Two years after concerns about a serial killer emerged in the Pacific Northwest, linked to the discovery of six women’s bodies over a 10-week span, a man already accused of murdering three of these women has now been charged with a fourth murder.
During his court appearance for the recent indictment on Monday, Jesse Lee Calhoun, 40, appeared somber as he entered the courtroom and made his plea.
From February to May 2023, the remains of six women were discovered within 100 miles of Portland, Oregon, causing alarm in the city, despite initial police statements suggesting the deaths were unrelated.
In May 2024, however, the narrative changed when the Oregon resident faced charges related to the murders of three women, whose bodies were found within three weeks in April 2023.
Most recently, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has accused Calhoun of murdering a fourth victim, Kristin Smith, 22, who was found in a field in Portland on February 19, 2023.
Smith had last been seen in 2022, and prosecutors believe she was killed on or around November 20, months before the other killings.
Calhoun was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of abuse of a corpse.
As Calhoun entered the courtroom wearing a blue prison uniform, video showed him towering over police officers and his attorney.
Calhoun wore the sides of his hair short, showing off a large scar on his left temple as he stared straight ahead at the judge.
He pleaded not guilty during a hearing that lasted just over two minutes.
After Calhoun left the courtroom, Smith’s mother, Melissa, said that she was overwhelmed with emotion at the press conference.
“I want to thank everybody for all the support and love and keeping Kristin’s name and memory alive, and not forgotten,” she said.
“I thank the other victims’ families for staying by my side the whole way. We searched together, we fought together. We never gave up.”
“I always told Kristen growing up, never give up,” her mother added.
“I never gave up, and I never will.”
The relatives of the other victims joined her at the announcement of his additional charges.
VICTIM DETAILS
There are six women who were found dead within the span of 10 weeks in a 100 mile radius around Portland, Oregon.
Kristin Smith, 22, was found on February 19, 2023. Calhoun was charged with killing her in August 2025.
Joanna Speaks, 32, was found on April 8. Calhoun was charged with her murder in May 2024.
Charity Perry, 24, was found on April 24. Calhoun was charged with her murder in May 2024.
An unidentified woman was found dead on April 24. Her death has since been ruled not suspicious, and no foul play is suspected.
Bridget Leann Ramsey Webster, 31, was found on April 30. Calhoun was charged with her murder in May 2024.
Ashley Real, 22, was found on May 7, 2023. Her death has been ruled “suspicious” and is still under investigation.
Calhoun’s attorney, Cameron Taylor, said that they have no comment at this time.
Prosecutors continue to investigate a fifth suspicious death from that period, while police have since concluded that there was no foul play in the sixth death.
‘KILLER’ CAUGHT
Last year, Calhoun was indicted in connection with the deaths of Joanna Speaks, 32; Charity Perry, 24; and Bridget Webster, 31.
Their bodies were all found within a roughly 100-mile radius of each other in 2023, worrying locals about a possible serial killer on the loose.
At the time, Portland police said they had “no reason to believe these 6 cases are connected,” per local NBC affiliate KGW.
The department acknowledged that the publicity the women’s deaths generated had “led to some anxiety and fear in our community,” but said, “we want to provide reassurance that the speculation is not supported by the facts available at this point.”
Calhoun was eventually named a person of interest in the case before a grand jury indicted him on three counts of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse for the deaths of Speaks, Perry, and Webster.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutors said that his trial is expected to begin in 2027.
UNSOLVED ‘SUSPICIOUS’ DEATH
An investigation is still underway for the death of Ashley Real, whose body was found on May 7, 2023.
She was also 22 years old.
Cops have ruled her death “suspicious,” per KGW.
“Do not give up. Not just Ashley’s family, but any families of victims that are out there,” Diana Allen, Perry’s mom, said.
“To both Calhoun and other people like him out there: You are not the smartest person in the room.”
Officials said that theories into the motive for the killings “will come out during the course of the trial.”
He is currently held in a Multnomah County jail.
His next hearing is in December.
