THE father of Nolan Wells’ self-described best friend has launched a blistering attack on Ben Crump, the lawyer representing the tragic teen’s family.

Ben Hudson – whose son Warren was among the group with Nolan on Mississippi’s Horn Island before he vanished – claims Crump is exploiting the 18-year-old’s mystery death for money and political gain by pushing a “false narrative.”

Warren Hudson, self-described best friend of Nolan Wells, with his mom Ashlee Cole and dad Ben Hudson

Warren’s dad has slammed lawyer Ben Crump for allegedly exploiting Nolan Wells’ death

Hudson says he believes Crump has unfairly targeted his son and the other teens who were with Wells during the Fourth of July trip, adding that his family now plans to sue the high-profile civil rights lawyer for alleged defamation and slander.

“In my opinion, truth is not Ben Crump’s concern. He’s exploiting the situation and raising money,” Hudson told the New York Post.

“I think this is financially exploiting this entire tragedy and making it a much bigger tragedy at the expense of my family and our community and the Wells family.”

Hudson claimed Crump had wrongly implied his son and the others were responsible for Wells’ death.

“In my opinion, Ben Crump has slandered and falsely accused my son and his friends of murder and he’s pursued what’s an obvious false narrative,” he said.

“I think he can expect lawsuits not just from my family but from a number of other families who, in my opinion, he’s defamed.”

Hudson further claimed his family has received thousands of “credible” death threats and hateful messages since Wells disappeared.

One allegedly featured a picture of the mother of his wife, Jackson County chancery court judge Ashlee Cole, alongside the message: “I hope you all die.”

“The amount of hate we’ve received is just disgusting,” he said.

According to Hudson, he, his wife and Warren were also sent letters on the day of Wells’ funeral warning them that litigation was “reasonably anticipated” and instructing them to preserve evidence.

The notice reportedly came from Mississippi attorney Gary Bufkin, who also represents Wells’ parents.

Hudson also criticized the July 20 funeral, officiated by Sharpton, claiming it had become a political event after Sharpton announced a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Hudson claims Crump (pictured) pushes a “false narrative” and plans to sue for defamation and slander

Nolan’s body was found in the water on the northwest end of Horn Island, Mississippi

The reward has since reportedly grown to $125,000 thanks to contributions from NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens and filmmaker Tyler Perry, while Hudson has separately offered $50,000.

“I was very disappointed that they turned the funeral into a political rally,” Hudson said.

“How would our children ever be able to attend that when they put out a $100,000 bounty alleging that my son and his friends had murdered their best friend?

“My son is 19, he’s trying to grieve the death of his friend. Meanwhile, he’s getting death threats and he’s called a racist and a murderer, and the truth couldn’t be further from that.”

Crump hit back when asked about Hudson’s planned lawsuit during a press conference in Nashville on Thursday.

“It’s a distraction, we’re not distracted by it at all,” Crump said.

“It’s about getting to the truth, that’s what we want and that’s what we’re focused on.

“We haven’t done anything other than ask questions to get to the truth.”

The tragic teen’s family is enduring an agonizing wait for answers to find out what happened to their son

Sharpton also rejected Hudson’s accusations, insisting the funeral was not political and denying that the reward amounted to a “bounty” on the teenagers.

“I don’t see how I turned the funeral into a political rally,” he said. “We never discussed politics.”

He added that describing the reward as a “bounty” was “an overreach, at best,” and said he had not even known Warren Hudson’s name until contacted by the New York Post.

“I’ve been very careful to say that we shouldn’t pre-judge it as racist, but they should not pre-judge it as not racist until the investigations are over,” Sharpton said.

“I don’t understand the connection with the midterm elections, that’s absurd –– one has nothing to do with the other.”

Wells disappeared during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island, a barrier island about 10 miles off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The promising college football player’s body was found in the water two days later.

His death has sparked intense online speculation and scrutiny of the friends who were with him that day, while his parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, have continued to press for answers as multiple investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death remain ongoing.

The U.S. Sun has contacted Ben Crump for comment on the allegations.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16773577/nolan-wells-dad-accuses-lawyer-cashing-tragic-death/