ABINGDON, Va. – We now know when the trial of James Jordan, the man charged with killing an Appalachian Trail hiker and attacking another with a hunting knife in Wythe County, will begin. It’s scheduled to begin in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon on Sept. 7 at 9 a.m.James Jordan, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, is scheduled to go on trial in January in the 2019 killing of Ronald Sanchez Jr., 43, of Oklahoma City, and the wounding of a female hiker. He has a history of mental illness and was originally declared incompetent to stand trial, but a judge in June 2020 found that he is now competent and the case against him can move forward. Ad[’Out of a horror movie’: Wythe County tactical team describes hunt for Appalachian Trail suspect]Pretrial motions are scheduled for July 2 and Aug. 24.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Massachusetts man charged with killing an Appalachian Trail hiker and attacking another with a hunting knife in Wythe County, Virginia, plans to use an insanity defense at his trial. Jordan’s attorneys filed a notice in federal court this week saying they intend to use an insanity defense. [‘Out of a horror movie’: Wythe County tactical team describes hunt for Appalachian Trail suspect]Jordan, 31, has a history of mental illness. Jordan’s lawyers and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the plan to use an insanity defense. On the weekend of the killing, Jordan threatened four hikers, an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit filed in court.

ABINGDON, Va. - The man accused of killing one Appalachian Trail hiker and hurting another in May was foundmentally incompetent and will not stand trial at this time, according to WCYB. Federal judge Pamela Sargent ruled Wednesday that James Jordan doesn't meet the legal standard of mental competency. The results of a psychiatric evaluation ordered by the court remain sealed after Sargent's ruling. WCYB reports that Jordan will be transferred to a federal health mental facility for treatment. \While he won't go to trial at this time, if it's later determined that he meets competency standards, his case would be put back on the docket.