A 24-year-old Portland man has been ordered to spend the rest of his life in a state psychiatric hospital after being found guilty except for insanity in a series of violent, random attacks that left one man dead and another woman seriously injured.
Court Rules Mental Illness Played Key Role
Multnomah County Circuit Judge Nan G. Waller ruled that Kalil Clifford Ford was unable to understand his actions due to severe mental illness at the time of the crimes. Medical experts diagnosed him with unspecified schizophrenia, a condition involving serious psychotic symptoms.
Because of this, the court determined Ford was legally insane during the incidents and committed him indefinitely to a state mental health facility instead of prison.
Fatal Stabbing in Northwest Portland
The most serious charge stems from a September 30, 2022, attack in Northwest Portland. Authorities said Ford fatally stabbed 53-year-old Mark Anthony Davis near Northwest Couch Street and Broadway.
Witnesses reported seeing an argument between the two men before Davis attempted to back away. He later collapsed after being stabbed. An autopsy confirmed he died from a neck wound…