TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. (WKYT) – 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.
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