Family and friends remember two men killed in Claiborne County

CLAIRFIELD, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Claiborne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a double homicide in rural Clairfield.

Sheriff Bob Brooks said Nathan Hamblin, 46, and Robert Hatfield, 51, had been missing since Monday of last week before both were found at the abandoned Kopper Glo Mine in Claiborne County.

Previous coverage: Sheriff's Office investigates double homicide in Claiborne County

Leeann Bliss said she grew up in the same house as Hamblin and even though they weren't related by blood, she always felt like they were family.

“He was the type of person who would help anyone with anything,” Bliss said.

As Bliss mourns the loss of Hamblin, others in this small East Tennessee community also remember the life of Robert Hatfield.

“Robbie was a good guy; he had a heart of gold. And if you were a friend, you were a friend for life,” said friend Ashley Moses.

Sheriff Brooks said the two men were scrapping metal at the abandoned coal plant and were found in an undisclosed area of ​​the property.

Brooks said they have some leads at this time, but no arrests have been made.

“It kind of keeps you up at night knowing that someone is capable and it could happen again,” Moses said.

Sheriff Brooks added that he believes this double homicide investigation is unrelated to the one currently underway in Grainger County.

Previous coverage: Double homicide investigation underway at Bean Station, TBI says

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office at 423-626-3385.

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