MADISONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A man wanted for a murder in East Tennessee as part of a nationwide manhunt has been captured. Nicholas Hamlett was taken into custody at a hospital in Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday.
Hamlett has been on the run since mid-October after police say he killed 34-year-old Steven Lloyd and stole his identity. The Monroe County Sheriff believed that Hamlett had met Lloyd, befriended him, and lured him into a wooded area to take his life and his identity.
Authorities believe he posed as the victim while calling 911 and staged a bear attack. Law enforcement officials say they were able to link Lloyd's death back to Hamlett.
He was later recognized at a local hospital in Columbia. The FBI was able to confirm his identity by verifying his fingerprints. Hamlett is currently facing first-degree murder charges out of Tennessee and a parole violation out of Alabama.
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There are still so many families in East Tennessee hurting following the floods from Hurricane Helene in September. That made this year's running of the Santa Train extra special for many families in the northeast part of the state. This special Santa Express has been making an annual run in part of Appalachia for over 80 years.
-Lelan Statom
