NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A man sought in connection with a homicide in Tennessee was apprehended in South Carolina, authorities reported. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, 45, allegedly killed a man and attempted to mislead first responders by pretending to be the victim, stating he had fallen off a cliff while fleeing from a bear. This unusual series of events ultimately led to his capture.
According to a post from the Columbia Police Department on Sunday, an employee at a local hospital recognized Hamlett, prompting an alert to law enforcement. Authorities confirmed his identity through a fingerprint scan, and he is currently in temporary custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, pending extradition back to Tennessee.
Authorities in Monroe County, Tennessee, and other regions had been searching for Hamlett since last month. Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones acknowledged in a social media message that a vigilant citizen’s tip contributed to the safe conclusion of the manhunt.
On October 18, Hamlett had contacted 911, claiming to be injured after tumbling off a cliff while being pursued by a bear, using the false name Brandon Andrade. Responders who investigated the scene, situated near a highway bridge in Tellico Plains, discovered a man’s body, which was identified with Andrade’s stolen ID.
However, following investigations, it was confirmed that the deceased did not match Andrade’s identity. Andrade was alive and had reported that his identification had been stolen multiple times. The real perpetrator was Hamlett, who was also on the run from Alabama due to a parole violation, as stated by the sheriff’s office.
Forensic examinations later concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, inconsistent with an accidental fall or bear encounter, Sheriff Jones noted. It is believed that Hamlett fled the scene before confirming his actual identity, which sparked the rigorous pursuit for him, given he was deemed armed and dangerous. The U.S. Marshals Service even offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his capture.
On October 31, authorities conducted extensive searches in Chapin, South Carolina, utilizing helicopters and police dogs after tips indicated Hamlett might be in that area. Residents were advised to secure their homes during Halloween night. Hamlett was sighted near a high school shortly after.
Later, on November 4, officials identified the deceased man as 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd from Knoxville. The inquiry revealed that Hamlett had befriended Lloyd, subsequently luring him into the woods to commit murder and assume his identity.
The sheriff’s office mentioned that Lloyd’s family had previously noted he struggled with reactive attachment disorder, leading him to occasionally leave home and live on the streets, though he maintained contact with his family. In a heartfelt social media update on November 4, Sheriff Jones expressed condolences, stating, “Steven loved the outdoors and was so helpful when it came to others. The family was shocked to learn that their beloved son’s life had been taken by someone that Steven trusted.”
