In a shocking case involving an alleged murder and an elaborate identity theft scheme, authorities arrested a South Carolina man accused of killing a Tennessee resident and attempting to fake the death as a bear attack. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, 45, was detained by police in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday after he was reportedly recognized at a local hospital.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators identified Hamlett through fingerprints, ending a nearly two-week search. The victim in this complex case was Steven Douglas Lloyd, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee, who was initially not identified when authorities discovered his body.
According to the sheriff’s office, Lloyd suffered from a mental health disorder and was known to wander, often living on the streets. His family told authorities that he had been diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, which made it difficult for him to establish trust or healthy relationships.
Hamlett, who is also wanted for violating parole in Alabama, faces pending murder charges in Tennessee. The sheriff’s office has not confirmed if you have obtained legal representation at this time. The investigation began on October 18, when a person claiming to be a distraught hiker named “Brandon Andrade” made a 911 call.
The caller reported that he had fallen off a cliff after being chased by a bear. However, when first responders arrived near Tellico Plains, Tennessee, they found a deceased man carrying identification that matched Andrade. Authorities soon discovered that the body was not Andrade and that Hamlett had stolen and used the identification several times.
According to the sheriff’s office, Hamlett befriended Lloyd and lured him to a wooded area to kill him and assume his identity. “The family was shocked to learn that their beloved son’s life had been taken by someone Steven trusted,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. statement.
Throughout the investigation, Hamlett was considered armed and dangerous. He reportedly fled his residence in Tennessee before authorities could fully confirm his identity. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Hamlett has connections in several states, including Tennessee, Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida. This case has left authorities and the victim’s family stunned, and Hamlett’s elaborate attempt to stage a murder as a bear attack attracted widespread attention.