MONROE COUNTY, Tenn — The suspect in a multi-state murder manhunt made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
A Monroe County judge denied Nicholas Hamlett bond during the hearing. His next court date is set for Nov. 26. Hamlett is facing charges of first degree homicide and flight of arrest. The judge is also expected to appoint him an attorney.
During his in-person appearance, Hamlett was talking under his breath and twitching.
Hamlett is accused of killing Stephen Lloyd. Authorities believe Hamlett befriended Lloyd, a Knoxville man who was known to be experiencing mental health issues leading him to live on the streets.
Hamlett called 911 On Oct. 18 and said he had been chased by a bear, fell and hit his head, and was bleeding.
The call was originally taken by Polk County Dispatch, according to the 911 call audio. Then it was transferred to Monroe County, who said the call was coming from a phone on a 2% battery coming from the Skyway Falls on Branch Road.
"He's fallen off the cliff at some waterfalls," a dispatcher from Polk County said, relaying the information to dispatch in Monroe County. "He fell on his head. He's hurt pretty bad. Said he can't move his leg."
Hamlett could be heard on the call saying he had been running from a bear.
The call continued with Monroe County dispatch alerting Hamlett that they had his location and were sending units his way. They ask him where he is, and he says he's at a waterfall.
This call led authorities to find a body, which had identification belonging to "Brandon Andrade." But, it was fake and the man's body was identified as Stephen Lloyd.
Authorities believe that Hamlett killed Lloyd and tried to pass off the body as Andrade. Officials said Hamlett has taken out $8 million worth of life insurance under Andrade's identity, and they believed he had a financial motive to kill Lloyd.
Hamlett was supposed to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court Monday morning, but when the judge called Hamlett's name, a prison guard said he was on suicide watch. The judge rescheduled his arraignment to Tuesday morning.
A full timeline of the complicated murder case can be found here.
