Torture Death Linked To Man's Bizarre Tales -- Killer Considered 18-Year-Old Victim A `Security Leak,' Says Prosecutor

PORTLAND - A man who portrayed himself to street kids as the leader of a secret-intelligence operation is on trial this week, charged with the torture killing of an 18-year-old woman.

He also faces possible trials on charges of murdering his father and a 15-year-old boy.

Grant S. Charboneau, 21, is accused in Multnomah County Circuit Court of nine counts of aggravated murder plus 11 other crimes in the death of Michelle "Misty" Largo, who was killed on July 26, 1992, in Charboneau's Portland residence.

In opening arguments yesterday, deputy district attorney Alexander Gordon said Charboneau helped kidnap Largo from a homeless camp and later helped kill her because he considered her to be a "security leak" who was revealing his real name and address to others.

Charboneau also has been indicted on aggravated-murder charges in the stabbing deaths of his father, Henry Charboneau, 45, on April 30, 1992, and of Michael Stanton, 15, who was killed shortly after Largo.

Separate trials have been ordered in those cases.

Gordon said police learned few details about the mysterious group Grant Charboneau professed to lead, except that it involved homeless youths who were told they were involved in a secret government intelligence operation.

Gordon said Largo was killed "for no real reason. For nothing that made sense." Defense lawyer Gareld Gedrose reserved his opening statement until the conclusion of the state's case next week.

Gordon said Charboneau called himself the "X.O." or executive officer of his secret organization, while a second man, Gregory Paul Wilson, was the "C.O." or commanding officer.

Wilson was convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death by a different jury last month for his role in Largo's death. Charboneau also faces a potential death penalty.

Gordon said Largo was assaulted repeatedly at Charboneau's house and forced to engage in sodomy with Charboneau.

He said Charboneau and Wilson made three attempts to kill Largo, first with nitroglycerin pills and later by placing a large plastic bag over her head.

Gordon said the pair finally strangled Largo with speaker wire from a stereo system.