Brumbley
Hiwassee Dam – A man convicted of killing a 3-year-old boy in a 2008 hit-and-run accident in Cherokee County today is facing multiple charges in connection with a Christmas Eve carjacking.
Authorities say Nicholas Edward Brumbley, 35, of Polk County, Tenn., stole three different vehicles during a multi-day crime spree that finally ended when he was captured by Monroe County, Tenn., law enforcement officials on Christmas Day following a vehicle chase.
A day earlier, Brumbley allegedly stole a 2018 Honda CRV from a 63-year-old woman on Candy Mountain Road in Hiwassee Dam – driving the car at her and fleeing with her 55-year-old intellectually disabled brother still in the passenger seat.
Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Wood said Brumbley is being held in the Monroe County Jail. He is facing charges of felony larceny of a vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and first-degree kidnapping in Cherokee County alone.
Brumbley previously served more than 12 years in prison for second-degree murder in the death of 3-year-old Brady Singleton of Hiwassee Dam before being released in February.
“Polk County has dealt with him several times since his release,” Wood said.
On April 29, 2008, Brumbley, while legally drunk, struck an ATV driven by Grady Anderson of Hiwassee Dam. Singleton, Anderson’s 3-year-old grandson, was knocked down an embankment and into a creek, where he drowned while pinned underneath the vehicle.
Brumbley, then 22, and two passengers fled instead of stopping to help. Anderson, who taught at Hiwassee Dam High School for 46 years, sustained a severe head injury, hip injury and multiple broken bones during the incident.
Brumbley pled guilty in January 2009 as a jury was waiting to be seated. He was sentenced to spend 12½-16 years in prison. Brumbley was given credit for 253 days spent in jail before the court appearance.
Wood said Brumbley’s latest victims came across what appeared to be a disabled vehicle on the side of Candy Mountain Road on Dec. 24. The car turned out to be a 2012 Honda Civic stolen from Polk.
“They stopped to help this man, thinking maybe he needs a boost or something like that, and as (the woman got out) to help, the defendant jumps in her vehicle,” Wood said. “Her adult disabled brother was still in the vehicle, and the defendant takes off with her car. At some point, the suspect released the brother on down Candy Mountain Road ... physically got him out of the car.”
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify Brumbley as the suspect and put out an alert to law enforcement in surrounding areas. Wood said authorities found the woman’s Honda CRV wrecked later on Christmas Eve in Tellico Plains, Tenn., after Brumbley had stolen a third car – this time a 2005 Jeep Wrangler. Brumbley was apprehended the following day.