On December 25, 2012, Jaime Larson was raped, murdered and mutilated by Michael James Kirkland – He pleaded to lifetime imprisonment.
Many of you are now interested to know what happened to Michael Kirkland after Jamie’s murder.
Jaime Lyn Larson was raped, murdered and mutilated on Christmas Day by mentally ill man Michael James Kirkland, The Wonderland Murders examines this disturbing case.
Christmas Day, 2012, in Southwest Portland and 33-year-old Jaime Lyn Larson was found dead in her apartment around 10:00 P.M. in the evening. A medical examination found that she’d been raped, sodomized and then suffocated.
A forensic examination of the scene helped identify 37-year-old Michael James Kirkland and U.S. Marshalls arrested him on January 4. He was initially charged with aggravated murder, but later charges of burglary, first-degree-rape and first-degree sodomy were added.
How Did Jamie Lyn Larson Die? Her Murder Explained
A stranger with a mental illness charged with breaking into a woman’s apartment in Southwest Portland on Christmas Day 2012 and raping, strangling, and mutilating her was given a lifetime jail sentence in December 2014.
Born in May 1979, Jamie Lyn Larson was a 33-year-old woman making a good life for herself when her future was snatched away from her in the blink of any eye.
Residing in a flat just south of Portland State University, at 2073 S.W. Park Avenue, Jamie’s living was surrounded by some of the city’s best historical and cultural attractions. The fact that she had a sound support system with her friends and family also made it seem like nothing could harm her, but that was not at all the case.
At the time of the murder, 37-year-old Michael James Kirkland admitted to aggravated murder, burglary, strangling, mistreatment of a body, and theft. He was spared the death punishment as part of his plea agreement, but he will be unable to leave prison.
On the early morning of December 25, 2012, Kirkland encountered his target, 33-year-old Jaime Lyn Larson, as they were both smoking cigarettes outside Larson’s residence. Larson resided at 2073 S.W. Park Avenue, a short distance from Portland State University.
Although the exact following events are unknown, investigators believe Kirkland walked Larson back to her apartment. Someone familiar with her had discovered her inside dead later that evening.
Larson’s mother, Julie Stykel, said that they have never been able to celebrate Christmas with the same joy as the day reminded them of Larson’s murder.
Larson, who stood five feet tall, was known as a mouse by her mother. After relocating to Oregon as a youngster, Larson, born and raised in South Dakota, went to Mt. Hood Community College and started working for Affiliated Computer Services in Tigard.
Where Is Michael James Kirkland Today?
In late 2014, Kirkland pleaded guilty on all counts to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility of parole. Jamie’s murderer is still at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.
After a forensic assessment of the crime scene positively identified him as the offender, he was apprehended on January 3 from outside his home at the Hamilton West Apartments in the 1200 block of S.W. Clay Street by members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Kirkland was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and burglary, in addition to three counts of aggravated murder.
Kirkland chose not to comment. He remained emotionless while mourners brushed away tears and discussed the void left in their lives.
However, Kirkland’s counsel asserted that even though it would not appear as though he is regretful, Kirkland is very apologetic. Carl Macpherson, the defense attorney, said Kirkland has bipolar disorder, depression, and possibly other mental diseases.
As another example of Macpherson’s turbulent past, Kirkland’s father had asked him for the keys to his mother’s residence when he was just 11 years old because his parents had separated.
After receiving the keys, his father entered his mother’s house and killed her boyfriend. Kirkland’s father also murdered his mother in the street before turning the gun on himself.
Kirkland then moved home with his grandfather, who, according to Macpherson, didn’t offer him any counseling. Kirkland fathered a kid later in life, but the infant passed away at four months due to sudden infant death syndrome. Additionally, Kirkland lost his beloved when she passed away from seizures.
Before attacking Larson, Kirkland was drinking beer and not taking any medication for his mental disorders.
He has a previous criminal history in two separate trials and was found guilty of assault in the fourth degree.
He was convicted of this offense in Multnomah County in 2002 and later broke the terms of his probation there. He was sentenced to attend anger management therapy, participate in a batterer intervention program, and receive domestic violence counseling after being caught for the same act again a few more years later.
