MAN ENRAGED BY ROMANTIC BREAK UP TORCHES PORTLAND AREA HOUSE WITH FOUR PEOPLE INSIDE AND IS SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS PRISON. - 09/08/26

Case: 24CR59385                                                                                                             September 3, 2026

Portland, OR - Eric Douglas Alexander, 43-years-old, will spend 20 years and 10 months in prison for starting a fire that did significant damage at a Portland area home, in an attempt to kill a family they believed was connected to an ex-girlfriend.

The father discovered the fire in the early morning hours and got his family out safely.

Alexander pleaded guilty to the following charges on March 3, 2026, and the court accepted guilty pleas for all 19 counts:

Five counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree;

Four counts of Arson in the First Degree;

Criminal Mischief in the First Degree;

Two counts of Stalking;

Two counts of Telephonic Harassment;

Menacing Constituting Domestic Violence;

Four counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Mackenzie Ludwig prosecuted the case for the state.

After the sentencing on September 3, 2026 by Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric Dahlin, Ludwig said:

“This case is unlike any other case encountered by this office. The Court was presented with a plethora of complex legal and factual information. After significant briefing, testimony of experts, and impact statements, the Court imposed a just sentence in weighing the gravity of the months’ long conduct and the severity of Mx. Alexander’s mental health.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Officer Huntley Miller, and Lt. Jason Andersen, for their dedication and tremendous work on this case. Also, thanks to and Amber Kinney, an attorney who represented the victims and was helpful during the case. Additionally, MCDA would like to say thank you to the wonderful victims who continue to be incredibly resilient despite all the trauma they’ve endured.

The Facts:

Information provided during sentencing showed Defendant, Eric Alexander lived in California and had an extensive history of mental illness over the last two decades. The domestic victim told police she previously dated Alexander for a year and half and that they’d broken up in July of 2024.The victim moved to Oregon in July and learned in late September of 2024 that Alexander followed her to Portland. She said they met up twice but then she made it clear that she did not want any further contact from Alexander.

Alexander began posting videos on social media and sending her messages with graphic threats on how they would kill her and others. During a state of psychosis, Alexander believed that the intended victim was connected to a Portland area family and began sending threatening emails to the family, targeting the woman and children of the home.

Just after midnight on November 7, 2024, Alexander threw an incendiary device at the house which landed on the front porch of the family’s home and set the house on fire.

Investigators tracked Alexander down at Unity Hospital where they had voluntarily admitted themself for a mental health emergency and Alexander quickly confessed to the officers.

                                                              ###MCDA###