Student's cease-and-desist seeks to stop claims related to Nolan Wells' death
Wells went missing on the 4th of July after going on a boat trip with friends.
The case surrounding Nolan Wells' death is becoming increasingly litigious, even before Mississippi authorities have concluded what happened.
A college student who was on the same barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf coast where Wells was found dead is taking legal action against internet personalities whom he accused of defamation and of inciting threats.
Bart Edmiston and his family said they tried, out of respect for Wells' family, to avoid a public confrontation but, in a statement obtained by ABC News through their lawyer, said, "Recent targeted attacks on our son, Bart Jr., now make our silence impossible."
Edmiston was home from college and on Horn Island with hundreds of others celebrating July Fourth when he assisted a boat taking on water. The call from that boat was heard in an audio recording previously obtained by ABC News.
His family said Edmiston "boarded the distressed vessel, removed its transom plug, got back onto his boat, and towed the distressed vessel for a short distance," allowing the water to drain.
That boat was the same one Wells had ridden to Horn Island that day, but did not board for the return trip to shore. It appears Wells stayed behind on the island after his friends left, officials said.
The college football player's body was recovered on July 6, and authorities said they suspect Wells drowned. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said there was no initial indication of a crime, but he stressed that investigators are "working diligently to determine exactly what occurred."
Edmiston said he sat for interviews, answered all of the questions he was asked, compiled a list of potential witnesses, allowed his phone to be viewed and shared requested photographs and videos from that day with law enforcement.
Online, Edmiston was called a "suspect" in Wells' death.
The family's attorney, Russell Latino, issued a cease-and-desist letter to, among others a woman whom he accused of making "false and defamatory statements" about Edmiston in Facebook and Instagram posts.
"To date, there are no publicly available facts or evidence supporting your assertions that Mr. Edmiston is a 'suspect' in any crime, is a 'suspect' in Mr. Wells' death," the letter said. "Your conduct extends beyond false accusations. You have repeatedly published photographs of Mr. Edmiston's residence, his residential address, land plats identifying his property, information concerning his family members" and more.
The attorney said the accusations and the publicly identifying information exposed Edmiston to "harassment, threats, intimidation and physical danger."
The letter follows a notice of legal action by Wells' family against several of Wells' friends, who said they received instructions to preserve evidence the day of Wells' funeral.