11/01/24 UPDATE: The man at the center of a nationwide manhunt for an East Tennessee murder is spotted in South Carolina.

Nicholas Hamlett, the man charged in a Monroe County murder, was spotted last (Thursday) night in a middle South Carolina town which prompted a response that included K-9s and helicopters.

Hamlett is accused of killing a person near Tellico Plains, then calling 911 using a stolen identity, claiming to be a distressed hiker being followed by a bear.

U.S. Marshals, the FBI have joined Monroe County officials in the search. David Jolley with the Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to Hamlett’s arrest.

Anyone with information is being asked to call 911.

Monroe County – 10/30/24 (Story courtesy of WVLT) – The U.S. Marshals Service joined the nationwide hunt for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, the man wanted in a Monroe County murder investigation.

There’s also a reward being offered for anyone with information about the suspect.

The situation is unusual. Hamlett is accused of not only killing a yet-unidentified victim, but also calling 911 after the fact using a stolen identity and claiming to be a hiker on the run from a bear.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been on the hunt for Hamlett since Oct. 18. In a news conference on Wednesday, David Jolley with the Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to Hamlett’s arrest.

Jolley’s announcement was joined by strong words from a representative with the FBI, who joined the search Tuesday, delivered straight to the suspect.

“Nick, let‘s end this peacefully,” he said. “Turn yourself in and have your day in court. The long arm of the law has a long reach. There’s nowhere to hide.”

Hamlett has a lengthy criminal history. Investigators said that he’s also wanted out of Alabama for a violation of probation. That probation itself a result of violent charges like attempted murder.

It’s that fact that prompted Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones Wednesday afternoon to give a warning about the man.

“There is a great risk to the public. The offender has a history. This is not an isolated incident,” Jones said. “There is a family suffering and there is a wanted, violent person walking our streets.”

While the conference mostly served as a warning to those in the area to stay alert and a plea for anyone with information to come forward, we also learned a bit more about the investigation itself.

Jones confirmed that the Monroe County victim’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to several parts of their body, including the head. He also said that the victim and Hamlett knew each other.

(Monroe County – WOKI) The FBI is joining a nationwide manhunt for the suspect in a Monroe County murder, Nicholas Hamlett.

He’s been on the run for days and officials say he called 911 claiming to be a hiker who fell off a cliff running from a bear, he was using a different name.

Police found the body, that has not been identified, and Stacey Payne with Crime Stoppers share their “X” post:

Know where #fugitive Nicholas Hamlett is hiding? He’s #WANTED by @MonroeTNSheriff for 1st Degree Murder & considered #armedanddangerous-do NOT approach. Stay #Anonymous & East TN Valley Crime Stoppers at **TIPS. Your tip may = $$$$.

Police say he has ties to several states including Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky.

Original Story: (Story courtesy of our news partner WVLT)

A nationwide manhunt is underway for a man officials say is wanted for a Tennessee murder.

The Monroe County Sheriff‘s Office in Tennessee is asking for the public’s help finding 45-year-old Nicholas Wayne Hamlett.

Authorities told CBS News that he has ties to Montana, Tennessee, Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky and Florida.

Deputies say on Oct. 18, a man called 911 claiming to be a distressed hiker named Brandon Andrade. He said he had fallen off a cliff while running from a bear.

The call was pinged to a bridge on the Cherahola Skyway in Tellico Plains. Search and rescue teams responded and found the body of a man with personal identification listed as Andrade.

“Detectives with the Monroe County Sheriff‘s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Monroe County Violent Crime Task Force reviewed the scene and after further investigation, determined that the deceased subject was not Mr. Brandon Andrade and that the identification had been stolen and used on multiple occasions. Furthermore, a male that was using 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,” said the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives said Hamlett used a false name when talking to Knox County law enforcement after making the call about the hiker and fled from his Tennessee address.

Police issued an arrest warrant for Hamlett for first-degree murder. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should call 911 and not approach him.

The body was taken to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for identification.