The Megyn Kelly Show: Nolan Wells, Online Predator Risks & Chris Hansen's Take

**Megyn Kelly** (0:01)
When grief, rumor, and politics collide, facts can disappear fast. Today, we're diving into the still unresolved death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi, and what happens when public figures push narratives before evidence is complete.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:20)
This case really caught national attention, didn't it? What's the basic timeline here?

**Megyn Kelly** (0:25)
Wells was last seen alive on July 4th on Horn Island. After spending the day with high school friends, drinking and celebrating the holiday.
Two days later, a park ranger found his body face down in the water. But here's what concerns me. The attention has come with a lot of noise. Public figures are pushing what I'd call and inflammatory narratives before the official findings are complete.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:51)
And the district attorney is withholding the autopsy report, right? That seems to be fueling some of the conspiracy theories.

**Megyn Kelly** (0:58)
Actually, that's standard practice in Mississippi. They're holding it until a grand jury can review it. What really matters is what Warren Hudson, one of Wells' friends, has said about that day. The group arrived on three boats. One had to turn back because it was taking on water. And Wells chose to stay behind for a girl named Katie.
She later confirmed she saw Nolan stay on the island.

**SPEAKER_2** (1:23)
What about the phone? I've heard a lot of speculation about that being suspicious.

**Megyn Kelly** (1:28)
Hudson explains that phones were left all over the console because people didn't want them ruined by water while drinking and swimming.
That detail matters because it undercuts the idea that the phone was necessarily erased or hidden. There's no evidence of tampering.

**SPEAKER_2** (1:44)
But the independent autopsy that Benjamin Crump's team commissioned? Didn't that raise more questions?

**Megyn Kelly** (1:50)
It actually adds more uncertainty, not less. They couldn't determine the cause or manner of death. And the medical examiner noted that Wells' throat was missing.
However, the report also says the retention of those neck structures in an initial autopsy is common forensic practice.

**SPEAKER_2** (2:08)
So what about the political figures weighing in? I know Congressman Jonathan Jackson has been vocal.

**Megyn Kelly** (2:13)
He spread claims about a cover-up. He suggested the phone was erased and tried to compare the case to Emmett Till.
Let me be clear. There is zero evidence that Wells' white friends murdered him or that officials are hiding anything. That's a strong statement.

**SPEAKER_2** (2:29)
What does Chris Hansen say about all this? He's got decades of investigative experience.

**Megyn Kelly** (2:34)
Hansen takes a more methodical view. He says Hudson doesn't sound deceptive and that somebody still has to be the last potion to see Nolan alive. He also confirmed there's no evidence the phone was scrubbed, and he expects forensic work to build a clearer timeline. What's Hansen's theory about why Wells stayed behind?
He keeps returning to that question. At that age, the answer is often a girl, and that could still matter even if it doesn't explain what happened afterward. Hansen also points out there are many possible accidents on or near water, slips, falls, being struck by another boat.

**SPEAKER_2** (3:12)
Speaking of Hansen, his work on To Catch a Predator really changed how we think about online danger. How does that connect to this case?

**Megyn Kelly** (3:20)
It's about the same principle, following evidence, not emotion.
Hansen spent more than two decades at NBC, building cases with forensic evidence and chat logs. His signature line, I'm Chris Hansen, have a seat, became pop culture. But the work is serious because real children are at risk.

**SPEAKER_2** (3:40)
The range of predators he's caught is disturbing.
Santa clauses, doctors, police officers. Is there a pattern?

**Megyn Kelly** (3:47)
Hansen says there's no single type, only a pattern of deception and willingness to exploit children. The evidence often makes these cases undeniable, because as he puts it, there's nothing that's deleted forever.

**SPEAKER_2** (4:02)
And now platforms like Roblox are creating new risks, right?

**Megyn Kelly** (4:06)
Exactly. Hansen's documentary, Dangerous Games, showed how Roblox can become a playground for predators.
Engagement-driven design can put children in danger. His message to parents is simple. Talk early and often about the risks of adults online who are trying to trick kids online.

**SPEAKER_2** (4:26)
So whether it's Nolan Wells' death or predators on the internet, the standard is the same.

**Megyn Kelly** (4:33)
Precisely.
Wait for the facts. Follow the evidence. And don't let emotion outrun proof.