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 the rural area of Clairfield.

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

Previous Coverage: Sheriff’s office investigating 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 they were family.

“He was the kind of person that would help anybody with anything,” said Bliss.

While Bliss mourns the loss of Hamblin, others in this small East Tennessee community remember the life of Robert Hatfield as well.

“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 at an undisclosed area on the property.

Brooks said they have leads right now, but no arrests have been made.

“It kind of makes you not able to sleep at knowing someone out there is capable and this could happen again,” said Moses.

Sheriff Brooks added that he feels confident this double homicide investigation is unrelated to the one ongoing right now in Grainger County.

Previous Coverage: Investigation into double homicide underway in Bean Station, TBI says

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