FBI Says Wanted Murder Suspect May Have Montana Ties

Update 11-13-24:

In a new press release from the Monroe County Tennessee Sheriff's Office, a wanted fugitive with possible Montana ties has been arrested after nearly a month on the run.

(See the full story below. 👇)

In the release, the Sheriff's Office stated that information regarding Nicholas Wayne Hamlet being in South Carolina was received from law enforcement.  He was taken into custody without incident and his identity was verified by FBI agents using fingerprints.

Hamlet has pending charges in Tennesse for first degree murder and a parole violation in Alabama.  He was first recognized at a hospital in South Carolina, where the arrest took place.  The Monroe County Sheriff's office said that no further statements would be made regarding the case at this time.

FBI Says Wanted Murder Suspect May Have Montana Ties

A nationwide manhunt is underway and incredibly, there is a link to this nearly unbelievable tale that Montana has been named in.

In a press release from Sheriff Tommy Jones and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in the state of Tennessee, it was stated that they, the FBI and the US Marshal's Service are looking for a suspect that stole an identity, faked his own death, and even murdered a man to try to cover it all up.

The Crazy Incident Bringing Montana into the Picture of this Crime

On October 18th, a distress call was received via 911 dispatch.  The caller indicated his name to be Brandon Andrade, and that he had fallen off a cliff while being pursued by a bear.  He was injured and partially in water.  When emergency services arrived, they found a deceased male with identification indicating he was Brandon Andrade.

READ MORE:  Montana Man Charged After Breaching Security at Missoula Airport

But now the story becomes something right out of a Hollywood movie script.

via GIPHY

After further forensics were done of the scene, it was determined the deceased male was not in fact Andrade.  The ID had been stolen and used on multiple occasions.  Authorities then discovered that the man who had been using the stolen ID was actually someone wanted for a parole violation in Alabama.

Details surrounding whether or not the real Brandon Andrade knew anything about his identity being weren't disclosed in the release, and the deceased is still a mystery person to be identified.

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Warrant Issued; Suspect Believed to have Fled Tennessee Home

An arrest warrant has been issued for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett for first degree murder in Monroe County, Tennessee.  In the description of the suspect, Montana was listed as a possible state that Hamlett has ties to.  Alaska, Florida, Kentucky and North Carolina are also possibilities.

If you have information or see this wanted individual, it is advised that you call 877-926-8322.  You can also report information with the US Marshal's Service here.