New comments from Nolan Wells’ self described best friend are addressing one of the biggest questions raised by the teen’s family after his mysterious death: whether someone may have deleted information from Nolan’s phone before it was returned.

Wells, 18, disappeared after traveling with friends to Horn Island, Mississippi, for a Fourth of July boating trip. His body was found in the water two days later, and the investigation into what happened remains ongoing.

After Nolan’s phone was returned, his mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family became concerned when they found no photos or videos saved on either of his Snapchat accounts. She described the discovery as “suspicious,” raising fears that someone may have erased content that could help explain her son’s final hours.

Now, Warren Hudson, who has described Nolan as his best friend and was with him on the trip, is firmly denying that anyone in their group accessed or altered the phone.

Speaking during an interview with The Officer Tatum Show, Hudson said he has no knowledge of anyone deleting anything from Nolan’s device.

“There was no reason for us to get on Nolan’s phone. No one touched Nolan’s phone,” Hudson said. “If none of us had touched Nolan’s phone, then there’s no reason for anything to be deleted.”

Hudson explained that the phone remained untouched while the group was on Horn Island and was only moved from the boat to a truck after they returned to the mainland.

“No one even was in contact with his phone until it was moved from the boat to the truck,” he said. “None of us had access to Nolan’s password to get on his phone and delete anything.”

Hudson also rejected suggestions that anyone in the group had a reason to remove information from the device.

“We had no reason to delete anything. There’s nothing to hide here,” he said.

When directly asked whether he personally deleted anything from Nolan’s phone, Hudson answered, “No, of course not.”

Hudson has previously explained why Nolan’s phone was left behind on the boat during the trip, saying it was common for people visiting Horn Island to leave their devices behind while spending time in the water.

“When you’re waist deep in water, no one’s carrying their phone in their hand,” he said.

The friend has also shared his account of Nolan’s final moments before the group left the island. According to Hudson, the boat began experiencing bilge pump problems, prompting one of the group members to repeatedly urge Nolan to come back.

Hudson claimed his friend shouted, “Get the F on the boat,” but Nolan declined, telling them he planned to stay on the island and return later with someone else.

He said the group asked Nolan multiple times to board before ultimately leaving without him.

Nolan was laid to rest Monday during a packed funeral in his hometown, where his mother urged mourners to “keep Nolan’s memory alive” as the family continues searching for answers.

Meanwhile, preliminary findings from an independent autopsy have left both the cause and manner of Nolan’s death officially undetermined pending further investigation.

The examination, conducted after Wells’ body was flown more than 800 miles to Washington, D.C., identified a 12 by 8 inch area of red discoloration within the deep soft tissue on the back of his head.

According to forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, advanced decomposition and the absence of related injuries prevented investigators from determining whether the finding resulted from an injury sustained around the time of death.

However, the report noted that the discoloration was significant enough to warrant additional investigation.

As authorities continue working to establish exactly what happened on Horn Island, questions surrounding Nolan’s final hours, including the contents of his phone, remain at the center of the ongoing investigation.