Chilling details emerge in fatal machete attack on Appalachian Trail in Virginia
The man threatened to “burn them alive” in their tents, authorities said.
ByBill Hutchinson and Julia Jacobo
Layers of blue mountains on the Appalachian Trail.
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Chilling new details have emerged how a Massachusetts man allegedly attacked a pair of hikers with a machete on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, killing one and severely injuring the other.
James L. Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, was arrested early Saturday following the deadly attack in Wythe County, Virginia, that a federal prosecutor described Sunday as “senseless and brutal.”
On Friday, Jordan allegedly approached four hikers near the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday at the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. Jordan was known to the hikers, who had previously seen on social media that he allegedly threatened hikers on the Appalachian Trail in Unicoi County, Tennessee in April, according to the probable cause statement.
Jordan was acting “disturbed and unstable” and was playing his guitar and singing when he approached the group, the complaint states.
(MORE: Mystery deepens in double murder of Delphi girls Abby Williams and Libby German)
Later Friday evening, the group made camp near Wythe County, Virginia, within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, when Jordan allegedly began approaching the hikers’ tents, making noises and threatening to kill them, according to the probable cause statement. Through the tents, Jordan allegedly threatened to pour gasoline on them and “burn them to death,” prompting the hikers to pack up and leave.
Jordan then allegedly tried to approach the hikers with a knife as they tried to leave the campsite, the complaint states. Two of the hikers chased him away, but Jordan allegedly returned and began stabbing the male victim in the upper body after they began arguing, the complaint states.
The female victim ran away after watching the first victim fall to the ground, but Jordan caught up to her as she began to tire, according to the court documents. She then turned to face Jordan, raising her hands “as if to surrender,” and Jordan allegedly stabbed her multiple times.
She then fell to the ground and played dead, and Jordan “left to find his dog,” the complaint states.
Once Jordan was gone, the victim ran down the trail and ran into two hikers, who assisted her for the next six miles into Smyth County, Virginia, where they called 911, according to the court documents.
Authorities at the Wythe County joint dispatch center received the first 911 call around 2:30 a.m. Saturday from two hikers, presumably from the initial group, saying that they were being chased by a man with a machete, the complaint states. Around 3:12 a.m., the female victim called emergency dispatchers in Smyth County, detailing the attack.
(MORE: Unidentified young girl found dead in duffel bag near equestrian trail; officials ask public for help)
The male victim was found dead at the scene, and the female victim was taken to the Bristol Regional Medical Center in Tennessee, where she gave a statement to investigators and named Jordan as the man who attacked them, according to the complaint. The victim’s names were not immediately released
Jordan was arrested on the trail around 6:14 a.m. Saturday. He had blood on his clothing when he was taken into custody, according to the complaint. A knife was found near the deceased victim’s body, according to the complaint.
A motive for the alleged attack is under investigation by the FBI’s Richmond, Virginia, division.
Jordan was charged with one count of murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., and one count of assault with the intent to murder within the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., authorities said.
During his appearance in federal court in Abingdon, Virginia, on Monday, a judge ordered Jordan to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, The Associated Press reported.
“I commend local law enforcement in Wythe and Smyth Counties for mobilizing successful rescue and tactical operations in this remote region. Thanks to their efforts, the suspect was safely apprehended and the seriously wounded victim received critical medical care,” Thomas T. Cullen, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a statement.
“We will continue to work with our state and local partners to bring the perpetrator of this senseless and brutal attack to justice,” Cullen added.
The slaying was the first murder on the Appalachian Trail, a 2,160-mile wilderness path that stretches from Maine to Georgia, since 2011 when hiker Scott Lilly, 30, of South Bend, Indiana, was slain and left in a shallow grave in Amherst County, Virginia. No one has been arrested in the homicide.
The most infamous murder on the Appalachian Trail occurred in May 1981 near Pearisburg, Virginia, when the bodies of two hikers, Robert Mountford Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both of Maine, were found in their sleeping bags. Mountford had been shot three times in the face, while Ramsay was stabbed repeatedly with a long nail, authorities said.
(MORE: Dad mysteriously shot dead while camping with his 2 young kids)
Randall Lee Smith was arrested in the double homicide. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.
The slayings became the subject of the 1984 book “Murder on the Appalachian Trail” by author Jess Carr.
Smith was paroled in 1996 after serving 15 years of a 30-year prison sentence.
Smith returned to the Appalachian Trail in May 2008 and was arrested for shooting and wounding two fishermen near where he killed Mountford and Ramsey, authorities said. He later died in prison.
ABC News’ Julia Jacobo and Ben Stein contributed to this report.
Woman arrested after reportedly chasing others with machete in Myrtle Beach
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Myrtle Beach, S.C. (WPDE) — A woman was arrested after police say she chased two other individuals while wielding a machete in Myrtle Beach.
According to a Myrtle Beach Police Department incident report, officers were called to a location on Mr. Joe White Avenue around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Upon arrival, officers were told that the two victims were standing in front of a location on Warren Street when they got into a verbal argument with the suspect.
The suspect then took out a machete and chased the victims down Warren Street to a convenience store with it held over her head, according to a police report.
The report shows the suspect even continued to pursue the victims with the machete while they were on the phone with 911.
Officers said the victims were not cooperative and did not wish to pursue criminal charges. The machete also could not be located, according to a police report.
The suspect was located near Warren Street and taken into custody.
She was identified as Frederica Sarah McGee, 53, and charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the incident, according to a police report.
Man sentenced with indefinite hospital order after attack on several people with a machete in Anfield
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The heroic actions of members of the public have been praised after a man who attacked several people with a machete was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.
Sean O’Brien, aged 34, of Miriam Road, Liverpool has today, Friday 15th March been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order at Liverpool Crown Court.
On Thursday 11 August 2022 officers received a report at 5.35pm that a man was walking towards the junction with Priory Road and onto Ince Avenue in Anfield, shouting at people and carrying what was described as a machete.
The man assaulted four people in the area – three men aged 20, 40 and 48 and a 62-year-old woman who were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Several people bravely intervened during the incident to stop others from being attacked before O’Brien was detained by officers on Stanley Park and arrested on suspicion of four counts of attempted murder.
O’Brien was released under investigation to allow further enquiries to be carried out but was further detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act where he remained until his sentencing today.
Detective Sergeant Lee Egerton said: “I would like to praise and thank the members of the public and our officers who acted very bravely in what can only be described as an extremely frightening and dangerous situation.
“When our Armed Response Officers arrived at the scene members of the public were seen shielding and protecting an injured woman from further harm from O’Brien.
“Just before this attack Bar Manager Carl Baines at the Arkles Pub saw O’Brien attempting to attack a young boy outside the premises. Carl grabbed the boy and took him into the pub, locking him and the other customers inside for safety. Carl then chased O’Brien along Utting Avenue, shouting at other members of the public to get away. He then saw O’Brien attack a woman and along with other men moved the victim to the other side of the road and began to administer vital first aid while on the phone to police.
“Another man, Bobby Wilcox, was cycling home from work when he heard people shouting and saw O’Brien attack a man at the bus stop with a machete. He then rode on and warned others to keep away and told shop keepers to lock their doors. The man who was attacked at the bus stop, Liam Fennelly, bravely stayed in the area with others despite multiple injuries and also assisted in helping the injured woman who was attacked by O’Brien.
“Earlier last year this outstanding act of bravery was celebrated at the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) annual Police Public Bravery Awards in November. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy awarded Bar Manager Carl Baines, Liam Fennelly and Bobby Wilcox with a silver award for their heroism during the attacks.
“The award commended their heroic actions and of our officers who also intervened which ensured that this incident was able to be dealt with swiftly and without any further injuries in our community during such a frightening attack.”
