Law enforcement in South Carolina is urgently looking for an Alabama man suspected of murder. This search is tied to an incident from last month in the mountains of eastern Tennessee where he is also wanted for attempted murder and a parole violation.
The situation began about two weeks ago when a distressed hiker made a 911 call on Friday, October 18, 2024. The call came from Monroe County, Tennessee, situated close to the Great Smoky Mountains. The caller, identifying himself as Brandon Andrade, claimed he had fallen off a cliff while trying to escape from a bear.
In the call, he mentioned he was hurt and partially submerged in water, according to a report from the Monroe County sheriff’s office.
After a thorough search, authorities discovered a body near the Charles Hall Bridge on the Cherahola Skyway in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. This individual was initially believed to be Brandon Andrade and had identification that matched his name.
However, it soon became apparent that the deceased was not Andrade. Instead, the man was a wanted individual from Alabama who had been using Andrade’s stolen identification. He has been identified as Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, age 45, who is the prime suspect in Andrade’s death.
The search for Hamlett intensified on Halloween night, October 31, 2024. Around 9:00 p.m. EDT, police in Chapin, South Carolina, around 22 miles northwest of Columbia, alerted residents about an active search for Hamlett, who was considered armed and dangerous. They urged the community to remain vigilant, especially as families were out trick-or-treating.
A few hours later, at 12:30 a.m. on November 1, police confirmed they spotted Hamlett near Chapin High School. A perimeter was set up with K-9 units and helicopters dispatched to the area. Residents were advised to stay indoors and call 911 if they noticed anything suspicious.
As of 8:30 a.m. on November 1, the search continued, with Hamlett still at large. The situation was further complicated as children in the Lexington-Richland school district were preparing for school, prompting an increased police presence in local schools. School officials communicated with law enforcement to monitor the unfolding situation, assuring parents that appropriate measures would be taken if necessary.
Law enforcement considers Hamlett to be armed and extremely dangerous. Anyone who sees him is urged to call 911 immediately.
This story is still developing, and more updates will follow.