James Jordan, Massachusetts man accused of killing hiker on Appalachian Trail, found competent to stand trial

A Massachusetts man accused of killing a hiker with a machete on the Appalachian Trail and attacking another person has been declared competent to stand trial.

James Jordan, 31, of West Yarmouth was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial after he was initially arrested in May 2019.

Federal court records in Virginia, where Jordan faces charges, show Judge Pamela Sargent reviewed findings by mental health evaluators last week and determined the criminal case against Jordan can go forward.

Jordan is facing federal charges of murder and assault with intent to commit murder.

The psychiatric report on file in the case was sealed. Jordan will return to federal court for a preliminary examination and detention hearing on June 25. He remains in custody.

Jordan was arrested in May 2019 after two hikers were attacked near the Wythe and Smyth county line in Virginia.

Authorities said Jordan killed 43-year-old Ronald Sanchez Jr., of Oklahoma, and attacked a woman.

A federal affidavit filed in the case said Jordan threatened a group of hikers before the fatal attack.

FBI Agent Micah Childers wrote Jordan approached four hikers on the trail in Smyth County, Virginia.

Authorities said Jordan was already known as someone who threatened people on the trail, noting an incident in Tennessee a month early.

Jordan was “disturbed and unstable” and was “playing his guitar and singing” when he approached the four hikers, authorities said.

The hikers then set up camp in the Wythe County, Virginia section of the trail.

“Jordan began randomly approaching the hikers’ tents, making noises and threatening the hikers,” Childers said. “Jordan spoke to the hikers through their tents and threatened to pour gasoline on their tents and burn them to death.”

The four hikers decided to leave. Jordan is accused of running after two of them with a machete.

Authorities said he returned to the campsite and began stabbing a man. A woman, who watched as the attack unfolded, ran away. Childers said Jordan chased down the woman and stabbed her several times.

The woman played dead and was able to escape. Two hikers helped the woman as they hiked another six miles and called 911.

A Wythe County Sheriff’s Office tactical team converged on the campsite where the attack took place and arrested Jordan.