Tennessee murder suspect fakes his own death, saying bear chased him off cliff

Police across East Tennessee are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to find a man wanted for murder, and to identify his victim, after he used a stolen identity to fake his own death along the Cherohala Skyway earlier this month.

Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones announced Oct. 25 that Nicholas Hamlett, who was using the name Brandon Andrade, called 911 Oct. 18 in distress to say he was chased by a bear and fell off a cliff near a waterfall.

Emergency operators were not able to reach him again, though search and rescue teams later found a man's body in the general area described in the 911 call. The body had an ID with Andrade’s name on it.

But Monroe County Sheriff's Office detectives discovered the ID had been stolen and used several times by Hamlett, who was wanted by police in Alabama for a parole violation.

Hamlett has since skipped town and possibly the state. Authorities have not identified the man whose body was found but have determined Hamlett killed him. Hamlett wanted to fake his "own" death.

Knox News obtained the dispatch call of the Oct. 18 fake fall. It was relayed by dispatch at 11:37 p.m.

“Units enroute to the area of Cherohala Skyway at Falls Branch Road. Have a male subject that fell off a cliff. He is unable to move. He was running from a bear. He has 2% battery – unable to get him back on 911.

“… en route in the area of Cherohala Skyway and Falls Branch Road. Cherohala Skyway and Falls Branch Road to assist Turkey Creek. Got a call from Polk County. They’re advising male subject fell off a cliff while he was running from a bear. Not able to move his legs. Did hit his head. He’s going to be at the falls …”

Before the sheriff’s office announced the death, neither the sheriff's office nor District Attorney Stephen Hatchett would answer questions last week from Knox News about the fallen hiker.

The Cherohala Skyway passes through the Cherokee National Forest, which is federal land.

Investigators from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are trying to both identify the man who was found dead and Hamlett, who is considered armed and dangerous.

Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone.