Master Manipulator Unmasked: The Chilling Cross-Country Manhunt for a 'Deadly Con Man'

Glenn Gilmour, 11/12/2024Master manipulator's deadly cross-country chase ends after brutal murder of vulnerable shelter resident.

This twisted tale began on October 24th, when Hamlett dialed 911, claiming to be a man named Brandon Andrade. With convincing urgency, he spun a tale of a bear attack -- alleging the animal had chased him off a cliff while hiking, leaving him injured and trapped in a body of water. A search party was dispatched, but what they discovered was far more sinister than a wildlife encounter gone awry.

In the dense woods near the Cherohala Skyway, authorities stumbled upon a bloodied corpse bearing Andrade's ID -- but the injuries were inconsistent with a bear attack or a fall from such heights. "Nicholas Wayne Hamlett met Steven, befriended him, and lured him into a wooded area to take Steven's life and his identity," the Monroe County Sheriff's Office grimly revealed. The victim was identified as 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd, a vulnerable man with mental health struggles who had fallen prey to Hamlett's deception.

As the investigation unraveled, a disturbing pattern of manipulation and violence emerged. Hamlett, wanted in Alabama for a parole violation stemming from a 2009 attempted murder charge, had allegedly stolen Andrade's ID to evade authorities. But why stage such an elaborate ruse? The motive remains shrouded in mystery.

The manhunt quickly escalated, with the FBI and U.S. Marshals joining the search. "The long arm of the law has a long and huge reach, and we will find you no matter where you hide," Joseph Carrico, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Nashville field office, warned during a press conference. Authorities were relentless, pursuing leads across Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Florida -- states where Hamlett had known connections.

"It's amazing," David Jolley, a United States Marshal, marveled at Hamlett's ability to manipulate. "He's a very good con man." A master of deception, Hamlett had previously lured a man to a park under the guise of selling insurance, only to threaten him with a gun and baseball bat, intending to bury him alive in a pre-dug grave. The victim's resistance left Hamlett in a medically induced coma, but even that brush with death failed to deter his violent tendencies.

As the manhunt dragged on, tensions mounted -- with Democrat governors vowing to resist any potential overreach by law enforcement in their states. "If you're not going to help us, get the hell out of the way, because we're going to do it," incoming border czar Tom Homan warned, setting the stage for a potential clash between state and federal authorities.

But in the end, it was a vigilant citizen who brought this saga to its conclusion. After spotting Hamlett at a local hospital, they alerted law enforcement, leading to his peaceful capture. "The sharing of Hamlett's wanted poster led the public, whom is our most valuable resource, to act as our eyes and ears," Sheriff Tommy Jones commended, underscoring the vital role of community engagement in solving such heinous crimes.

As Hamlett awaits extradition to Tennessee, where he faces first-degree murder charges, a grieving community is left to grapple with the tragic loss of Steven Douglas Lloyd -- a man whose life was cut short by the very person he trusted. This case serves as a stark reminder of the depravity that lurks beneath the surface, and the importance of remaining ever-vigilant in the face of such calculated malice.

A chilling manhunt that gripped the nation -- spanning multiple states and weeks of searching -- has finally reached its conclusion. The suspect, 45-year-old Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, was apprehended in Columbia, South Carolina, after a hospital worker recognized him and alerted the authorities. Hamlett, described as a "master manipulator" and "very good con man," stands accused of a brutal crime that shook the small town of Tellico Plains, Tennessee to its core.This twisted tale began on October 24th, when Hamlett dialed 911, claiming to be a man named Brandon Andrade. With convincing urgency, he spun a tale of a bear attack -- alleging the animal had chased him off a cliff while hiking, leaving him injured and trapped in a body of water. A search party was dispatched, but what they discovered was far more sinister than a wildlife encounter gone awry.In the dense woods near the Cherohala Skyway, authorities stumbled upon a bloodied corpse bearing Andrade's ID -- but the injuries were inconsistent with a bear attack or a fall from such heights. "Nicholas Wayne Hamlett met Steven, befriended him, and lured him into a wooded area to take Steven's life and his identity," the Monroe County Sheriff's Office grimly revealed. The victim was identified as 34-year-old Steven Douglas Lloyd, a vulnerable man with mental health struggles who had fallen prey to Hamlett's deception.As the investigation unraveled, a disturbing pattern of manipulation and violence emerged. Hamlett, wanted in Alabama for a parole violation stemming from a 2009 attempted murder charge, had allegedly stolen Andrade's ID to evade authorities. But why stage such an elaborate ruse? The motive remains shrouded in mystery.The manhunt quickly escalated, with the FBI and U.S. Marshals joining the search. "The long arm of the law has a long and huge reach, and we will find you no matter where you hide," Joseph Carrico, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Nashville field office, warned during a press conference. Authorities were relentless, pursuing leads across Montana, Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Florida -- states where Hamlett had known connections. Featured Story

Throughout the investigation, a haunting portrait of the victim emerged. Lloyd, a former foster child battling trust issues and mental health challenges, had crossed paths with Hamlett at a local shelter in Knoxville. Witnesses described him as "quiet" and "respectful," a vulnerable soul who likely saw Hamlett as a friend -- a tragic miscalculation that would prove fatal."It's amazing," David Jolley, a United States Marshal, marveled at Hamlett's ability to manipulate. "He's a very good con man." A master of deception, Hamlett had previously lured a man to a park under the guise of selling insurance, only to threaten him with a gun and baseball bat, intending to bury him alive in a pre-dug grave. The victim's resistance left Hamlett in a medically induced coma, but even that brush with death failed to deter his violent tendencies.As the manhunt dragged on, tensions mounted -- with Democrat governors vowing to resist any potential overreach by law enforcement in their states. "If you're not going to help us, get the hell out of the way, because we're going to do it," incoming border czar Tom Homan warned, setting the stage for a potential clash between state and federal authorities.But in the end, it was a vigilant citizen who brought this saga to its conclusion. After spotting Hamlett at a local hospital, they alerted law enforcement, leading to his peaceful capture. "The sharing of Hamlett's wanted poster led the public, whom is our most valuable resource, to act as our eyes and ears," Sheriff Tommy Jones commended, underscoring the vital role of community engagement in solving such heinous crimes.As Hamlett awaits extradition to Tennessee, where he faces first-degree murder charges, a grieving community is left to grapple with the tragic loss of Steven Douglas Lloyd -- a man whose life was cut short by the very person he trusted. This case serves as a stark reminder of the depravity that lurks beneath the surface, and the importance of remaining ever-vigilant in the face of such calculated malice.