Accused serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun indicted on fourth murder, officials give update on case
A brief history of serial killers in Oregon
A grand jury has indicted Calhoun for the November 20, 2022, murder of Kristin Smith, who was 22 when she died.
During the press conference, Kristin Smith's mother, Melissa Smith, said she was 'Overwhelmed with emotion.'
'I stayed strong doing all I could trying to save my daughter,' Melissa said. 'And it was just unbearable to find out it was too late and needed help finding her. And I did everything I could to try to get answers and fight and search.'
Melissa credited her friends and family for continuing to keep Kristin's memory alive as she searched for answers. She also thanked the other victims' families and detectives for their help in seeking justice in the case.
Calhoun was previously accused of murdering three women, Charity Lynn Perry, Joanna Speaks and Bridget Leanne Webster, after their bodies were discovered in Oregon and Washington two years ago.
In April 2023, Speaks' body was found at an abandoned barn in Ridgefield, Washington.
A few weeks later, Perry's body was found near Ainsworth State Park in East Multnomah County, and just days after that, Webster's body was discovered near Mill Creek in Polk County.
In May of 2024, Calhoun was indicted for the murders, as he was already in custody at the time for parole violations.
Previously, Calhoun had been in prison after he was charged with three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, assaulting a public safety officer and first-degree burglary.
In 2021, then-Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a commutation to provide clemency for certain prisoners and Calhoun met the criteria, so he was released.
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The clemency was later revoked by Gov. Tina Kotek in 2023.
Calhoun pleaded not guilty to the murders in June 2024.
Calhoun has also been named as a person of interest in the death of Ashley Real, 22, though he has not been indicted in that case.
'Every single person who never forgot about these five women, our family, our angels, they're all taken too soon,' Melissa said.
Multnomah County DA Vasquez said he's determined to work with Clackamas County investigators on the ongoing Real case.
'That is an extremely important case to us, one that is currently under investigation,' Vasquez said.
Diana Allen, the mother of Charity Perry — one of Calhoun's alleged victims — shared a message for others still searching for answers.
'Don't give up hope. It hurts so bad, but it's so precious. You cannot let it go,' she said.
A trial is expected to occur in 2027. Until then, the DA's office said they still have a lot of work to do on the case.
Watch the Multnomah County DA's entire press conference below:
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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