Accused serial rapist targeted homeless woman, police say

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland police said they are seeking more victims of a man who was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting multiple women over the years after luring them to his apartment.

Paul Clay Jr., 49, was arrested on Thursday night and is accused of over a dozen charges, including five counts of rape. A grand jury indicted Clay with these charges last week.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, Clay allegedly lured two different women to his home and sexually assaulted them, on June 26, 2023, and April 22, 2024, respectively. In each case, Clay allegedly lured the women to his home under the guise of getting them help. He also allegedly physically assaulted the women. Police said they believe there may be even more victims.

The woman in the 2023 case was reportedly experiencing homelessness at the time. Clay allegedly physically and sexually assaulted her “numerous times,” police said. She was allegedly coerced into sexual activity under threat of assault and finally escaped when he slept, reporting the incident to police.

The woman in the 2024 case was reportedly seeking a place to sleep when Clay allegedly offered for her to stay in his apartment. Several days into her stay, the woman saw on her phone that her family had reported her missing. Clay allegedly became violent, physically and sexually assaulting the woman. Once again, the woman was able to escape and call for help.

Detectives with the PPB’s Special Victims Unit investigated the cases, canvassing the area and interviewing witnesses who reported “they had interactions with five or six distraught women who exited the suspect’s apartment over the years who told them they had been lured to the apartment under a false pretense that the suspect would help them,” police said in a press release.

Police are asking anyone who may have been assaulted by Clay or who may have more information to contact them.

Clay is being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center. He is facing charges that include five counts of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, second-degree sex abuse, strangulation, two counts of coercion, two counts of fourth-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of distributing meth and two counts of distributing fentanyl.