Federal authorities say a man accused of killing one hiker and severely injuring another on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia had earlier acted “unstable” and allegedly threatened to pour gasoline on their tents and burn them to death.
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 used the trail nickname of “Sovereign,” was arrested in Tennessee last month after some hikers reported him to authorities. But he was released after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana and other minor charges.
Over the weekend, matters turned deadly in southwestern Virginia, where he is accused of stabbing one hiker to death and seriously injuring another.
James Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, is charged with murder and assault with intent to commit murder. During his initial appearance Monday in U. S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia, a judge ordered him to be held in custody and to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Jordan’s public defender declined to comment following the hearing.
Jordan had repeatedly threatened four hikers late Friday and early Saturday before attacking them, according to federal authorities.
An FBI agent said in an affidavit filed in court that when Jordan initially approached the hikers he was acting in a “disturbed and unstable” manner while playing a guitar and singing. Later that night, Jordan began randomly approaching the hikers’ tents, making noises and threatening them.
“Jordan spoke to the hikers through their tents, and threatened to pour gasoline on their tents and burn them to death,” FBI Special Agent Micah Childers wrote in the affidavit.
