‘Stomped him out with my shoes’: 3 charged with murder after homeless man found beaten, tortured in abandoned house

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (TCN) -- Three people have been arrested in connection with the fatal beating of a homeless man inside an abandoned house.

KGW reports police performed a welfare check Feb. 26 at the home after getting a report that a homeless man was inside and that he appeared to have been assaulted. The victim, identified as Kolton Esparza, 32, was found naked with his hands bound with rope.

First responders stabilized Esparza and transported him to an area hospital where he died of his injuries. Hospital staff said he died from head trauma and showed signs of torture. Police then began a homicide investigation, according to KGW.

Three suspects were identified and arrested during the course of the investigation, between Feb. 27 and March 2: 49-year-old Jamie Harrington, 34-year-old Reggie Townsend, and 39-year-old Wesley Powless.

Harrington faces charges of first-degree kidnapping and first-degree criminal conspiracy for murder; Townsend faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, tampering with evidence, and felon in possession of a firearm; and Powless faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, and tampering with evidence. 

According to probable cause documents obtained by KGW, Harrington picked up her brother, Townsend, and two men she did not know. These men were Esparza and Powless, and Esparza appeared to have already been assaulted. The group was dropped off at a trailhead despite Esparza requesting to be dropped off elsewhere, and once at the trailhead, he reportedly ran toward an abandoned house and Townsend and Powless allegedly caught up with him inside. KGW reports Townsend allegedly struck Esparza in the head with a rock several times and Powless allegedly kicked him. When Harrington picked the men up a few minutes later, they told her that Esparza had left.

On the day Townsend was arrested, police got a call that he had allegedly confessed to the killing in a letter to his girlfriend, reportedly writing he had “stomped him out with my shoes.” 

According to Law & Crime, Townsend was released from prison in November 2025 after serving time for manslaughter. According to the outlet, he wrote on Facebook, “I’m fresh outta prison and I’m vibing with my family and I can honestly say I’m blessed. Feeling blessed.”

KOIN reports Harrington and Townsend are scheduled to appear in court on March 9 and Powless is scheduled to appear in court on March 10.

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