UPDATE (11/11/2024):

Fugitive Nicholas Wayne Hamlett was taken into custody in South Carolina on November 10, 2024. Thank you to everyone who shared our post and submitted tips.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Do you know where fugitive Nicholas Wayne Hamlett is hiding? He is WANTED by the Monroe County TN Sheriff’s Office for 1st Degree Murder. Hamlett is considered armed and dangerous. If spotted, do NOT approach. You can stay Anonymous and Submit A Tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers – Call **TIPS or 865-215-7165, use the App: P3TIPS, or go online at www.EastTNValleyCrimeStoppers.org. If your tip leads to his arrest you may receive a CASH reward.

Press release by Monroe County Sheriff Tommy J. Jones:

“On Friday, October 18th, 2024, at approximately 11:34 p.m., Monroe County e-911 Center had received a transferred call from the Polk County e-911 Center in reference to a distressed hiker, claiming to be a Mr. Brandon Andrade. He advised the dispatcher they had fallen off of a cliff while running from a bear. The distressed caller claimed he was injured and partially in the water. The call had been pinged in the area of the Charles Hall Bridge on the Cherahola Skyway in Tellico Plains.

Emergency services responded to the area and set up a command center. Search and rescue teams from various agencies responded and a search of the area was conducted. A deceased male had been located with an identification of Mr. Brandon Christopher Andrade on his person. The deceased male was transported to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. Detectives with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigation division and the Monroe County Violent Crime task force reviewed the scene and upon further investigation, determined that the deceased subject was not Brandon Andrade and that the identification had been stolen and used on multiple occasions. Furthermore, a male who was using the stolen identification of Mr. Andrade was discovered to be a Mr. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett who was wanted out of the state of Alabama on a parole violation. Mr Hamlett had used a false name when speaking with law enforcement in Knox County, Tennessee after the distressed hiker call. Before his real identity had been verified, Mr. Hamlett is believed to have fled from his Tennessee residence.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Monroe County Violent Crime Task Force, have been diligently working with criminal investigators from the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies in locating information on the deceased male subject and the location of Mr. Hamlett.

At this time, the deceased male has not been identified and is being referred to as John Doe. Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are currently working to develop a sketch of John Doe to be released publicly for the purpose of identification. The incident is still under investigation, and further information will be released at a later time.

I would like to thank all agencies involved in the search and rescue efforts, as well as the criminal investigation, including the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s office, Attorney General Stephen Hatchett and staff; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Knox County Sheriff’s office, Knoxville police department, U.S. forestry, Hamilton County Cave and Technical rescue team, Monroe County Rescue Squad, Monroe County Emergency Management agency, Monroe County e-911 center, Polk County e-911 Center and all First responders that responded to the call for service.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett for first-degree murder out of Monroe County, Tennessee. Mr. Hamlett is considered armed and dangerous, if you see Mr. Hamlett please call 911 or Monroe County dispatch at 423-442-4357. If you have any information related to this incident, please contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at 423-442-3911.”