A 19-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to a rape and kidnapping spree committed at gunpoint against four girls and an 18-year-old woman in Portland over a year-and-a-half span in 2023 and 2024.
Damani Anderson pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree rape and one count of first-degree attempted rape, all involving separate victims, during a Friday hearing in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree kidnapping, as well as first-degree robbery and unlawful use of a firearm.
Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez told reporters Friday afternoon that Anderson’s actions were “brutal” and praised the women and girls for coming forward.
“Their strength gives me hope,” he said.
Anderson was first arrested in August 2024 after investigators matched his photo to a Tinder profile. Earlier that month, an 18-year-old woman was attacked by Anderson after meeting up with him to explore an abandoned warehouse on North Hurst Avenue off Columbia Boulevard, court documents say.
She fled when Anderson became distracted by approaching lights.
On June 23 of that year, a 17-year-old girl was lured by Anderson to Pier Park, a 65-acre property in North Portland, according to a memo written by prosecutor Robin Skarstad.
He arrived wearing a ski mask, prompting the girl to ask if he was the “American Psycho,” the memo says. Later, he told her she was right.
Five days prior, a 16-year-old girl escaped from Pier Park when Anderson’s predation was interrupted by people with flashlights, the memo said.
A 13-year-old girl who had been reported missing from Centennial Middle School in January 2024 was attacked by Anderson at a nearby park, according to Skarstad’s memo.
Anderson had messaged the girl on Snapchat and then led her from the school to a secluded area of the park, according to the district attorney’s office.
“He told her she was the sixth person he had done this to,” the prosecutor wrote.
Anderson also pleaded guilty to raping a 17-year-old girl in her parent’s home in February 2023.
“Damani Anderson sought out vulnerable victims online, lured them to secluded places, placed them in mortal fear, and terrorized them. Their young lives literally have been shattered by his sexual violence,” Skarstad said in a statement.
Anderson will be sentenced to roughly 45 years in prison under the terms of the plea deal, Vasquez announced during the press conference.
Placed in handcuffs, Anderson said little during the hearing, answering procedural questions posed by Circuit Judge Benjamin Souede and asking his defense attorney whether the case was being covered by the media.
It’s not clear why Anderson wasn’t arrested earlier during his rampage. The Oregon Department of Human Services determined one of the reported rapes was “founded,” according to the court memo, but it’s not known what happened next.
“There was one victim in particular who escaped Mr. Anderson and really brought this case forward,” Vasquez said. “When law enforcement was able to piece it all together, there were some immediate actions taken.”
A sentencing hearing has been set for Jan. 29.
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