So, if you’ve been scrolling through local Massachusetts news lately or hanging out in certain true crime corners of the internet, you’ve probably seen the name Jay Blodget Salem MA popping up a lot. It’s one of those stories that just feels heavy. Usually, when a name like this starts trending, there’s a ton of noise and not enough signal. People jump to conclusions. They speculate. They fill in the blanks with whatever scares them the most.
But honestly? The real story is far more complicated and, frankly, darker than a simple headline. It isn't just about a crime; it’s about a collision of homelessness, mental health, and a community that was already on edge.
What Actually Happened Near the Highland Avenue Walmart?
Let’s get the facts straight first. In April 2025, a dog walker was out for a normal afternoon stroll in the woods behind the Walmart on Highland Avenue in Salem. It’s a busy area—lots of shoppers, lots of traffic. But the woods back there are a different world. The walker stumbled upon a human body. When Salem Police and State Police arrived, they didn't just find one victim; they found two.
The victims were eventually identified as Andrew Ross Guempel, 41, from Arizona, and Jonathan Thompson, 42, from Oregon. These weren't local guys. They were from halfway across the country, which adds a whole layer of "why here?" to the situation. Investigators found them covered in dirt and various items, showing clear signs of blunt force trauma and stab wounds. It was a grisly scene.
Jay Blodget, a 30-year-old man who had been living in a nearby encampment, was arrested and charged with the murders.
The Arraignment of Jay Blodget Salem MA
When Jay Blodget walked into Salem District Court on April 24, 2025, he didn't look like a "criminal mastermind." He had long red hair, a thick beard, and was wearing a black hooded jacket. He spoke briefly—just to confirm he had a lawyer—but mostly he was quiet. His attorney, Michael Phelan, described him as "cordial" and "polite."
That’s a weird word to use for someone accused of a double murder, right? Cordial.
But it fits a pattern. Just a week before the bodies were found, Blodget had been arrested for breaking into a storage unit right across the street. He’d used a hacksaw to get in. When the owner, Tonie Singh, confronted him, Blodget didn't get aggressive. He was apologetic. He even offered Singh $2,000—money he said he’d made panhandling—to try and make things right. He was released on personal recognizance for that break-in.
A week later, he was being held without bail for murder.
Why the "Serial Killer" Rumors Started
You can't talk about Jay Blodget Salem MA without talking about the panic that gripped New England in early 2025. Between March and April, several bodies were found in random spots across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
- A woman’s body near a bike path in Springfield.
- A human skull in the woods in Plymouth.
- Skeletal remains along the Mass Pike in Framingham.
Naturally, the internet did what the internet does. People started whispering about a serial killer. When Blodget was arrested for a double murder, those whispers turned into a roar. But here’s the thing: investigators haven't linked Blodget to any of those other cases. The Salem murders seem to be a contained, albeit horrific, incident.
The prosecutor, James Gubitose, mentioned that Blodget allegedly made a statement to investigators "implicating himself." We don't have the full transcript of that 90-minute interview yet, but it’s the cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s case.
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Complexity and the Legal Road Ahead
In June 2025, the case moved to the Essex County Superior Court. Judge Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman ordered him held without bail. He pleaded not guilty.
It’s easy to look at a case like this and want a fast answer. But legal battles in Massachusetts don't work like that. There’s a lot of evidence to sift through—DNA, the weapons used, and the nature of the "implicating statement." Plus, there’s the question of motive. Why would a man who was "polite" to a storage unit owner allegedly kill two men from out of state?
Actionable Insights and Moving Forward
This case is a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding the unhoused population and public safety. If you're following this story, here is what you should actually be looking for in the coming months:
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- The Pre-Trial Motions: Watch for his defense team to challenge the 90-minute police interview. If that statement gets tossed out, the case changes entirely.
- Identification of Connections: Investigators are still looking into how Blodget knew Guempel and Thompson. Were they also part of the encampment community, or was this a random encounter?
- Forensic Timelines: The defense will likely scrutinize the time of death versus Blodget’s whereabouts during his previous arrest and release.
Keeping an eye on the Essex County District Attorney’s official releases is the only way to avoid the misinformation that plagues social media threads. This isn't a movie; it's a legal process involving real lives and a community trying to feel safe again.
Stay updated by checking the Superior Court dockets for Essex County. Avoid the "serial killer" rabbit holes on TikTok that ignore the specific forensic evidence of this case. Instead, focus on the scheduled court dates in late 2025 and 2026 to see how the Commonwealth builds its narrative beyond the initial arraignment.