The Appalachian Trail hiker accused of killing a man and wounding a woman last spring will face at least another 120 days of mental treatment and evaluation before his federal prosecution proceeds.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Pamela Meade Sargent reviewed James L. Jordan's case Tuesday afternoon in a phone conference with lawyers.
Jordan has been in custody since authorities say he attacked two people on the trail in Virginia, killing an Oklahoma hiker who was an Iraq War veteran and wounding a woman who also was hiking the trail.
Jordan used a knife.
On the trail he called himself "Sovereign." Hikers last year said he acted erratically, and he'd threatened hikers on the trail in Unicoi County, Tenn., before the killing, according to police.
His lawyers say Jordan is mentally ill. He grew up in the Boston, Mass., area.
Jordan is being treated at the federal Bureau of Prisons' Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C.
Sargent ordered he remain there.
Records show the Bureau of Prisons advises that Jordan needs more evaluation to determine if he can become competent to stand trial.
Sargent, ruling in federal court in Abingdon, Va., committed Jordan to federal custody for treatment July 8.
While the 120-day extension is in effect, U.S. marshals "shall not transport the defendant back to this district until further order of the court..."
After the 120 days, it'll be up to the psychiatrist or psychologist treating him to report whether Jordan "is suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or assist properly in his defense..." the court wrote Tuesday.
If doctors think he is incompetent, then the magistrate judge wants to know if he'll be able mentally to recover such that his trial can go forward.
Federal authorities allege Jordan confronted four hikers on the AT in Smyth County, Va., within the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forest.
They knew about him through social media and were aware of an incident the month before in Unicoi County in which he'd threatened hikers, according to the federal affidavit from FBI Special Agent Micah Childers. They had a photo of him on a cellphone.
Later that night, the same foursome made camp in Wythe County, further to the north on the trail.
They encountered Jordan again, this time saying he'd set them on fire as they rested in their tents.
When they tried to walk away, Jordan approached with a knife, records state.
Two hikers ran away, and Jordan chased them, according to a federal affidavit. Jordan came back and faced the other two hikers, arguing with one of them.
As one of the hikers, a female, watched, Jordan started stabbing the other person in the upper body. That person collapsed to the ground.
The female hiker ran. When she began to tire, according to the federal affidavit, Jordan caught up to her and started stabbing her. She put her arms up as if to surrender but suffered multiple stab wounds.
She played dead, "at which point Jordan left to find his dog," according to the affidavit. After he left, the female ran down the AT into Smyth County where a male and female hiker helped her walk about 6 miles so they could call 911 for help.
