911 Caller Said He'd Fallen Off Cliff While Running From a Bear. Why Is He Now Wanted on Murder Charge?
Mar. 15, 2025Nicholas Wayne Hamlett.Photo:Monroe County Sheriff
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Monroe County Sheriff
On Friday, Oct. 18, authorities in Polk County, Tenn., received a call from a purportedly “distressed hiker” who allegedly claimed he’d fallen off a cliff while trying to escape a bear, theMonroe County Sheriff’s Officesaid in a statement. Polk County officials transferred the call to the Monroe County police.
Responding authorities found a victim with an identification belonging to “Brandon Kristopher Andrade” on him, per the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
After the victim was taken to a forensic center, police determined that the deceased person was not Andrade and the identification had allegedly been stolen “and used on multiple occasions,” the sheriff’s statement said.
Investigators determined that the person using the identification was allegedly named Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, who was wanted in Alabama on an alleged parole violation, per the statement.
Nicholas Wayne Hamlett.Monroe County Sheriff
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Police believe Hamlett was the initial distressed hiker who claimed he’d been fleeing from a bear. They say they spoke with him again after that, during which time he used a fake name, though it was unclear if the name he used was “Brandon Kristopher Andrade."
He allegedly fled Tennessee before police could ascertain his real identity, and is currently at large.
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Hamlett faces a charge of first-degree murder, per Monroe County officials.
Hamlett is 5-feet-7-inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes, and allegedly uses several aliases, including Brandon Kristopher Andrade, per Monroe County police.
Anyone with information about him is urged to contact the Monroe County Dispatch at 423-442-4357 or the sheriff’s office at 423-442-3911.
source: people.com
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