Suspect who killed a man to steal his identity is captured in South Carolina

Authorities reported that a suspect who allegedly killed a man and made it appear that the death occurred by falling off a cliff, all in an attempt to steal the victim’s identity, has been captured in South Carolina after a manhunt that lasted weeks.

Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, 45, was arrested Sunday in Columbia, South Carolina, authorities said.

Hamlett had been sought after the death of a man on a scenic highway in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, last month.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Hamlett allegedly called 911 on Oct. 18 and identified himself under another name to report that he had fallen off a cliff while fleeing a bear and was injured.

The call was dispatched to the Cherohala Skyway area. During a search of the area, the body of a man was found with identification that matched the name Hamlett gave in the 911 call, the sheriff’s office said.

However, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detectives determined that was not the identity of the deceased person and that the victim had been murdered.

According to the sheriff’s office, The identification that the victim was carrying had been stolen and used on multiple occasions. Investigators determined that Hamlett, who is also wanted in Alabama for violating his parole, had been using that stolen identity, the sheriff’s office said.

Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones II said the deceased did not have injuries consistent with a fall or bear attack. The Knox County Regional Forensic Center determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

Last week, authorities identified the victim of the Cherohala Skyway murder in Tellico Plains as Steven Douglas Lloyd, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee.

According to the sheriff’s office, Hamlett had allegedly befriended the victim and “lured him to a wooded area to take Steven’s life and his identity.” Hamlett had known the victim for several months.

Amid the search for Hamlett, authorities warned that the murder suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

The search came to an end Sunday when an employee at a Columbia hospital recognized Hamlett and alerted authorities, according to the Columbia Police Department.

His identification was verified by the FBI through fingerprints, according to Jones.

No further details have been released at this time, Jones said.

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