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Monroe County murder suspect told investigators he made up story about bear attack, sheriff’s office says
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Monroe County murder suspect told investigators he made up story about bear attack, sheriff’s office says

TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. (WVLT) — Officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Friday they are hunting an armed and dangerous suspect who they say lied during an emergency call.

MCSO said investigators are looking for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett. The search began with a 911 call in which Hamlett claimed to be a hiker named Brandon Andrade, according to the office.

While making the call, MCSO said Hamlett used a fake name and said he fell off a cliff while running from a bear.

Sheriff’s office officials said the call was placed near a bridge on the Charahola Skyway in Tellico Plains, prompting search and rescue crews to respond. MCSO said they found a body there.

“Detectives… investigated the scene and upon further investigation determined that the deceased was not Mr. Brandon Andrade and that the identity had been stolen and used multiple times,” office officials said.

Investigators also said that after the call, Hamlett used the name again when speaking to Knox County law enforcement, then fled and is currently at large.

Hamlett wants to leave Alabama due to a parole violation, according to the sheriff’s office. This parole violation ties into several charges he faces in the state, including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of second-degree forgery and one count of first-degree kidnapping.

He also currently faces a first-degree murder charge in Monroe County.

In addition to all this, law enforcement sources told WVLT News that Hamlett has connections all over the country, in Alabama, Tennessee, Montana, Kentucky, Florida and even Alaska.

Those who encountered the suspect were told not to approach and to call 911.

The office is still trying to identify the body.