PORTLAND, Ore. – In a tragic turn of events, five women were found dead under suspicious circumstances in or near Portland in 2023. Jesse Calhoun now faces murder charges in connection with three of these deaths, as announced by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office on Friday morning.
A grand jury indicted Calhoun on Thursday on three counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree abuse of a corpse related to the deaths of Charity Lynn Perry, Bridget Leanne Webster, and Joanna Speaks. These women, along with Kristin Smith and Ashley Real, were all discovered deceased in suspicious circumstances in 2023. Police investigations revealed that one individual was linked to at least four of these victims, but neither the police nor the district attorney’s office confirmed the person’s identity. However, numerous media sources pointed to Calhoun as the possible suspect, citing law enforcement insiders.
While Calhoun had been under arrest since June 2023 on separate charges, it was only with Thursday’s indictment that he was formally charged in connection with the murders. Currently incarcerated at the Snake River Correctional Institution in eastern Oregon, Calhoun was set for release on June 7, according to public records from the Oregon Board of Parole. News reports indicated that a grand jury was convened to hear testimony on the case of Joanna Speaks, with prosecutors seeking an indictment prior to Calhoun’s planned release.
From prison, Calhoun penned a letter to local news outlet KGW last year, protesting his innocence and alleging wrongful accusations. This developing situation continues to unfold, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.