Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
Authorities have confirmed the identity of one of the two men found murdered in a wooded area adjacent to a Walmart in Salem on Wednesday afternoon. The victim has been identified as 41-year-old Andrew Ross Guempel, who was last reported to have resided in Arizona, as stated by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office on Saturday.
The name of the second victim remains undisclosed pending notification of his next of kin, according to the district attorney’s office.
The grim discovery was made by Salem police after they responded to a report at 450 Highland Ave. shortly after 2:20 p.m. on April 23. A passerby walking his dog stumbled upon one of the bodies and alerted the authorities.
Within a day, police apprehended 30-year-old Jay Blodget, who has been charged with two counts of murder. During his arraignment in Salem District Court on Thursday, Blodget pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
Jay Blodget, 30, during his arraignment for the murder charges on April 24. (POOL CAM/Boston 25)
The judge denied bail for Blodget during the hearing, with court documents revealing that he is homeless and had been living in the woods located behind the Walmart, not far from where the victims were found.
Prosecutors indicated in court that both Guempel and the unidentified man suffered from “blunt force trauma” and were also stabbed. Their bodies were reportedly concealed beneath dirt and various other materials.
After being taken into custody, Blodget allegedly made statements that implicated him in the murders, leading investigators to believe he acted alone in this incident.
Outside of the courthouse, Blodget’s attorney, Michael Phelan, mentioned that it was “way too early” to delve into potential motives or other aspects of the case but expressed intentions to explore any possible mental health considerations.
Just a week prior to discovering the bodies, Blodget was arrested for breaking and entering after he allegedly forced his way into a storage container near the Walmart armed with a hacksaw, according to legal documents.
Blodget’s next court appearance is set for May 28.
More Local Crime Stories
For further details, the original article can be found on MassLive.
Access the original article on MassLive.
Source
www.yahoo.com