KNOXVILLE, Tenn. − A manhunt that crossed state lines has concluded for a suspect accused of murder who reportedly faked his own death along the picturesque Cherohala Skyway in eastern Tennessee.

Last month, in an unusual 911 call, Nicholas Hamlett claimed he had fallen off a cliff while fleeing from a bear near the scenic route in Monroe County, Tennessee. However, responders instead discovered the body of another man, as indicated by local law enforcement.

Hamlett was apprehended on Sunday night in Columbia, South Carolina, after a hospital employee recognized him and notified the police. Officers confirmed his identity using a fingerprint scanner, and he was subsequently taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities in South Carolina and Tennessee are working together on his extradition. It remains unknown if Hamlett has legal representation available to speak for him.

Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones revealed on October 25 that Hamlett, who was posing as Brandon Andrade, made a 911 call on October 18, claiming he was chased by a bear and had fallen near a waterfall. However, first responders discovered a deceased man along with Andrade’s identification.

Investigators later identified the victim as 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd from Knoxville, who had apparently been murdered, as per Sheriff Jones.

Jones stated that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, injuries that were inconsistent with a bear attack or a typical fall.

Hamlett, 45, was already wanted in Alabama for violating parole and had been residing in eastern Tennessee.

During a news conference on October 30, FBI Special Agent Joseph Carrico emphasized that authorities viewed Hamlett as very dangerous. Sheriff Jones indicated that although the victim was familiar with Hamlett, the crime was not an isolated one, stating, “There is a significant risk to the public. The offender has a history of violent crime.”

Hamlett was acquainted with his victim

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office identified Hamlett’s victim as Lloyd in a November 4 Facebook update. According to the post, Hamlett befriended Lloyd, brought him to a secluded area along the Cherohala Skyway, and killed him to appropriate his identity.

Details about the duration of their acquaintance are limited, but it was stated that Lloyd suffered from reactive attachment disorder and had a history of leaving home to live on the streets.

The post also shared that Lloyd’s family had been incredibly supportive of him despite his mental health challenges and were devastated to learn that someone he trusted had taken his life.

Hamlett’s violent history

Hamlett is also wanted in Alabama for a parole breach. In 2009, he faced attempted murder charges in Alabama after he allegedly held a man at gunpoint and tried to assault him with a baseball bat, with the intent to bury him in a remote area of Elmore County, as recorded in court documents.

Using the alias Joshua Jones, Hamlett led a man to a park under the pretense of selling him insurance, but threatened him with a firearm and forced him toward a shallow grave in a nearby wooded area. However, the man fought back.

Details from court records reveal that Hamlett sustained severe injuries during the struggle. The victim was able to call for help after striking Hamlett and leaving him unconscious. Hamlett was airlifted to a hospital and fell into a coma.

Initially facing charges of attempted murder and kidnapping, he eventually accepted a plea deal for felony assault. He had four previous felony convictions and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The 911 call about the ‘bear’

Knox News acquired the dispatch recording from the false incident on October 18.

“Units are en route to Cherohala Skyway at Falls Branch Road. A male subject has fallen off a cliff and cannot move. He was running from a bear and has 2% battery left – unable to reconnect on 911.”

“ traveling in the vicinity of Cherohala Skyway and Falls Branch Road. We received a call from Polk County stating that a male had fallen off a cliff while fleeing a bear. He is unable to move his legs and may have sustained a head injury. He is located near the falls …”

The Cherohala Skyway, stretching 43 miles, runs through the Cherokee National Forest, which is federally protected land, ending at Robbinsville, North Carolina.

The inquiry into Hamlett’s case involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, which offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his capture.