Nicholas Wayne Hamlett: Tennessee authorities seek man accused of murder after fake 911 call

CNN
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Authorities in Tennessee are searching for a man who they say called 911 to say he was being chased by a bear, leading rescuers to the carcass and sparking a manhunt for the caller.

The incident began on Oct. 18 when a man called 911 pretending to be an upset tourist. according to a Friday news release from the Monroe County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office. The caller identified himself as Brandon Andrade and claimed he had fallen off a cliff while running away from a bear.

When first responders arrived at the scene in Tellico Plains, they found a man identified as Andrade dead, the sheriff’s office said. But investigators soon determined the body was not Andrade’s and that Andrade’s ID had been “stolen and used repeatedly,” according to a sheriff’s news release.

According to the report, the identity of the deceased has not yet been established. Investigators are currently working to develop a sketch of the victim to release for identification purposes.

Investigators discovered that Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, 45, of Alabama, was using Andrade’s ID and that he was wanted in Alabama for a parole violation, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities then issued a warrant for Hamlett’s arrest for first-degree murder. According to the press release, he is considered “armed and dangerous.” The sheriff’s office advises anyone with information about this case to share it with them and call 911 if they see Hamlet.

The sheriff’s office is working with the FBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other agencies to identify the victim and locate Hamlet, the release said.

CNN has reached out to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee for more information.

Tellico Plains, where the victim was found, is a small town in eastern Tennessee with a population of just under 1,000.