Oregon prosecutors have indicted suspected serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun in connection with three murders in the Portland area. Calhoun, a career criminal who was released from prison early in 2021, is accused of killing at least three women and is suspected of causing at least two more deaths. Police had arrested him after women were found dead within a 100-mile radius of the city. Calhoun faces three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of abuse of a corpse after a large-scale investigation involving law enforcement agencies in multiple counties and the FBI across two states.
Calhoun was named a person of interest in five Portland-area murders that occurred between February and May. The victims include Joanna Speaks, Kristin Smith, Charity Lynn Perry, Bridget Leann Webster, and Ashley Real. Perry, who was homeless, was last living in a tent in Vancouver, Washington, but her remains were discovered in a culvert at Ainsworth State Park, 35 miles east of Portland. Speaks’ remains were found near an abandoned barn in Ridgefield, Washington, about 23 miles north of Portland. Webster’s remains were discovered in Polk County. The deaths of Real and Smith remain under investigation, and authorities are asking for anyone with information to come forward.
Calhoun received light punishment for prior convictions including car theft, burglary, and fighting with arresting officers. In 2021, then-Governor Kate Brown commuted his 2018 sentence on drug and weapons charges as part of a program offering leniency for prisoners who volunteered to fight wildfires. He had also previously served time on an assault conviction between 2009 and 2011. Despite the recent indictment, Calhoun has been in custody since last year after his clemency was revoked by Governor Tina Kotek. He is expected to be transferred from the Snake River Correctional Institution to the Multnomah County jail ahead of his arraignment.
The families of the victims are devastated by the loss of their loved ones and are seeking justice for the murders that occurred. The discovery of their remains in wooded areas in Washington and Oregon has left a trail of tragedy and loss for their families to cope with. The community is shocked by the allegations against Calhoun, a suspected serial killer who may have been responsible for multiple deaths. The ongoing investigation into the deaths of Real and Smith highlights the need for anyone with information to come forward and assist authorities in bringing closure to the families of the victims.
The case against Calhoun has raised concerns about the criminal justice system’s handling of individuals with violent criminal histories. Questions have been raised about the leniency shown to him in previous convictions and the early release from prison despite his violent past. The decision to commute his sentence and allow him to be released early has come under scrutiny in the wake of the shocking murders he is accused of committing. Authorities are working diligently to ensure that justice is served in this case and to bring closure to the families of the victims who were brutally murdered.
As the investigation into Calhoun’s alleged crimes continues, law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to piece together the evidence and build a strong case against him. The collaboration between multiple counties, the FBI, and other agencies demonstrates the commitment to holding him accountable for the crimes he is accused of committing. The indictment of Calhoun on three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of abuse of a corpse marks a significant step in the legal process to bring justice to the victims and their families. The community remains vigilant as the case unfolds, hoping for resolution and closure in the wake of these horrific crimes.
