Portland, Oregon — Authorities have indicted a man on a new murder charge linked to a string of alleged homicides in the Portland area, intensifying fears surrounding a potential serial killer. Jesse Lee Calhoun is now facing accusations related to the November 2022 death of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, according to a statement by Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez.
The indictment, announced during a recent press briefing, includes charges of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. This development arrives approximately 2 1/2 years after Smith’s remains were discovered, adding to the grave concerns that have emerged in recent months regarding the tragic fates of multiple women in the region.
Calhoun had already been indicted in 2023 for the murders of Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32. In response to those charges, he has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of second-degree murder and other related accusations. He is currently held at Inverness Jail in Multnomah County, with his trial projected for 2027.
Melissa Smith, Kristin’s mother, expressed her overwhelming emotions during the news conference, emphasizing her unwavering hope for justice. “I’ve always stayed hopeful that I would get justice for Kristin,” she said, thanking those who have tirelessly pursued the case.
The discovery of Perry, Webster, and Speaks’ bodies, retrieved from wooded areas and other out-of-the-way locations within a 100-mile radius, has raised alarm in the community and sparked widespread speculation about a serial predator targeting vulnerable young women. Law enforcement officials, however, have been cautious in releasing details about the ongoing investigations. A separate inquiry into the death of another woman during the same period is still underway.
In June 2023, Calhoun was taken into custody due to unrelated parole warrants. His troubling past includes a return to prison in 2023 to serve the remainder of a four-year sentence for an array of charges, including assaulting a police officer and attempting to strangle a police dog. Initially released in 2021 after participating in a firefighting program, his commutation was annulled by Governor Tina Kotek once he became a suspect in these murder investigations.
The chilling circumstances surrounding these cases continue to grip the public and local officials, highlighting the urgent need for justice for the families of the victims. Investigators remain vigilant as they work to piece together the events leading to these tragic outcomes.