Multnomah County Courthouse witnessed a pivotal moment as Judge Jenna Plank delivered the verdict in the tragic case of James Orlando Harris’s murder. Zachary Tyler Hackman, his daughter’s former boyfriend, now faces 19 years behind bars for his heinous actions.
Hackman’s arrest sent shockwaves through the community following the grim discovery of Harris’s body. Strangled with a dog leash and struck with a hammer, Harris was found concealed in a sleeping bag, mere moments before a family vacation. The brutality of the crime left both the community and Harris’s family reeling in disbelief and mourning.
During the sentencing, Harris’s sister bravely addressed the court, conveying the irreplaceable loss endured by the family. Despite the opportunity to speak, Hackman opted for silence, compounding the grief of the bereaved family.
Hackman’s plea deal, which encompassed charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, spared him from a potentially lengthier sentence through trial. LoraJean Harris, Hackman’s former girlfriend, recounted her unwitting role in disposing of her father’s body to investigators. Though traumatized, she was not charged and fully cooperated with the investigation.
Adding a layer of deception, Hackman utilized the alias “Zack Call,” further exemplifying his disturbing behavior. Judge Plank, in delivering the sentence, underscored the gravity of Hackman’s actions and the enduring trauma inflicted upon the Harris family.
Hackman’s 19-year sentence, comprising consecutive terms for manslaughter in the first degree and abuse of a corpse in the second degree, was accompanied by three years of post-prison supervision. This measure aims to mitigate any potential danger to society.
Currently housed in the Multnomah County facility, Hackman awaits transfer to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve out his sentence. As justice is served, the community and the Harris family grapple with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy.
