Klamath Falls, Ore. — A fatal assault has led to a homicide investigation after police discovered a man severely beaten and bound in a vacant house, prompting murder and kidnapping charges against three individuals involved in the incident.
Officers responded to a welfare check at a vacant residence on Cypress Avenue shortly after 10:50 a.m. on February 26. There, they found 32-year-old Kolton Esparza, who was naked and critically injured. Medical personnel rushed him to a local hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries, shifting the investigation from assault to homicide. Law enforcement quickly activated the Klamath County Major Crime Team to delve into Esparza’s final hours and the circumstances surrounding his attack.
Investigators say Esparza, who had been living without stable housing, was last seen getting into a vehicle with Reggie L. Townsend Jr., Jamie S. Harrington, and another man. Instead of being dropped off at his intended location, authorities believe he was taken to the Eulolona Trailhead, where the assault allegedly occurred. Witness statements and physical evidence led detectives to believe that he endured a brutal beating before being left in the vacant house. Court documents describe his injuries as consistent with signs of severe torture.
Harrington, 49, reported to investigators that she drove to pick up Townsend and the other men, including Esparza, before taking them towards the trailhead. She later claimed that after dropping them off, she returned to pick up two of them walking nearby. The police noted that Esparza was found in a location consistent with this description. Adding to the evidence, Townsend allegedly wrote to a girlfriend, “I beat Kolton with a rock and stomped him out with my shoes,” which prosecutors interpreted as a confession of his involvement.
Arrests followed in rapid succession. Harrington was taken into custody on February 27, charged with first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Townsend was apprehended during a high-risk traffic stop on February 28 and faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, despite being barred from gun ownership due to a previous felony. Powless was arrested on March 2 during another traffic stop and charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault.
The case has gained significant attention, partly due to Townsend’s recent return to the community after serving prison time for a manslaughter conviction. He had been released in November 2025 and had recently posted on social media about reuniting with family. Investigators have not disclosed the specific motive behind the violence, nor have they clarified Powless’s exact role in the events leading to Esparza’s death. However, the case now revolves around allegations of transport, confinement, and a fatal assault.
As details of the case unfold, Klamath Falls police have commended the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement agencies, including the Oregon State Police and the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, in apprehending the suspects. Authorities have focused on providing justice for Esparza, whose life was cut short under brutal circumstances, further highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by unhoused individuals.
The legal proceedings continue, with Townsend scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 9. As the investigation remains active, investigators are still working to fully understand the roles and motivations of all three defendants in this tragic case.