ACTIVE SEARCH TN -- Someone called 911, said bear chased him off a cliff. Deputies say it was murder. Stolen id. John Doe. Hamilton Co. Oct. 2024.

  • #21
Do we have details on the 2011 luring in Alabama? This guy's not the sharpest tool in the shed is he?

Here's his facebook - Log into Facebook - Picture of Hamlett from 2016

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  • #22
This story is so convoluted it has my brain tied up in knots........
 
  • #23
This story is so convoluted it has my brain tied up in knots........
Agree!! Following because I want to know the identity of the man he killed. Is it a friend, stranger, homeless person?

Still struggling to understand how Hamlett thought LE would actually think the dead man was him? That is the motive right? He committed identity theft by using Andrade’s info and was trying to make it look like he was the one who died?

A Murder charge is going to be far worse than identity theft? Google was not this man’s friend. He could have done a little research on LE investigations and saved himself a life sentence in prison.
 
  • #24
This story is so convoluted it has my brain tied up in knots........
Yes, IMO Hamlett was actually trying to not leave any loose ends, but what that leaves is a knot.

How do you get away with crimes/hide from your parole officer? Steal someone else's identity.

When the identity theft is reported, how do you conceal that you stole it? Pin the identity theft on someone else.

How do you steal a new identity, without them reporting it stolen? Murder them and give them the previously stolen identity.

How do you get away with murder? Make it look like an accident.

JMO
 
  • #25
A 45-year-old man who was arrested more than 15 years ago in Elmore County for attempting to bury a man is wanted by Tennessee officials regarding a homicide investigation.

Hamlett was previously arrested in 2009 in connection to an incident in Elmore County in which he held a Prattville man by gunpoint and attempted to strike him with a baseball bat before buying him in rural Coosada, according to court records.

Hamlett, according to the original reports of the incident, was using the name Joshua Jones when he reached out to the victim so “he could get some insurance.”

 
  • #26
Hamlett was charged with attempted murder and kidnapping before pleading to a lesser offense of felony assault in 2012 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to court records, he had four prior felony convictions.

The dead man is currently known as a John Doe. Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are currently working on a sketch of John Doe to be released to the public for the purpose of identification.


Ok, so Hamlett had four felony convictions, prior to luring a man to the woods in 2009 - then trying to kill and bury him alive. He pled the charges down to a felony assault and got 20 years.

So if he had served the full sentence, he wouldn't have been out until 2032. Obviously he paroled early, didn't follow his parole terms - currently wanted on a parole violation out of Alabama, but was living in Tennessee.
 
  • #27
Dang. Bears cannot get a break. They get blamed for everything. Axe murders in Montana. Throwing people off cliffs in Tennessee.

Yep. Taking up the mantle of those tranquilizer-dart wielding mountain lions out there in COL.

Hearing snapping turtles may be a-plotting also.

This is such an odd case. The combination of planning, original crime(s) and escalation to murder as a nuclear-option route to coverup and the profusion of red-herring elements is something out of a Golden Age whodunit.

Except, of course, that a real person is dead. And another, hopefully, is one his way to arrest and incarceration.
 
  • #28
  • #29
This guy isn’t smart, but he seems to be able to evade LE pretty well. When he lured the guy in 2009 and tried to kill him. He absconded and wasn’t arrested in Florida until 2011.

Let’s hope he isn’t successful to that degree in this case!
 
  • #30
  • #31
Still trying to figure this out.

Hamlett had been impersonating Andrade for a while. He had an ID for Andrade he was using for his identity theft. He decides to fake the death of his assumed persona. He murders someone, presumably with similar physical characteristics to himself. He then makes a call to 911 telling the operator he fell off a cliff while being chased by a bear. Police find the body with the Andrade ID planted on it.

I am at a loss for how he thought this would play out once the police looked into it, found the real Andrade still alive, and checked the fingerprints of the body against Hamlett's. Maybe he expected he was about to be caught for something else and came up with this idiotic plan. If I were the police then I would be wondering what led him to take this rash action because it has to something serious.
 
  • #32
  • #33

Chapin Police Department's Post​

Chapin Police Department is with Town of Chapin, South Carolina.

#UPDATE 12:30 AM 11/02/2024: The suspect in this case has NOT been apprehended. Given that we are approaching 24 hours since his last confirmed sighting in the Chapin area, it is possible he is no longer in this area. We do not have an update to provide from the U.S. Marshalls on his current whereabouts. We continue to receive calls related to this cases, and we will follow up with these tips or pass them along to the appropriate authorities. Remain vigilant, and call 911 for anything suspicious. Unless confirmed information is recieved that can be shared with the public, this will be the last update until tomorrow morning. Y’all stay safe out there.

#UPDATE 7:15 PM 11/01/2024: The suspect in this case has NOT been apprehended. There is no definitive information that has been developed as to whether he is still in the Chapin area or not. Our units will continue to patrol throughout the night along with the US Marshalls and other LE Partners. We know everyone is frustrated and on edge now that we are past 24 hours in this manhunt. We will update you all once we have actionable information to put out to the public.

Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this time. If you see somLexington County Sheriff's Department or contaSouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLED77-926-8332.
Stay safe and stay vigilant.

#UPDATE 3:00 PM 11/01/2024: The suspect in this cae has NOT been apprehended and the search continues.
Multiple tips and calls of individuals matching the suspects description have been recieved and vetted. The potential suspects called in have been located and identified and confirmed to NOT be the suspect. These tips prompted law enforcement to again perimeter off the area, Town of Chapin, South Carolinaer and K-9’s.

There is currently no actionable details that the suspect is still in the area, or information that he has left the area. With that being the case we will still treat this as if he is still here and continue to patrol the area with our LE partners. Please continue to call in Lexington County Sheriff's Departmentay see bySouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLED 1-877-WANTED2 1-877-926-8332.
Stay safe out there.

#UPDATE 12:00 PM 11/01/2024: most recent media release information below
⬇️

The Chapin Police Department has been assisting the United States Marshall Service
(USMS) in the Chapin Area as they attempt to apprehend a suspect wanted for murder.
Nicholas Wayne Hamlett is wanted for Murder out of Tennessee. He is believed to have
family in the Chapin area. On October 31,Town of Chapin, South Carolinat resources were dispatched to the Town of Chapin including, Federal, State, County and Local Law Enforcement Officers. This also included the deployment of a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) helicopter and several K-9’s. The suspect was not located
at that timeLexington County Sheriff's Department24 at appSouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLEDr Chapin High School and Generations of Chapin near 431 East Boundary Street. Given this information a perimeter was established and SLED helicopter and K-9‘s were again deployed to the area. The suspect was not located at that time and the search continued into the morning.

There is still a heavy law enforcement presence in the Town of Chapin, and this presence will remain in place until the suspect is apprehended or confTown of Chapin, South Carolinarea. The USMS is the lead agency on this case and all media inquiries should be made to Deputy Commander of the Carolina’s Region Fugitive Task Force Carlos Flores
We continue to encourage residents and visitors to the Town of Chapin to remain vigilant and use extreme caution in the area.

We assure you that every resource that is available is in the area and actively protecting our town as we search for this suspect. Thank you to our LE partners, Lexington County Sheriff's Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLED who continue to stand with us during this time.

Remember if you see something suspicious call 911 immediately. We will provide updates to our community through the Chapin Police Department’s Facebook page when they become available, stay safe.

UPDATE 8:30 AM 11/01/2024: The search continues for the suspect in this case and he is NOT in custody. There are multiple law enforcement agencies and resources in and around the Town of Chapin, South Carolina These resources will remain here throughout the day and into the night if needed We have also been in contact with School District and will remain in communication throughout. If the suspect is apprehended or confirmed to be out of the Chapin area we will pass that information along accordingly. Stay safe and vigilant and call 911 for anything suspicious.
UPDATE 5:30 AM 11/01/2024: The suspect is NOT in custody and the search continues. Law-enforcement resources have been utilized throughout the night to locate this suspect. The searches will continue throughout the morning and the day if need be. Once more updated information that can be shared publicly is available we will put out that information. Continue to stay vigilant and call 911 for anything suspicious. 

UPDATE 3:00 AM 11/01/24: The search continues and the suspect is NOT in custody. The helicopter and K-9 resources are still being utilized along with officers on the ground on perimeter. Please stay away from the area and if you see something suspicious call 911.

UPDATE 12:30 AM 11/01/24: We have had a confirmed sighting of the suspect in Chapin near Chapin High School. A perimeter has been established and K-9 and helicopter are enroute. Please stay away from the area. If you live in this area ENSURE TO LOCK YOUR DOORS AND REMAIN INSIDE. CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY FOR ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.

UPDATE 9:00 PM: Law Enforcement resources have been deployed throughout the Town of Chapin this evening, including multiple officers from various agencies as well as helicopters and K-9’s. The suspect has NOT been located. Officers will continue to circulate and patrol throughout the night and deploy other resources should intel about his whereabouts become available. We suggest everyone ensure to lock your doors tonight and call 911 for anything suspicious.

1f6a8.png
WANTED MURDER SUSPECT-Community Alert - Increased Law Enforcement Presence-
1f6a8.png

The Chapin Police Department, in cooperation with multiple law enforcement partners, is currently conducting an active search in and around the Chapin area for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, who is actively wanted for Murder.
Hamlett has been reported to be in the Chapin area and is believed to be armed and dangerous.
We know it’s Halloween night, and there are many families out trick-or-treating. We want our community to be aware and vigilant tonight more than ever.

If you see someone matching Hamlett’s description, do not approach—call 911 immediately. We will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.

Thank you for your cooperation, and please stay safe out there.
 
  • #34
  • #35
  • #36
3-players in the Tennessee crime from Mid October:
Hamlett, Andrade and Lloyd.

Hamlett has a considerable record and in fact was sentenced to 20 years in 2012 but paroled in 2023.

Hamlett apparently had stolen ID from Andrade at some point in the near past, had used Andrade's name and had used the ID to commit fraud. The extent and period of that activity has not been disclosed. Indications are that LE was closing in on Hamlett considering his next move....

Hamlett allegedly killed Lloyd around October 18 and dumped his body at the bottom of a cliff, partially in water. Hamlett allegedly removed any ID that identified Lloyd and planted certain ID that indicated the body was Andrade's. Hamlett allegedly then phoned 911 pretending to be the victim and indicating that he had been chased by a bear and fallen down the cliff, needed rescue, gave his name as Andrade. That deception did not last long, by October 25 LE were aware that Hamlett had been using Andrade's identity and that the body found was not that of Andrade.

Hamlett fled town October 26 or 27; LE issued a notice for his capture and arrest and by October 31 he was positively identified in the Chapin, SC area. LE local to Chapin put considerable effort into tracking him down....but were not successful, he remains at large.

The body was identified Nov 3 as Lloyd, apparently a homeless hiker who somehow befriended Hamlett per LE and CBS.

Andrade and Lloyd appear to be innocents throughout this event; the criminal and suspect is Hamlett.
 
  • #37
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  • #38
  • #39

#UPDATE 4:30 PM 11/08/2024: The suspect in this case has NOT been apprehended. The U.S. Marshalls have moved on from searching in the area of the Town of Chapin. It’s believed the suspect is no longer in the Town, however you should always stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times. Of you see something suspicious call 911 or the U.S. Marshalls at 1-877-926-8332.

We will not be commenting or making statemets as to the involvement of any other law enforcement agency in the midlands area related to this case. In the event the search is again focused in our Town we will keep you all updated. But again it is believed the suspect has moved on from the area of the Town of Chapin. All inquiries should be made to the U.S. Marshalls as they are the leading investigating agency in this case.
Y’all stay safe.

Latest update from CPD.
 
  • #40

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