Massachusetts Man Charged In Fatal Attack On Appalachian Trail

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ABINGDON, Va. (CBS/AP) — Federal authorities say a Massachusetts man has been arrested in a deadly stabbing along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. One man was killed and a woman was severely injured.

U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen said in a news release Sunday that 30-year-old James L. Jordan of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, was arrested early Saturday on a federal criminal complaint. Authorities say Jordan faces charges of murder and assault.

The Wythe County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Saturday that two hikers reported a man with a machete was attacking people. The federal release doesn't identify the weapon.

James Jordan. (Image credit WJHL)

According to officials, the woman survived by playing dead and then walked six miles before finding help. The man was able to give off an S.O.S signal before he died.

"The phone company notified us and we went up there and that's where we located the suspect and the victim," said Sheriff Keith Dunagan. "We had our whole tag team up there so he wisely just surrendered himself."

Last month, Jordan was charged with criminal impersonation and drug possession after another altercation on the trail in North Carolina and Tennessee. He was given probation and ordered to pay fines.

Authorities say the federal charges against Jordan will be filed officially on Monday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, where Jordan also will have an initial court appearance.

It wasn't clear Sunday if Jordan has an attorney.