Three Arrested After Homeless Man Beaten, Tortured; Suspect Allegedly Confesses in Letter

Klamath Falls police discovered 32-year-old Kolton Esparza naked and visibly assaulted inside a vacant home at 875 Cypress Ave., officials say. First responders found his wrists bound with rope, stabilized him at the scene and transported him first to Sky Lakes Medical Center, then to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, where hospital staff determined he died of head trauma and that his body showed signs of torture.

Investigators opened a homicide probe after Esparza’s death. A 911 caller prompted the welfare check shortly before 11 a.m. on Feb. 26, and, as KATU reported, “Officers responded to a 911 call about a welfare check … the caller reported that a homeless man was inside, naked and apparently beaten.” TCN and KGW reported the victim was found “naked with his hands bound with rope,” and Sky Lakes and St. Charles were identified in local reporting as the hospitals involved.

Prosecutors’ charging documents, as published by Yahoo/KOIN, outline an alleged sequence of events that began earlier that day at the Eulalona Trailhead. Those documents say 49-year-old Jamie Shirene Lee Harrington drove with Wesley Joseph Powless and Reggie Lee Townsend Jr., and that “the victim was allegedly not allowed to leave.” The charging narrative says Esparza tried to run to a nearby vacant house and that Townsend and Powless chased him inside, struck him multiple times over the head with a brick or rock and kicked him, then later returned to the house to gather evidence.

Three people have been arrested and lodged at the Klamath County Jail in connection with the case. KATU reported that officers arrested 49-year-old Jamie S. Harrington on a Friday morning following the Feb. 26 welfare check; officers arrested 34-year-old Reggie L. Townsend Jr. late Saturday night during a traffic stop; and officers arrested Wesley J. Powless on Monday, March 2, after stopping another vehicle. Yahoo/KOIN and KATU both list the trio as booked into the Klamath County Jail.

Reported charges vary across media accounts. Yahoo/KOIN’s charging documents list Harrington as charged with second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and hindering prosecution, while KATU and KGW reported Harrington booked on first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Townsend is reported by Yahoo/KOIN as charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence; KATU adds unlawful use of a weapon to Townsend’s list. Powless is reported by Yahoo/KOIN as 38 years old and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and hindering prosecution, while KATU reports a 39-year-old Powless charged with second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault and tampering with evidence. Yahoo/KOIN reports Harrington and Townsend are due back in court March 9 and Powless on March 10.

Klamath Falls Police have assigned case No. 2026-02260042 to the investigation and are asking anyone with information to call 541-883-5336. All three suspects remain lodged at the Klamath County Jail as the investigation continues. Note that charging lists and minor biographical details differ across published charging documents and local reports; prosecutors’ formal filings and Klamath County court records will contain the definitive counts and ages.