'Injured Hiker' Call Leads Police to Body, Stolen ID, and a Fugitive's Trail

In November, an intense search for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, a 45-year-old fugitive wanted for first-degree murder in Tennessee, ended after several weeks with Hamlett's arrest in South Carolina. Hamlett, a parole violator with a violent criminal past, is accused of orchestrating an elaborate ruse involving a fabricated bear attack to cover up the murder of an unidentified man.

The 'Distressed Hiker' Call: A Gruesome Discovery

On Oct. 18, 2024, Monroe County Emergency Communications received a transferred 911 call from Polk County, Tennessee, reporting a "distressed hiker." The caller, identifying himself as "Brandon Kristopher Andrade," claimed he had fallen from a cliff while escaping a bear, leaving him injured and partially submerged in water. The call ended abruptly, but authorities traced it to the area near the Charles Hall Bridge on the Cherohala Skyway.

When authorities arrived, they found a body with an ID card matching the name "Brandon Kristopher Andrade." However, injuries to the victim did not align with a bear attack or a fall from a cliff, raising suspicions. Further examination at the Knox County Regional Forensic Center confirmed that the victim, now referred to as John Doe, died from blunt force trauma. Detectives then determined that the ID found on the body did not belong to the deceased, but had actually been stolen and planted.

Nicholas Wayne Hamlett: A Criminal History and a New Identity

Hamlett has a well-documented history of violence. In 2009, he lured a man into the woods in Alabama under a false name, held him at gunpoint, and attempted to attack him with a baseball bat before burying him alive. Although he was initially charged with attempted murder and kidnapping, he later pleaded guilty to a lesser felony assault charge, earning him a 20-year prison sentence. However, due to parole, he was released early.

Investigators believe Hamlett adopted the alias "Brandon Kristopher Andrade" to escape his parole conditions. By using Andrade's ID, Hamlett managed to evade law enforcement while allegedly committing murder. He is suspected of abandoning his Tennessee home after authorities began investigating him under the alias.

A Nationwide Search for a Dangerous Fugitive

Following the identification of Hamlett as a prime suspect, the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the U.S. Marshal Service joined the manhunt, which expanded to a national level. During a press conference, FBI Special Agent Joseph Carrico urged Hamlett to surrender. "The long arm of the law has a long and huge reach, and we will find you no matter where you hide," Carrico stated, as reported by Fox News. U.S. Marshal David Jolly emphasized to WYFF that Hamlett was "extremely dangerous" and a "very mobile person," noting that he has connections in several states, including Alabama, Montana, Alaska, Kentucky, Florida, and South Carolina.

Some Mysteries Solved

About three weeks after the "distressed hiker" phone call, Hamlett was found and arrested in Columbia, South Carolina, after a hospital employee recognized him and reported him to police.

"The sharing of Hamlett's wanted poster led the public, whom is our most valuable resource, to act as our eyes and ears," Monroe County Sheriff Tommy J. Jones II said in a statement, as reported by NBC News.

Investigators eventually identified Hamlett's victim as 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd, who befriended Hamlett earlier this year. Hamlett's motive for the murder and staged bear attack are still unclear. One thing is certain, however; Hamlett's creativity wasn't enough to get him out of trouble. While he is still awaiting trial, it's likely Hamlett will spend the next several years behind bars for his crimes. In the end, it's a reminder that even the most bizarre cover-ups can't escape the long reach of law enforcement or the power of a well-timed wanted poster.

References: FBI, US Marshal Service join nationwide manhunt for murder suspect accused of faking bear attack | 911 Caller Said He'd Fallen Off Cliff While Running From a Bear. Why Is He Now Wanted on Murder Charge? | 'Great risk to the public': Officers warn public after reported sighting of murder suspect in SC | Man arrested in killing that was falsely blamed on bear