OR OR - HOMER LEE JACKSON, Portland - Charged with four murders from the 80's

JusticeWillBeServed

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2014
Messages
7,647
Reaction score
2,314
Homer Lee Jackson has been arrested and charged with the murders of four Portland women from the 1980's. Investigators noticed similarities between their homicides that led them to conclude that they were probably dealing with the same killer. They are holding back on releasing more information as there might be more victims.

Police: Cold case murder suspect now connected to killing 3 women, teen girl

Portland police have arrested a suspect in the unsolved murders of three women and a teen girl, and they believe he could have more victims.

A Multnomah County grand jury indicted Homer Lee Jackson, 55, on 12 aggravated murder charges. He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail Friday.

Detectives in the Portland Police Bureau’s Cold Case Homicide Unit began re-examining these cases in 2004, then started working with forensic investigators about 18 months ago to identify physical evidence that could be tested with new technology.

Det. Jim Lawrence said some physical evidence, similarities in the crimes and some of the suspect’s history led them to Homer Jackson. Forensic evidence and other investigative information ties him to the murders, he said.

“Once we got that forensic link, we started to realize we were actually dealing with somebody that was probably committing several crimes that were very similar,” said Det. Lawrence. “Then we found clusters of crime.”

Murders of 4 Portland women in 1980s tied to man described by neighbors as unassuming, nice

Angela Anderson

On September 22, 1983, Angela Anderson, a 14-year-old African-American female, was found deceased on the upstairs bedroom floor at 416 NE Going Street. The house was a locked, vacant house that was for sale with a lock box on the front door and Angela had been discovered by a potential homebuyer. Angela had been deceased for at least one to two weeks prior to being discovered. An autopsy revealed that she had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

Angela Anderson had lived a troubled life, living in a foster home. Associates of Angela believed she recently began to engage in prostitution.

Angela was last seen on September 5th by her friends. Neighbors had reported that the vacant house that Angela was discovered in was used for drugs and prostitution.


Tonja Harry

On July 9, 1983, two citizens were driving near the Columbia Slough in West Delta Park between the golf course and the Portland International Raceway at approximately 1:30 p.m., when they spotted what looked to be someone in the water. Emergency personnel respond to find the victim, a 19 year-old African-American female, face down in the water. An investigation by the police concluded that the deceased female was Tonja Harry, who had died as the result of drowning.

Tonja Harry was reported to have engaged in prostitution and possible drug use.

Tonja Harry was last seen on Union Avenue (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) just south of Killingsworth Street at approximately 11:00 pm on the night prior to her discovery. She was last seen getting into a blue pickup truck with a blue and white canopy.


Essie Jackson

On March 23, 1983, a citizen was walking along the western edge of Overlook Park at approximately 5 p.m., when he looked over the steep embankment between N Greeley Avenue and the park when he discovered what appeared to be a woman’s body. The police were called and discovered the victim, 23 year-old African-American female, Essie Jackson, had been deceased for some time. An autopsy revealed that she died as the result of being strangled.

Essie Jackson was the mother of a young child at the time of her death. It was reported that she was an active prostitute. Essie was last seen on February 12th at approximately 10:30 pm near the intersection of NE Union (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) and Failing Street.


Latanga Watts

She was found on March 18, 1987 in the grass by the Going Street Pedestrian Bridge over I-5. Detectives learned that Watts had been a victim of sex trafficking and was last seen on Union Avenue the night before her body was discovered. Watts was a mother to three children.

From left: Latanga Watts - Angela Anderson - Tonja Harry - Essie Jackson
9036033_G.jpg


Homer Lee Jackson
JACKSON--HOMER-LEE-jpg.jpg
 
I wondered if these homicides would ever be solved. Some people had attributed these murders to the Green River killer, Gary Ridgway. I hope that they have the right guy!
 
I wondered if these homicides would ever be solved. Some people had attributed these murders to the Green River killer, Gary Ridgway. I hope that they have the right guy!
I'm pretty sure they've got the right guy, although I found it interesting that there is no specific mention of a DNA match. Usually, these days when a cold case is solved DNA is mentioned. Here, the wording is a little vague. I would think his DNA is in the database because of his past convictions, particularly the firearm violation in 2006. By then, Oregon was collecting DNA from all convicted felons. Of course, the "forensic link" could be something other than DNA. If was a match in all four crimes, then whatever it is, it makes for a convincing finding. Still, it would be interesting to learn exactly what methods were use to link the crimes to a single perpetrator, and then to identify the perpetrator as Jackson.


Detectives in the Portland Police Bureau’s Cold Case Homicide Unit began re-examining these cases in 2004, then started working with forensic investigators about 18 months ago to identify physical evidence that could be tested with new technology.

Det. Jim Lawrence said some physical evidence, similarities in the crimes and some of the suspect’s history led them to Homer Jackson. Forensic evidence and other investigative information ties him to the murders, he said.

“Once we got that forensic link, we started to realize we were actually dealing with somebody that was probably committing several crimes that were very similar,” said Det. Lawrence. “Then we found clusters of crime.”

http://www.kptv.com/story/30283298/...ct-now-connected-to-killing-3-women-teen-girl

Essie Jackson's thread in Resolved Cold Cases
 
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/10/accused_serial_killer_homer_ja.html

His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and a tentative trial date is set for November 3rd.

Accused serial killer Homer Lee Jackson III has admitted he was involved in the deaths of prostitutes killed in the 1980s, sources familiar to the case said Monday.

Jackson has confessed to some details of the case against him, but the sources didn't disclose what he said. They weren't authorized to comment on the record.

Article has more details on Jackson and his life.

Reactions from family and friends of the victims:

The women's relatives praised Portland police for not forgetting their loved ones.

"We're very excited about how the Portland police cold case detectives pursued this relentlessly, and the new forensic information came out to justify the arrest,'' said Billie Carter, cousin of Angela Anderson. "We're very grateful.''

Beverly Nills, Anderson's half sister, said she still felt the loss. "She was a good kid, but troubled," Nills said.

Donyell Langston, Watts' son, posted a photo on Facebook of himself as a child in 1987 with his mother and wrote after learning of Homer Jackson's arrest: "Amen!'' "Me and my mom in 1987 R.I.P Latanga,'' the caption read.

Rolland T. Coleman said in a phone interview that his brother was dating Harry at the time of her death. When Coleman saw media reports of the arrest, he alerted his brother.

"He was more angry than relieved because it turned his life upside down, too,'' Coleman said, noting that police had questioned his brother as a potential suspect.
 
A timeline, courtesy of:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/11/accused_portland_serial_killer.html

March 23, 1983: Body of Essie Jackson, 23, found down an embankment in North Portland's Overlook Park.

April 2, 1983: About 11:30 p.m., police called to 4100 block of N. Gantenbein Ave. A 16-year-old girl reports a man held her against her will and attempted to rape her.

April 3, 1983: Homer Lee Jackson III, then 23, is arrested in the alleged attack of the 16-year-old.

April 22, 1983: Homer L. Jackson III is indicted on charges of attempted rape and kidnapping in the April attack.

June 29, 1983: State dismisses attempted rape, kidnapping charges against Jackson. The alleged 16-year-old victim moved out of state and won't be available to testify against Jackson at trial, prosecutor writes. Jackson released from jail.

July 9, 1983: Tonja Harry, 19, found face down in the Columbia Slough. She'd been strangled and drowned.

Sept. 22, 1983: Angela Anderson, 14, found sexually assaulted and strangled to death, her body found on the upstairs bedroom floor of a vacant home at 416 N.E. Going St.

Oct. 3, 1983: Jackson accused of breaking into a restaurant in Northeast Portland to steal food. He's later sentenced to five years probation.

March 18, 1987: Body of Latanga Lee Watts, 29, found in a field next to the north end of the Going Street pedestrian bridge.

July 1990: Patricia Hardaway, a woman Jackson had been living with, files for restraining order against him. He had pushed her on a bed and held her down against her will.

March 1991: Hardaway seeks another restraining order against Jackson, saying he had choked her.

June 2001: Jackson accused and later convicted of criminal mischief and of violating the restraining order, for slashing Hardaway's car tires.

February 2006: Jackson accused of unlawful discharge of a firearm in the city. He's later convicted and given one year probation.

Oct. 15, 2015: Portland cold case homicide detectives arrest Jackson on one count of murder.

Oct. 16, 2015: Multnomah County grand jury returns indictment against Jackson, charging him with 12 counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of Essie Jackson, Tonja Harry, Angela Anderson in 1983 and of Latanga Lee Watts in 1987.

SOURCE: Court records/Portland police
 
http://koin.com/2016/04/16/accused-serial-murder-homer-lee-jackson-i-may-have-done-them/

On Thursday, Jackson appeared before Multnomah County Judge Michael A. Greenlick for a hearing. The defense team was asking Greenlick to dismiss the grand jury indictment against Jackson...

Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristen Snowden told the court she was not aware of any misstatements made by Detective Lawrence to the grand jury. She also said she’s not aware of any perjured testimony...

Greenlick did not make a ruling. He said he would review the full hours-long video and the transcription of Jackson’s questioning by police.
 
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2017/08/portland_man_charged_in_serial.html

Police say Homer Jackson, accused in the killings of four women between 1983 and 1987, has been linked to at least three other assaults against women that didn't lead to charges against him, but prosecutors say they want to admit those cases as evidence when he goes to trial.

Jackson's defense lawyers counter that little evidence exists to tie Jackson to the uncharged crimes and that they would be "immensely prejudicial'' if presented to a jury.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Michael A. Greenlick is expected to hear arguments on the question this week, but isn't expected to make an immediate ruling.

Jackson, now represented by defense lawyer Dean Smith, is scheduled to go to trial next June.
 
Judge tosses alleged confession of accused serial killer, citing coercive Portland police tactics

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2017/10/judge_tosses_alleged_confessio.html

The state's case against accused serial killer Homer Lee Jackson III suffered a significant blow after a judge this month threw out his alleged confession, finding Portland police used improper and coercive tactics during more than seven hours of questioning over two days.

Jackson's statements were voluntary, and the detectives made no threats, the prosecutors said.

The judge disagreed.

"Police threatening the worst punishment if convicted, I believe, is coercive," Greenlick ruled. Citing case law, he said police have the power to follow through on threats of harsher penalties and it's reasonable for a defendant to believe that could happen.

Though the judge said he isn't required by law to determine whether he believed Jackson's statements were false or wrong, he called it "noteworthy" that Jackson admitted only to the killing of the 14-year-old yet had no recollection of what occurred and provided details that were inconsistent with how she died.

"It sure appears that the defendant became convinced that he committed murders for which he had no memory," Greenlick said.

http://media.oregonlive.com/portland_impact/other/HOMERJACKSTATEONSISTERCALL.pdf
 
"Prosecutors have dropped one murder case against accused serial killer Homer Jackson but added another one in a new indictment filed Tuesday.

The indictment comes five months after the Oregon Supreme Court upheld the suppression of an alleged confession by Jackson. Jackson’s lawyers and prosecutors also are in multi-day pretrial hearings in Multnomah County Circuit Court, where defense attorneys are challenging Jackson’s fingerprint identification from at least one crime scene. A trial is set for Jan. 21.

The indictment drops all aggravated murder charges against Jackson in the death of Essie Jackson, 23, killed in March 1983.

Instead, it charges Jackson with the 1993 killing of Lawauna Janelle Triplet, 29, whose body was found in North Portland."


Prosecutors drop one murder case, add another against accused serial killer Homer Jackson
 

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
182
Guests online
2,156
Total visitors
2,338

Forum statistics

Threads
589,962
Messages
17,928,386
Members
228,020
Latest member
DazzelleShafer
Back
Top