In brief
After a shocking 911 call about a bear attack, authorities discovered a murder instead, leading to the identification of Nicholas Wayne Hamlett as the suspect who stole the victim's identity. Hamlett, a parolee with extensive criminal history, is now on the run, raising concerns for public safety.
In a bizarre and chilling incident from rural Tennessee, a man is now on the run after allegedly committing murder and then using the victim's stolen identity to mislead emergency responders. On October 18, the 911 dispatcher received a frantic call from a person who claimed he had been chased off a cliff by a bear, sustaining injuries from the fall into water. However, the reality that emergency responders encountered was far grimmer.Upon arrival near a bridge along the picturesque Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plaines, authorities discovered the lifeless body of a man—unrelated to the 911 call, raising immediate suspicions. Initial identification linked the deceased to Brandon Kristopher Andrade; however, investigators soon confirmed that Andrade's identity was stolen. They identified the alleged caller as 45-year-old Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, a parolee with a significant criminal background.Sheriff Tommy J. Jones II of Monroe County announced that a warrant was issued for Hamlett's arrest, charging him with first-degree murder. He has been classified as “armed and dangerous,” prompting authorities to intensify their search following his flight from Tennessee.Currently, the authorities have yet to determine the identity of the deceased or the cause of death—plans to release a sketch were in place to aid in the victim's identification. The investigation revealed that Hamlett even resorted to using another fake name in conversations with officials from a different county.This incident is not isolated; earlier in the month, another bear attack report from Bozeman, Montana led investigators to uncover a brutal homicide under similar deceptive circumstances. The camper was later determined to be a victim of a violent attack, with autopsy findings indicating multiple chop wounds—casting doubt on the initial bear attack reports.As the search for Hamlett continues, law enforcement officials are cautioning the public, urging anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to come forward to ensure public safety.
