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Starting in March 1983 and through June 1993, someone was killing young, black women and girls in North Portland. The victims weren’t acknowledged with much more than a blip in the paper. The killer wasn’t making the headlines as bombastic Ted Bundy was. He wasn’t prolific enough to warrant a task force like Gary Ridgway. He was a mentally ill man with an extensive criminal history, unmanageable addictions, and no memory of what he may have done. Today’s story isn’t about that man. It’s about his four confirmed victims, and his possible other victims. Next week, I’ll be sharing the story of the subsequent arrest, charges and jail time given to the man police felt could have been responsible for up to 25 murders and how once he was found guilty, his sentence left the family members of victims appalled.
Episode Host: Alisha Holland
Last week, I told the stories of eight, young Black women trafficked into sex work. All had been murdered in and around North Portland. These cases were presented to the Green River Task Force when no suspects emerged during initial investigations. It was found that none of the murders were connected to Gary Ridgway. Years later, the state would claim five of the women were connected to the same culprit. Today, I’ll detail how police eventually tracked down and arrested a man for four of the murders, employed flimsy-at-best DNA evidence, and how the law presented a generous and underhanded plea deal, which left some wondering if the closure of 4 unsolved cold cases was motivated by a district attorney’s election rather than justice.
Episode Host: Alisha Holland
Row 1 Left and Middle, Essie Jackson, photos from Jackson Highschool yearbook and PPB, right Tonja Nannette Harry, PPB
Row 2 Left Angela Anderson PPB, right Lawuauna Triplet
Row 1: (Left) Dondra Lawson (Angela Anderson’s sister),The Oregonian, (Right) Mary Anderson (Angela’s Mother) -Beth Nakamura/StaffThe Oregonian
Row 2: (Left0 The sketch of the suspect from Angela Anderson’s murder, The Oregonian, (Right) Rachel Triplet holds an image of her cousin, Lawauna Triplet- Beth Nakamura/Staff, The Oregonian
Homer Jackson Mugshots, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office
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Sources
Prosecutors drop one murder case, add another against accused serial killer Homer Jackson - oregonlive.com | OR Supreme Court upholds suppression of accused Portland serial killer’s alleged confession - oregonlive.com | Corvallis Gazette-Times - Sept. 24 1983- "House-hunter finds body | Oregon v. Jackson | DNA discovery could solve 1972 Freeway Phantom slaying - Washington Examiner | 'Weak' case against accused serial killer Homer Jackson? | NewsPapers.com | MAY 28,2019 Superseding indictment identifies Homer Lee Jackson, 59, as the suspect in a fifth homicide | Portland’s cold cases: 22 unsolved mysteries - oregonlive.com | Accused serial killer indicted in fifth cold case murder in Portland | Oregonian Archive- March 25th, 1983- Homicide Victim Portland Woman | Find a Grave- Essie Carie Jackson \ Oregonian Archive- March 24 1983- Body Found Near North Portland Park | Oregonian Archives Body Found | Oregonian Archive Body ID'd | FindAGrave.com- Tonja Nannette Harry | Statistically Speaking: The Overrepresentation of Foster Youth in Sex Trafficking. | FindAGrave.com Angela Anderson | EMSWCD Grounds | Oregonian March 21st 1987 Death Notices | Oregonian Archives- Oregonian June 16 1993 | Oregonian- June 30 1993- CrimeStoppers offers cash for information on killing | Oregonian- April 23rd 1984- Police find no suspects in murder | The Oregonian- Obituaries- Vicki L. Williams | VICKIE WILLIAMS | Portland.gov | The Oregonian Jan 4 1982- 6 Portland slayings in 1981 remain unsolved- | The Oregonian Feb 6 1983- Phone calls, missed connections mark days preceding death | Why Don’t Houses Have Basements in Oregon? | Courts Oregon | The Oregonian - Oct. 17 2015- Four Women Killed in 1980's, now an arrest | The Oregonian- October 20 2015- Suspect offers details in 4 kilings The Oregonian- April 10 2016- Dismissals sought for alleged killer | The Oregonian-Oct 19 2015- Accused serial killer Homer Jackson confesses to some details of case, sources say | Reid Technique - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics | Reid technique - Wikipedia | Rare glimpse of police interrogation in serial killing case offered in court papers - oregonlive.com | Judge should throw out 'confessions' of accused serial killer, his lawyer says - oregonlive.com | Oregon v. Jackson- 2018 | The Oregonian- Jan 31 2022- Homer Jackson walks free in plea deal that offered time-served for killing 4 women in the 1980's, 90's | Man convicted of killing 4 women in Portland found dead | Ann Rule - Green River Running Red Page 12
Much like how a Title 9 Berkeley meticulously handles cases with sensitivity and precision, these episodes delve deeply into complex themes and character motivations. The storytelling here reminds me of the detailed attention and careful navigation required in legal cases, especially when dealing with nuanced issues. Each episode builds on the last, creating a gripping experience that reflects the importance of thorough and thoughtful approaches in both legal defense and dramatic storytelling.