The man who sparked a nationwide search after allegedly staging a hiker’s murder as a bear attack has been found and taken into custody by law enforcement in Columbia, South Carolina. Nicholas Wayne Hamlett was recognized at a local hospital and his identity was confirmed by the FBI through fingerprints. Hamlett is facing first-degree murder charges in Tennessee and a parole violation in Alabama.
In mid-October, Steven Douglas Lloyd of Knoxville was found dead in a staged bear attack in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a distressed hiker named “Brandon Andrade” who claimed to have fallen off a cliff while running from a bear. When emergency personnel arrived, they found Lloyd’s body with Andrade’s ID on him, which was later determined to be stolen and used by Hamlett. It was believed that Hamlett lured Lloyd into a wooded area to take his life and identity.
Lloyd was a foster child who had trust issues and had been diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, making it difficult for him to form healthy relationships. Hamlett had reportedly met Lloyd, befriended him, and lured him into the wooded area where he was killed. Hamlett had ties to multiple states and was believed to be armed and dangerous throughout the manhunt conducted by law enforcement agencies.
Hamlett had used a fake name when calling dispatch after the distress call and fled his Tennessee home before his identity was verified. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office worked with Lloyd’s family to gather information about his background and the circumstances leading to his death. Hamlett was known to have connections in several states and was considered a dangerous individual during the nationwide manhunt.
Law enforcement in Tennessee and Alabama were involved in the search for Hamlett, who was ultimately found in Columbia, South Carolina. The FBI assisted in verifying his identity through fingerprints and he was taken into custody to face the charges against him. The case of Steven Douglas Lloyd’s murder, staged as a bear attack, has sparked national attention and raised questions about the motives behind Hamlett’s actions.
