A Multnomah County jury has found Garrett Repp, 32, guilty on 55 of 56 counts regarding his involvement in the May 2023 Goose Hollow apartment fire, as announced by District Attorney Mike Schmidt. The fire in question ravaged the May Apartments, leading to the evacuation of sixteen people and the deployment of over 100 firefighters to the scene. According to details from the investigation, which were reported by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, the incendiary patterns indicative of arson were discovered above the living room and kitchen windows of Repp's unit.
The case, which unfolded from September 23 to October 2 in front of Judge Celia Howes, resulted in a 12-person jury convicting Repp on multiple counts, including 28 counts of Arson in the First Degree, 21 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, four counts of Animal Cruelty, and two counts of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree. Notably, on the day the fire began, law enforcement was scheduled to remove Repp from the premises due to his eviction stemming from erratic behavior.
Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer led the prosecution in the trial. Key evidence included an accelerant-detection dog that found signs of an ignitable liquid in Repp's kitchen and dining room. The collaboration between Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police Bureau's Arson Detail was crucial in establishing the timeline and cause of the fire, which led to Garrett Repp's conviction.
