911 Call Leads Police to the Wrong Body

In October 2024, authorities in Tennessee received a bizarre 911 call from a man claiming he had fallen off a cliff while being chased by a bear. But when search teams arrived, they found something far more disturbing: the body of a man who wasn't supposed to be there. That discovery unraveled a shocking case involving identity theft, an insurance fraud scheme, and a dangerous fugitive with a violent past.

911 Call Leads to a Grisly Discovery

On the night of Oct. 18, 2024, a distressed caller identifying himself as Brandon Kristopher Andrade told 911 dispatchers that he had fallen off a cliff near Charles Hall Bridge on the Cherohala Skyway while running from a bear. He claimed he was injured, bleeding, and unable to move. Search and rescue teams responded quickly and found a body in the forest near the location. The man's identification matched the caller's supposed name, but something didn't add up.

As authorities dug deeper, they uncovered that the deceased man wasn't Brandon Kristopher Andrade at all – he was 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd from Knoxville, Tennessee. An autopsy revealed that Lloyd had died from blunt force trauma to the head, injuries that were not consistent with the fall. This left investigators asking a crucial question: Who made the call?

A Fugitive in Disguise

Investigators soon identified the caller as Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, a 45-year-old fugitive with a violent criminal history. Apparently, Hamlett had allegedly been using the stolen identity of Brandon Andrade since at least 2017. He was already wanted in Alabama for reportedly violating his parole, and now, he was the prime suspect in Lloyd's murder.

Authorities believe Hamlett befriended Lloyd, lured him into the woods, and killed him to assume his identity. But his alleged scheme didn't stop there. Detectives later discovered that Hamlett had taken out multiple life insurance policies under the name Brandon Kristopher Andrade, totaling around $8 million.

A Cross-Country Manhunt

Once authorities connected Hamlett to Lloyd's murder, a national manhunt was launched. Hamlett, known for traveling under false names, was considered armed and dangerous. The U.S. Marshals Service even offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

For weeks, Hamlett evaded capture. Eventually, he was spotted in South Carolina on Halloween night, prompting police to issue warnings to trick-or-treaters. But it wasn't until Nov. 10, 2024, that his luck ran out. A hospital employee in Columbia, South Carolina, recognized Hamlett from a wanted poster and alerted authorities. Police confirmed his identity through fingerprints and arrested him without incident.

The Aftermath

Hamlett was extradited to Tennessee, where he now faces a first-degree murder charge. His wife was also arrested for allegedly providing false information to law enforcement. Prosecutors believe Hamlett's motive was not only to escape his criminal past but to cash in on the fraudulent life insurance policies.

According to NPR, Lloyd's adopted family was devastated by the news. They described him as a kind-hearted man who had struggled with trust issues due to his upbringing in the foster system. Though he sometimes lived on the streets, he remained in contact with his loved ones. His murder was a tragic betrayal by someone he had trusted.

This investigation is ongoing.

References: A man told 911 a bear chased him off a cliff. Weeks later, he was arrested for murder | Warrant shares new details after East TN murder suspect extradited to Monroe County