MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the nationwide manhunt for Nicholas Wayne Hamlett, the man wanted in a Monroe County homicide investigation.

A reward is also being offered for anyone with information about the suspect.

The situation is unusual. Hamlett is accused of not only killing an as-yet-unidentified victim, but also calling 911 after the fact, using a stolen identity, and pretending to be a hiker run over by a bear.

Previous coverage: FBI joins hunt for Monroe County murder suspect

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been searching for Hamlett since October 18. At a news conference Wednesday, David Jolley with the Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for anyone with information leading to Hamlett’s arrest.

Jolley’s announcement was joined by strong words from an FBI representative who joined Tuesday’s search, relayed directly to the suspect.

“Nick, let’s get this over with,” he said. “Surrender and have your day in court. The long arm of the law has a long reach. There’s nowhere to hide.”

Hamlett has a long criminal record. Investigators said he is also wanted out of Alabama for a probation violation. This probation itself is the result of violent charges such as attempted murder.

That prompted Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones to issue a warning about the man Wednesday afternoon.

“There is a great risk to the public. The offender has a history. This is not an isolated incident,” Jones said. “There is a family suffering and there is a wanted and violent person walking our streets.”

While the conference served mostly as a warning to those in the area to remain vigilant and a plea for anyone with information to come forward, we also learned a bit more about the investigation itself.

Jones confirmed that the Monroe County victim’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to multiple parts of their bodies, including the head. He also said the victim and Hamlett knew each other.

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