The individual believed to be responsible for the deaths of three women in the Portland area has now officially been charged with a fourth homicide, as announced by officials on Tuesday.
During a press conference, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez disclosed that Jesse Lee Calhoun has been indicted in connection with the murder of 22-year-old Christine Smith, whose remains were discovered in November 2022.
The new charges of second-degree murder and corpse abuse come two and a half years after her body was located.
Calhoun is already facing similar allegations involving the deaths of Charity Perry, 24, Bridget Webster, 31, and Joanna Speak, 32.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges related to second-degree murder and corpse abuse.
“This indictment marks an important step toward justice for these victims,” DA Vasquez stated emotionally during the press conference.
Currently, Calhoun is detained at the Inverness Jail in Multnomah County, with his trial set to start in 2027.
Christine Smith’s mother, Melissa Smith, shared a heartfelt statement, surrounded by friends and family of other victims. “It’s been 898 days since we learned that Kristen had died. I never lost hope. I never gave up. I will never forget Portland 5,” she said.
The bodies of Perry, Webster, and Christine Smith were found in various locations across Oregon, while Speak’s remains were discovered in an abandoned house in southwestern Washington.
Throughout 2023, additional bodies, including those found in out-of-the-way areas like wooded regions and under bridges, heightened fears of serial killings targeting young women in the vicinity.
Diana Allen, the mother of victim Charity Perry, expressed a sharp warning directed at Calhoun: “You are not the smartest person in the room. Maybe it was your crime day when you were there…but you’re not in your room anymore. You’re mine.”
The precise details of the ongoing investigation remain sparse. DA Vasquez acknowledged that the death of another woman during this timeframe is still being reviewed.
Authorities are also looking into the case of Ashley Real, another woman linked to Calhoun, though no charges have been filed regarding her death.
When questioned whether Calhoun’s actions could be classified as serial killings, Vasquez refrained from using that term, emphasizing a focus on the victims. “These were murders of young women that had a significant impact,” he stated.
Calhoun was arrested in June 2023 for a separate parole violation.
He faced charges in May 2024 just prior to his expected release from state prison, where he had served a four-year sentence for crimes that included attempting to strangle police officers and robbery.
Calhoun was released a year early in 2021 due to his participation in a wildfire program, but this early release was revoked in 2023 following his emergence as a murder suspect.
