Second Man Identified In Salem Double Murder Near Walmart

SALEM, MA — The second of two men found dead in the woods near a Salem Walmart last week was identified as a 42-year-old man from Oregon on Tuesday.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office said Jonathan Thompson, 42, of Oregon was identified as the second man found dead. The DA's Office previously identified Andrew Ross Guempel, 41, of Arizons as the other man whose body was found.

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The DA's Office said the bodies were found by a man walking his dog last Wednesday.

"Salem Police responded to the call and found the two victims with signs of blunt force trauma and stab wounds," the DA's Office said.

Jay Blodget, 30, of Salem was charged with two counts of murder and arraigned at Salem District Court last week when he was held without bail pending a probable cause hearing on May 28.

Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller said the killings are believed to be "an isolated incident."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)