over their coverage of the case.1
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