Accused serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun enters plea for fourth murder charge
Following his indictment for the November 20, 2022, murder of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, Calhoun pleaded not guilty on Monday to his fourth second-degree murder charge — he also pleaded not guilty to his fourth abuse of a corpse charge.
Calhoun pleaded not guilty to the other murder and abuse of a corpse charges in 2024.
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.
SE Portland standoff suspect now facing murder charge
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 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.
Oregon man fatally shot after attacking family member with knife, deputies say
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.
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.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
7 minutes ago
- CBS News
Anne Arundel County saw major crime drops in the past year
Anne Arundel County reported significant declines in major crime since this time in 2024, the police department said Wednesday. Homicides dropped 14%, and non-contact shootings fell 42% compared to the previous year. Robberies saw dramatic decreases, including a 57% drop in carjackings, a 46% decline in robberies of citizens, and a 50% reduction in commercial robberies. Stolen vehicles fell 28%, and thefts from vehicles were down 27%. Officials credited the department's Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) as a key driver behind the improvements. The RTIC, serves as a real-time technology and data hub, according to the department. Using tools such as automated license plate readers, drones, and integrated public and private camera systems, the RTIC provides important information to officers and detectives, improving situational awareness, and preventing crime. "These crime reduction numbers in our county go far beyond the national downward trends, and it's the result of an integrated strategy," County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a statement. "Our outstanding police officers, our Real-Time Information Center, our high levels of community engagement, and the opportunities that we offer through reentry, education, and employment all contribute to the progress we are making." The announcement marks a positive shift for a county that has seen its share of violence in recent years. In 2022, the region experienced a series of violent incidents. In February, the body of 19-year-old Devin Scott Freeman was found behind a funeral home in Anne Arundel County. Police said he showed signs of trauma, though the nature of his injuries was not immediately clear. A teenager from the Brooklyn neighborhood was arrested and charged with fatally shooting Freeman. On March 15, 2022, a 21-year-old woman was killed, and a teen was injured in a shooting in Pasadena. Two days later, a 17-year-old girl was hospitalized after what police described as a targeted shooting in Glen Burnie. Annapolis has also grappled with youth gun violence in recent months. On Feb. 4, a minor was arrested after allegedly shooting an 18-year-old relative on a soccer field at Wiley Bates Heritage Park. The victim, found with a gunshot wound to the head, was treated at a trauma center. About 30 people, including teenagers, were present at the time. On Feb. 8, a 16-year-old was shot and killed inside a home in the 100 block of Holeclaw Street. Then in April, a man was arrested by U.S. Marshals in connection with a double shooting near a school bus stop that killed 36-year-old John Simms Jr. Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument.
Associated Press
7 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Armed robbers in latest Philadelphia-area Brinks truck heist took $700,000 or more, police say
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police are investigating whether the armed robbery of a Brinks truck on Tuesday outside a Philadelphia-area store is related to four other attacks on armored vehicles in and around the city this summer. Two armed males got away with between $700,000 and $800,000 in the midday Tuesday heist at an H Mart in Elkins Park, according to Cheltenham Township police. The robbers — one described as armed with an AR-15-style pistol, the other with a handgun — fled with the cash and later abandoned their vehicle nearby, police said. No shots were fired, and no one was injured. Cheltenham Township Police Lt. Andrew Snyder said it's the first such robbery in their township, but authorities are looking into whether it may be connected to four robberies of armored cars in and around Philadelphia since June that police and the FBI are investigating as possibly related. Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that three people from Philadelphia who were arrested in early August are charged in connection with the $2 million armed robbery of a Brink's armored vehicle outside a Home Depot on June 21. A Loomis armored transport vehicle was held up outside an Aldi in a different neighborhood five days later. Then on July 2, a Brinks truck was held up outside a Dollar General at a shopping center. And on July 15, police had a report of two suspects robbing one of the armored vehicles in northeast Philadelphia. FBI agent Wayne Jacobs told CBS News Philadelphia that law enforcement recovered most of the money stolen in the June 21 heist, as well as a number of long weapons and handguns. Some of the money had been spent on jewelry, clothes and other items, he said. 'If this is the type of activity you're going to engage in, if you look at the timeline, six weeks from the time of the incident until the time of the arrest,' Jacobs said, 'it's just a matter of time before you're held accountable for your actions.'
Washington Post
7 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Crackdown on players faking injuries, tweak to video review verbiage among changes in college game
Officials will be cracking down on college football players who feign injuries, the number of overtime timeouts will be reduced and referees will use different verbiage when announcing the results of video reviews. Those are among the changes for the 2025 season, the National Football Foundation announced Wednesday in its annual summary of rules changes.
