Haughton family still fighting to bring home son who has been in Chinese prison for a decade
BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KSLA) - A Haughton family has not given up the fight in bringing their son home from China.
Nelson Wells Jr. has been in prison for a little over a decade now. And with his upcoming birthday on July 11, his family is trying to keep his spirits up. But there could be a bigger hurdle to climb considering the strained relations between the U.S. and China.
Wells’ family is hoping this doesn’t stand in the way of finally bringing their son home.
Another birthday spent in a foreign country and behind prison walls, Nelson Wells Jr. continues to suffer serious medical issues while in a Chinese prison.
“Well to be honest, his condition has not improved at all and his mental state is pretty much the same as it has been. They have changed his medication several times to try to help him sleep and to try not to have as many seizures as he does, but what I can say is this,” said Nelson Wells Sr.
In 2023, KSLA spoke to the Wells family when they finally went public with their son’s story. Wells Jr. was arrested after the Chinese government said he had a large amount of drugs. The family says the government has never produced evidence, the indictment is full of holes, and the lawyers rarely put on a proper defense in fear of being disbarred or arrested. The family claims no defense witnesses were allowed.
KSLA INVESTIGATES: Family talks of son’s near decade in Chinese prison
KSLA was able to share the family’s story with U.S. lawmakers from the area, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“But for the last three three and a half years, well, since you opened it up, things have improved. The first eight or nine years, we were lost, were confused. No help. Nobody was doing anything. But when you brought us to the light, things have improved. It’s not what we want it to be,” said Wells Sr.
In 2024, Cynthia and Nelson Wells Sr. joined the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) for a hearing to shine light on the plight of their son and others like him that are detained in China.
“Can say this that during the CECC meeting that Senator Merkley was real adamant about the Levinson Act and a few other things that pertain to the humanitarian release as far as the transform. Because and he said that he was going to look into it and Senator Smith said that’s something we need to do, so that was the first time that anybody had even thought about this. But what I can say is the humanitarian is something that we had been focusing on since we started this fight.”
The Wells family wants U.S. lawmakers to push for China’s 2018 law regarding prison transfers based on medical grounds to be enforced. Wells Jr.’s health has deteriorated since he has been imprisoned.
“The thing is, we’re not quite sure whether or not the Chinese government will put on any stipulations. Alright, this is something that’s going to be all under their control. First, we got to get them to accept it. Next, we have to see how they want to approach it,” said Wells Sr.
The Wells family says they’re hoping the fight over tariffs between the U.S. and China doesn’t get in the way of negotiations.
“I know there’s some side deals going on and there’s some things that are being said in the media. I’m hoping and I’m praying that these side deals will better,” Wells Sr. said.
“I feel the presence of the Lord. I feel it. You know the spirit. Just tell me. Keep fighting. Keep going,” said Cynthia.
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