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Man charged with killing 2 men whose bodies were found behind Massachusetts Walmart

By
Beth Germano
Beth Germano
Emmy award-winning Beth Germano is a general assignment reporter for WBZ-TV News.  Born and raised in Massachusetts, Germano has been a New England-based reporter for more than 30 years.
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Beth Germano

/ CBS Boston

A Massachusetts man is being held without bail after he was charged with the killing of two men whose bodies were found in the woods behind a Salem Walmart Wednesday afternoon.

It's a gruesome murder allegedly involving 30-year-old Jay Blodget, a man experiencing homelessness, who was given a court appointed attorney at his arraignment Thursday.

Bodies in woods behind Walmart

One body was first found by a person walking a dog in the area and Salem Police were called in.

"We eventually found two individuals with apparent blunt force trauma and stab wounds that were deceased. They were hidden in the woods by various items and dirt," said prosecutor James Gubitose. He claimed Blodget implicated himself in an interview with police, but few other details were provided in court about the crime near a popular shopping spot.

"Can I reassure the public? We made an arrest in this case," said Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller.

After speaking with Blodget, defense attorney Michael Phelan said, "He was cordial, he was polite, asked intelligent questions."

Prosecutors have not provided a motive and have not yet identified the two victims.

Accused of breaking and entering last week

Blodget has been seen by neighbors in the woods in the area for sometime. In fact, he was arrested then released just last week for allegedly breaking into a private storage locker in woods across the street from Walmart, tossing the contents and laying down a mattress to sleep. The storage unit's owner, Tonie Singh, told WBZ-TV he was shocked to encounter Blodget when he went to the unit to retrieve some items.

"He was very polite, he came out on his own and he was very apologetic. He was just like, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,'" said Singh. He said Blodget offered him $2,000, apparently from panhandling, to make good.

Before then, Blodget had been seen living in a nearby encampment and now Singh is stunned he was face to face with an alleged murderer.

"We are so shocked, my kids are so shocked, I thought he was under arrest for breaking and entering, I didn't know that he was out," said Singh.

Blodget is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on May 28.  

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