VA - 1 dead as Man attacks hikers with machete on Appalachian Trail, Wythe County, May 2019 *insane*

[Gardener1850]

Feds arrest man in deadly machete attack on Appalachian Trail in Virginia

Mugshot:

James Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Mass., was arrested early Saturday on a federal complaint charging him with murder and assault with intent to murder in connection with the “senseless and brutal attack” on the two unidentified hikers, Abingdon U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen said.

Jordan was known to hike the Appalachian Trail under the moniker “Sovereign,” WCYB-TV reported. He was arrested in April for threatening hikers on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation, according to WJHL-TV.

Authorities released this photo of James Jordan in April after they said he brandished a knife and machete at hikers on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina. At the time authorities knew the man only as "Sovereign." (Unicoi County Sheriff's Office )

Feds arrest man in deadly machete attack on Appalachian Trail in Virginia

 

[continentseven]

My first thought on seeing his mug shot and the details of his crime was of the "new" sketch in the Delphi murders.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Where is the poor dog????

 

[Simply Southern]

Hiker stabbed on Appalachian Trail, played dead to fool attacker, court documents reveal

 

[Simply Southern]

Charges pending in stabbing that left one dead on Appalachian Trail

 

[NervousNellie]

Where is the poor dog????

From the article linked in post #24

Jordan also expressed concern for his dog, which WCYB reports is now being held at a no-kill shelter in Wytheville. Jordan is allowed to make arrangements for a family member to retrieve the dog.

 

[carbuff]

Wonder if he has any other victims that may not have been found yet? FBI being involved if this is just an "unusual" event along the trail?

The AT trail is a federal jurisdiction, as are the national forests around many parts of it. So the FBI is the investigative agency.

 

[Gardener1850]

Hiker stabbed on Appalachian Trail, played dead to fool attacker, court documents reveal

Some quotes:

ABINGDON, Va. - The 30-year-old man accused of killing one Appalachian Trail hiker, attacking another and threatening two more made his first court appearance Monday.

James Jordan, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, arrived at federal court in Abingdon, Virginia in handcuffs and leg chains, according to WCYB.

During Monday's proceedings, Jordan indicated he understood the charges against him, and he will now undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial and his sanity.
...

Court documents show Jordan approached four Appalachian Trail hikers on Friday in Smyth County.

He was acting "disturbed and unstable" and was singing and playing guitar, according to the documents.

Once the group of four hikers made camp further north in Wythe County, Jordan reportedly approached their tents and threatened to pour gas on the tents and burn the hikers to death.

Court documents show that due to Jordan's threats, the four decided to leave the campsite.

As they attempted to leave, Jordan approached them with a knife and two hikers escaped, court documents show.

Jordan stabbed one of the other two and chased after the fourth hiker who he also stabbed multiple times, according to court documents.

After being stabbed, court documents say she played dead, which is when Jordan left her to try and find his dog.

Once Jordan left, the victim who played dead then took the trail into Smyth County, received help 6 miles into the county and called 911, according to court documents.

Wythe County authorities say officers found Jordan at the campsite where the initial attack began and took him into custody.

Jordan had blood stains on his clothes, according to authorities.

The first stabbing victim was found at the campsite and pronounced dead at the scene, according to court documents.

Hiker stabbed on Appalachian Trail, played dead to fool attacker, court documents reveal

 

[Inthedetails]

Terrifying ordeal. RIP to the hiker who was killed.

 

[carbuff]

My first thought on seeing his mug shot and the details of his crime was of the "new" sketch in the Delphi murders.

Yeah, he kind of does. He's from MA though so unlikely to be a connection.

 

[Simply Southern]

Judge orders psych evaluation for Appalachian Trail suspect


For the past couple of weeks, hikers along the Appalachian Trial had been warning each other about a hiker who was threatening other hikers with a large knife.

The man, who had the trail nickname of "Sovereign," was arrested in North Carolina last month after some hikers reported him to authorities. But he was released after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana and other minor charges.

Sheriff Mike Hensley of Unicoi County, Tennessee, said he and his deputies did everything they could to keep Jordan locked up after he threatened hikers there and in other communities along the trail last month.

Hensley said hikers called his office in late April and said a man was threatening them and said: "It's going to be a bad day for hikers on the trail." He said he sent officers to the trail location described by the hikers, but the man was no longer there.

The next day, some other hikers complained about a man threatening them. Hensley said his officers found Jordan, who was intoxicated, and gave them a fake name and a fake identification. He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and criminal impersonation.

Jordan pleaded guilty to the drug charges and was later released. Hensley said the judge ordered Jordan not to return to the Appalachian Trail, but he was not held in custody because none of the hikers were willing to testify in court.

"The fact is nobody wanted to step up to the plate and press charges," Hensley said. "They were on the trail walking and they didn't want to come back — they told my investigators that."

 

[gipsypup]

Yeah, he kind of does. He's from MA though so unlikely to be a connection.

There is a resemblance... he even falls between the age mentioned at the recent press conference 18-40 yrs old

 

[Simply Southern]

There is a resemblance... he even falls between the age mentioned at the recent press conference 18-40 yrs old

In VA we collect a DNA sample. You could let them know your suspicions. It shouldn't be hard for them to compare.

The AT/Blue Ridge Mountains have very secluded remote spots a person could hide out without being discovered, for years. We've had many killers hide on AT from Georgia to Virginia. Lots of old cabins, lean-to, deer stands, caves, hunting compounds, vacation homes, and food a plenty, fishing, hunting, berries and raid the occasional garden.

The area is beautiful but step off the trail and you can become lost in wilderness.

 

[watcher9]

A woman played dead to save herself from attacker on Appalachian Trail

 

[iulia]

Authorities ID hiker killed in Appalachian Trail attack

An Oklahoma man was stabbed to death in an attack on the Appalachian Trail in southwestern Virginia, federal authorities said Tuesday.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen said 43-year-old Ronald S. Sanchez Jr. died of injuries he received Saturday.

 

[tarabull]

Nova Scotia woman seriously hurt, man killed in Virginia hiking trail knife attack

 

[Mountain Mama]

Since J.J. comes from West Yarmouth, MA I searched for missing persons in that part of Massachusetts. (Capecod and the surrounding towns on the island). There is indeed a number of recent missing persons cases:

Raymond Perry's body was found, and the "Medical Examiner’s office ruled the death a homicide by 'blunt force trauma to the head' and 'cutting wounds to the neck'."
Body of missing Cape Cod man found, death ruled a homicide | Boston.com

Savannah Wall (from Falmouth, MA) disappeared in March, 2019
https://www.capecod.com/cape-wide-news/falmouth-police-seek-missing-16-year-old-2/

Body of Missing man found in Eastham in July,2018
Body of missing man found in Eastham

Could it be a coincidence that these crimes occurred where J.J. lived before heading to the AT ?

 

[Gardener1850]

18 May 2019

The physical injuries kept Ronnie Sanchez Jr. from moving as fast as he wanted on the Appalachian Trail, but it was the unseen wounds that almost made him quit.

After 16 years in the Army and three tours in Iraq as a combat engineer, it took the 43-year-old veteran years to emerge from a cloud of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that had kept him locked up in his house in Oklahoma City and avoiding other people.

But he did it, little by little, slow and determined, by rediscovering his love of the outdoors. He biked. He raced dragon boats. He learned how to ride horses. And in February, Sanchez decided to take on another challenge in a life full of them.

He would attempt a ‘‘thru-hike’’ of the Appalachian Trail — all 2,192 miles from Georgia to Maine — beginning the journey earlier than most because his pace would be slow. Of the 5,000 hikers who would register this season, Sanchez was No. 21 on the list. Partway in, problems with his knees and shoulders — the subject of repeated surgeries after years in the military — forced him off the trail for weeks.

‘‘If you get discouraged, it’s hard to come back from that,’’ said hostel owner Colin Gooder, who persuaded Sanchez to take a break and work for him at his North Carolina shelter — a rest that gave Sanchez the strength to continue hiking.

Sanchez adopted the trail name ‘‘Stronghold.’’ And by early May, he had made it to southwestern Virginia — 545 miles into his odyssey.

Then, sometime early on the morning of May 11, a man who had frightened others along the trail with his erratic behavior allegedly invaded the camp that Sanchez and three others had set up in Wythe County. The man threatened to burn the hikers’ tents, and they decided to leave, the FBI said. But as they tried to leave the campsite, the man confronted the group with a long knife, and eventually stabbed two of them, killing Sanchez.

Much more at link: Traumatized ex-soldier died trying to ‘find peace’ on Appalachian Trail

Rest in Peace Ronnie Sanchez and thank you for your service.

 

[NervousNellie]

18 May 2019

The physical injuries kept Ronnie Sanchez Jr. from moving as fast as he wanted on the Appalachian Trail, but it was the unseen wounds that almost made him quit.

After 16 years in the Army and three tours in Iraq as a combat engineer, it took the 43-year-old veteran years to emerge from a cloud of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that had kept him locked up in his house in Oklahoma City and avoiding other people.

But he did it, little by little, slow and determined, by rediscovering his love of the outdoors. He biked. He raced dragon boats. He learned how to ride horses. And in February, Sanchez decided to take on another challenge in a life full of them.

He would attempt a ‘‘thru-hike’’ of the Appalachian Trail — all 2,192 miles from Georgia to Maine — beginning the journey earlier than most because his pace would be slow. Of the 5,000 hikers who would register this season, Sanchez was No. 21 on the list. Partway in, problems with his knees and shoulders — the subject of repeated surgeries after years in the military — forced him off the trail for weeks.

‘‘If you get discouraged, it’s hard to come back from that,’’ said hostel owner Colin Gooder, who persuaded Sanchez to take a break and work for him at his North Carolina shelter — a rest that gave Sanchez the strength to continue hiking.

Sanchez adopted the trail name ‘‘Stronghold.’’ And by early May, he had made it to southwestern Virginia — 545 miles into his odyssey.

Then, sometime early on the morning of May 11, a man who had frightened others along the trail with his erratic behavior allegedly invaded the camp that Sanchez and three others had set up in Wythe County. The man threatened to burn the hikers’ tents, and they decided to leave, the FBI said. But as they tried to leave the campsite, the man confronted the group with a long knife, and eventually stabbed two of them, killing Sanchez.

Much more at link: Traumatized ex-soldier died trying to ‘find peace’ on Appalachian Trail

Rest in Peace Ronnie Sanchez and thank you for your service.

Thanks for finding and sharing that, Gardener. How terribly sad and tragic.

 

[YESorNO]

Suspect in Appalachian Trail slaying found unfit to stand trial

July 4, 2019

"A Massachusetts man charged with fatally stabbing an Iraq War veteran on the Appalachian Trail and severely wounding another hiker is not mentally fit to stand trial, a judge has ruled.

James L. Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, was arrested May 11 on charges of murder and assault with the intent to murder in a hunting knife attack that killed Ronald Sanchez – a 43-year-old Army vet from Oklahoma – and left a female hiker seriously wounded along a remote section of the 2,190-mile trail in Wythe County, Virginia.

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered that Jordan – who was known along the popular hiking route as “Sovereign” – be taken to a federal facility “to be restored to competency,” the Boston Globe reports...."

https://nypost.com/2019/07/04/suspect-in-appalachian-trail-slaying-found-unfit-to-stand-trial/

(Ronald S. Sanchez Jr)