Authorities Catch Man Suspected of Killing Friend and Stealing His Identity After a Month-Long Search
Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, a Tennessee fugitive accused of murder and creating an elaborate cover-up involving a bear chase story, was captured over the weekend in South Carolina. The Columbia Police Department confirmed Hamlett, 45, was apprehended after an alert hospital employee recognized him, ending a month-long search that spanned multiple states.
Manhunt Ends in South Carolina
Hamlett was taken into custody after the hospital employee notified authorities of his presence. Using a fingerprint scanner, officers confirmed his identity. He now awaits extradition to Tennessee under the temporary custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. The search for Hamlett had intensified after he was sighted in South Carolina on Halloween night, prompting a warning from law enforcement to local residents.
“We’re grateful to the citizen who identified Hamlett, bringing this manhunt to a peaceful end,” Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones said on social media.
The 911 Call and Bear Chase Cover-Up
The manhunt began after Hamlett allegedly killed a man, Steven Douglas Lloyd, in Tennessee and then attempted to use the victim’s identity. According to authorities, Hamlett called 911 on October 18, claiming to be a man named Brandon Andrade and saying he had fallen off a cliff while fleeing from a bear. First responders searching the Tellico Plains area found a body with Andrade’s identification but soon realized that the man they found was not Andrade and had died from blunt force trauma.
Further investigation revealed that the real Andrade was alive, and the victim was 34-year-old Lloyd. Authorities believe Hamlett stole Andrade’s ID and attempted to mislead investigators with his false account of a bear chase and a cliff fall.
Friendship, Betrayal, and the Identity Theft Plot
Hamlett is suspected of befriending Lloyd, who suffered from reactive attachment disorder and occasionally lived on the streets despite keeping contact with his family. Authorities say Hamlett lured Lloyd into the woods, where he allegedly killed him, stole his identity, and staged the bear chase narrative to evade law enforcement.
“Steven loved the outdoors and was always willing to help others,” Sheriff Jones said in a statement. “His family was devastated to learn that he was betrayed by someone he trusted.”
A Dangerous Fugitive on the Run
Hamlett, already wanted for a parole violation in Alabama, managed to evade authorities after initially fleeing his Tennessee home. Law enforcement officers considered him armed and dangerous, and the U.S. Marshals Service offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his capture. The intense search efforts, which included police dogs and helicopters, focused on Chapin, South Carolina, after he was reported to be in the area.
Awaiting Justice for Lloyd’s Family
Hamlett faces extradition to Tennessee, where he is expected to face charges related to Lloyd’s murder. For Lloyd’s family, the news of Hamlett’s capture brings a mix of relief and sorrow.
“Steven’s family is heartbroken, but they are grateful to know that authorities have taken action to bring justice for their son,” Sheriff Jones shared. The sheriff emphasized that Lloyd’s kind and adventurous spirit will be remembered as his family seeks closure.
Hamlett’s arrest marks the end of a disturbing case that has shaken communities across Tennessee and South Carolina, leaving a grieving family hoping for justice as the case progresses.