Fugitive Arrested After Staging Murder as Bear Attack
Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, accused of killing Steven Douglas Lloyd to steal his identity, was captured in South Carolina after a nationwide manhunt.
Overview
- Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, 45, was arrested in Columbia, South Carolina, after being recognized at a hospital, ending a three-week manhunt.
- Hamlett allegedly killed Steven Douglas Lloyd, 34, in Tennessee, staged the scene as a bear attack, and used a stolen identity to evade capture.
- Authorities determined Lloyd died from blunt force trauma, inconsistent with a bear attack or fall, leading to a murder investigation.
- Hamlett was wanted for parole violations in Alabama and was known to use multiple aliases across several states.
- The U.S. Marshals Service offered a $5,000 reward for Hamlett's capture, and he now faces charges of first-degree murder and parole violation.