911 Caller Said He'd Fallen Off Cliff While Running From a Bear. Why Is He Now Wanted on Murder Charge?

Authorities in Tennessee are investigating the death of a man who they say was found with false identification on him earlier this month — and the false identification has allegedly been connected to a man now wanted for murder.

On Friday, Oct. 18, authorities in Polk County, Tenn., received a call from a purportedly “distressed hiker” who allegedly claimed he’d fallen off a cliff while trying to escape a bear, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Polk County officials transferred the call to the Monroe County police. 

The man allegedly claimed he was injured and partially submerged in water, per police, and a call led police to the Charles Hall Bridge on a mountain byway.

Responding authorities found a victim with an identification belonging to “Brandon Kristopher Andrade” on him, per the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.  

After the victim was taken to a forensic center, police determined that the deceased person was not Andrade and the identification had allegedly been stolen “and used on multiple occasions,” the sheriff’s statement said. 

Investigators determined that the person using the identification was allegedly named Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, who was wanted in Alabama on an alleged parole violation, per the statement. 

Authorities have not publicly identified the victim, who is being referred to as a John Doe. Officials at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are working to develop a sketch for the victim so as to identify him. Monroe County officials did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for further information on Monday, Oct. 28.

Police believe Hamlett was the initial distressed hiker who claimed he'd been fleeing from a bear. They say they spoke with him again after that, during which time he used a fake name, though it was unclear if the name he used was “Brandon Kristopher Andrade."

He allegedly fled Tennessee before police could ascertain his real identity, and is currently at large.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Hamlett faces a charge of first-degree murder, per Monroe County officials.

He is also facing charges in Alabama for attempted murder and kidnapping, among several other charges, per AL.com, ABC 33 and WTVC. He reportedly has already pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in connection with that case, , per AL.com, but plea information about his outstanding charges was not immediately available.

Hamlett is 5-feet-7-inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes, and allegedly uses several aliases, including Brandon Kristopher Andrade, per Monroe County police.

Anyone with information about him is urged to contact the Monroe County Dispatch at 423-442-4357 or the sheriff's office at 423-442-3911.