Suspect accused of chewing off Oregon man’s face claimed victim was a ‘robot’ trying to kill him

Koryn Kraemer, 25, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of second-degree assault charges following the gruesome attack that took place at around 2:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning on a train platform in Gresham.

Police responded to a call about a stabbing at the Cleveland Avenue MAX platform, but when officers arrived at the train platform, they discovered the suspect still on top of the 78-year-old victim.

The officers quickly realized that it wasn't a stabbing, with one of them telling emergency dispatchers that "Half this guy's face appears to be chewed off."

The victim's injuries were allegedly so severe that first responders were able to see his skull.

Officers reported that when they pulled Kraemerfrom the victim, he spat out the elderly man's flesh and thanked the police for saving him from the "robot."

Following his arrest, Kraemer told police during an interview that he thought the victim, whom he believed to be a robot, was trying to kill him because of the way he "smelled." Kraemer also admitted to using alcohol, fentanyl, and marijuana before the attack.

Kraemer moved to Portland from Georgia in November but told police that he had recently been evicted. According to court documents, he said he had no phone number, no email address, and was unemployed.

He is reported to have had two previous arrests in Georgia, with neither resulting in a conviction.

He is being held without bail.

This latest incident comes less than a week after another incident on Portland's MAX network involving a 3-year-old being pushed onto the train tracks.

Oregon State Rep. Travis Nelson tweeted about the incident on Tuesday, saying "I am VERY concerned with the reports of violence on the MAX. I will no longer recommend that people commute by light rail until trimet assures me that safety is a priority. Transit must be safe, fast & reliable to be considered an alternative to cars."