Accused Appalachian Trail Murderer Stalked Hikers: PD

WYTHE COUNTY, VA — A Cape Cod man accused in a fatal stabbing attack on the Appalachian Trail went by the name "Sovereign" and was "known by the hikers as a suspicious person through social media," according to authorities. James Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, faces federal charges of murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States and assault with the intent to murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States in the deadly attack, which left one hiker dead and another severely injured.

Michael Hensley, sheriff in Unicoi County, TN, issued a warning last month about "Sovereign," who he said threatened hikers on the Appalachian trail head in Tennessee and in Madison County, NC. The man brandished a knife and machete at hikers and traveled with a dog, according to Hensley.

According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, VA, Jordan approached four hikers Friday night and was "acting disturbed and unstable." When the hikers made camp on the trail in Wythe County, Jordan approached their tents, threatening to "pour gasoline on their tents and burn them to death," authorities said.

The group attempted to leave the campsite, but Jordan approached them with a knife, according to the affidavit. Two of the hikers fled, and Jordan chased after them, but later returned to the campsite to find the remaining hikers, authorities said. He began arguing with one of the hikers before stabbing the man in the "upper part of the body," the other hiker told police.

She ran from Jordan and "raised her arms as if to surrender" when he caught up with her, according to court documents. The woman was stabbed multiple times and "played dead" while Jordan left to look for his dog, the affidavit said.

Police received an emergency call around 2:30 a.m. from a man and woman who authorities believe are the hikers who fled Jordan at the campsite. A second call came in about 45 minutes later from the woman who played dead, according to authorities. She ran into a man and woman hiking the trail who helped her walk to call 911, police said.

Authorities found a man dead at the scene of the attack and a knife near his body. He was identified Tuesday as 43-year-old Ronald S. Sanchez Jr., of Oklahoma.

Police took Jordan into custody around 6:14 a.m., and the victims identified him as their attacker, according to the complaint. He was held for a mental competency evaluation Monday and will next appear in court Aug. 1.