Investigators link suspicious deaths of 4 women in NW Oregon, SW Wash.; person of interest found

Описание: Investigators say they have a person of interest in the deaths of four women found killed in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington since February, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said Monday, July 17, 2023.

At this point, no one has been formally charged with the deaths of Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real.

According to the DA’s office, investigators have interviewed several people in connection with the women’s cases, and they “have identified at least one person of interest that is linked to all four of the decedents.” They said they don’t believe there’s any danger to the community.

Those familiar with the investigation say the person of interest, 38-year-old Jesse Lee Calhoun, is currently booked in the Snake River Correctional Institution.

UPDATES HERE: katu.com/news/local/cases-of-4-women-found-dead-in-nw-oregon-sw-wash-connected-person-of-interest-identified-kristin-smith-charity-perry-bridget-webster-ashley-real

Described by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office as a "prolific thief and career criminal," Calhoun has a criminal history that dates back to when he was 18 years old.

He was serving a sentence on burglary when he was among the inmates granted clemency by former Oregon Governor Kate Brown in 2021 - roughly a year shy of his release date - for fighting wildfires.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek's office said she revoked that commutation on July 3, and he was readmitted into corrections custody on July 6.

The governor's office, as well as Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, said they have no comment citing the ongoing investigation.

The four deaths are among several similar cases reported across the Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington region over the past several months. Portland Police officials previously said there was no reason to believe that the deaths were connected, as an effort to address rumors circulating online.

Smith was first reported missing in December of last year and was found deceased on February 19.

Perry was found dead in April in the Longview, Washington area. Investigators said she was known to frequent downtown Portland before her death.

Webster's body was found later in April near Mill Creek in Polk County. She was also known to frequent the Portland metro area, including Oregon City and Milwaukie.

Real, 22, was last seen at a fast-food restaurant on Southeast Division on March 27. She was found dead in the Eagle Creek area in May.
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:

KATU on Facebook:   / katunews  
KATU on Twitter:   / katunews  
Subscribe to KATU on YouTube:    / @katunews  

Daily News Playlist:    • KATU Daily News Playlist  

For more information, visit https://katu.com/

Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:

Email us: [email protected]
Call the Newsroom: 503.231.4222

KATU is a OR based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.

#KATU #Katu2abc #Portland