Latest news with #JesseLeeCalhoun
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Portland murder suspect hit with fourth homicide charge as victims' families demand justice
A man suspected of murdering three women in the Portland area and abandoning their bodies has now been formally charged with a fourth homicide, officials announced on Tuesday. At a press conference, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez revealed that a grand jury has indicted Jesse Lee Calhoun in connection with the death of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, whose remains were discovered in November 2022. The new charges, second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, come roughly two and a half years after her body was found. Calhoun had already faced similar charges for the deaths of Charity Perry, 24, Bridget Webster, 31, and Joanna Speaks, 32. He pleaded not guilty to all previous counts of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. "The indictment is a very important and visible step as we seek justice for these victims," DA Vasquez said during an emotional press conference. Calhoun is currently being held at the Inverness Jail in Multnomah County. His trial is expected to begin in 2027. Fox News Digital reached out to Calhoun's attorney, Cameron Taylor, but his office declined to comment publicly. Kristin Smith's mother, Melissa Smith, gave a tearful statement, surrounded by loved ones and relatives of the other victims. "It's been 898 days since I found out Kristen was deceased… I never lost hope. I never gave up. And I never will," she vowed. "The Portland Five will never be forgotten." Perry, Webster, and Kristin Smith were discovered in various parts of Oregon, while Speaks' body was located in an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington. Between early 2023 and the following months, their remains were found in remote and concealed areas, such as wooded locations, culverts, and beneath a bridge, within a 100-mile radius. The pattern raised fears that a serial killer might be targeting young women in the region. Diana Allen, the mother of victim Charity Perry, delivered a stern message aimed at Calhoun and others like him. "You are not the smartest person in the room. Maybe the day of your crime you were… but you're no longer in your room. You're in mine." Law enforcement officials have released few details about the ongoing investigation. DA Vasquez noted that another woman's death in the same timeframe remains under review. The case of Ashley Rial, another woman allegedly linked to Calhoun, remains under investigation, according to officials. No charges have been filed yet in connection to her death. When asked whether Calhoun's case qualifies as serial killing, Vasquez stopped short of applying the label. "We focus on the victims. These were murders of young women with massive impact," he said. Calhoun was taken into custody in June 2023 due to unrelated parole violations. He was indicted in May 2024, just before he was scheduled to be released from state prison. He had been reincarcerated in 2023 to complete a four-year sentence for offenses including assaulting a police officer, attempting to strangle a police dog, burglary, and more. He had previously been released in 2021, a year ahead of schedule, due to his participation in a wildfire firefighting program in 2020. That early release was later rescinded by Gov. Tina Kotek in 2023 after Calhoun became a suspect in the homicide investigations. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
Oregon Man Accused of Killing 3 Women Is Now Charged With Killing a Fourth
An Oregon man facing charges that he murdered three women and dumped their bodies in secluded areas in 2023 has been indicted on charges that he murdered a fourth woman, prosecutors in Oregon said this week. Those killings spread fear in the state at the time, as some worried that a serial killer was in their midst. A grand jury in Multnomah County indicted Jesse Lee Calhoun in the November 2022 death of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, who was killed around Nov. 20, 2022, and whose partial remains were found in a field in southeast Portland on Feb. 19, 2023, the county's district attorney, Nathan Vasquez, said at a news conference on Tuesday. He is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree abuse of a corpse. A lawyer for Mr. Calhoun declined to comment on the new charges. At the news conference, Melissa Smith, Kristin Smith's mother, thanked 'every single person who didn't give up on this case.' 'I've always stayed hopeful that I would get justice for Kristin,' she said. The indictment came more than a year after, Mr. Calhoun, 40, was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Charity Lynn Perry, 24; Bridget Leanne Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32. Their bodies were found in 2023 in the northwest part of Oregon, the authorities said. Prosecutors said at the time that the women had been found 'deceased under suspicious circumstances,' but did not say how they had been killed, how they had linked Mr. Calhoun to the killings or what the motive might have been. Mr. Calhoun is being held in jail in Multnomah County, officials said, and his trial in the deaths of the three women is expected to be held in 2027. At the news conference on Tuesday, Mr. Vasquez called the indictment in the death of Ms. Smith 'a very important and visible step on the path as we seek justice for these victims.' After Ms. Smith's body was found in February 2023, the body of Ms. Speaks, an Oregon resident, was found on April 8, 2023, at an abandoned property in Ridgefield, Wash., about 20 miles north of Portland. The authorities said there were 'indications the body was moved to this location' and that they were investigating the death as a homicide. On April 24, Ms. Perry's body was discovered in a culvert near Ainsworth State Park, about 35 miles east of Portland. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said later that it was investigating the 'suspicious death,' noting that Ms. Perry had frequented downtown Portland in early March. Six days later, on April 30, Ms. Webster's body was found near a creek in Polk County, Ore., about 70 miles southwest of Portland. The Polk County Sheriff's Office also described Ms. Webster's death as 'suspicious,' and said that she had also been known to visit the Portland area. The death of another woman — Ashley Real, 22, whose body was found in May 2023 — is still being investigated, officials said.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Portland man indicted in fourth death amid ongoing serial killer fears
Oregon man Jesse Lee Calhoun was indicted for Kristin Smith's murder, in addition to three other homicides, with his trial set for 2027, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday. (Multnomah County District Attorney's Office)
The Province
3 days ago
- The Province
Oregon man accused of killing 3 women and dumping their bodies indicted on fourth murder charge
Published Aug 05, 2025 • 2 minute read FILE - Jesse Lee Calhoun appears in Multnomah County Circuit Court for his arraignment, June 6, 2024, in Portland, Ore. Photo by Dave Killen / AP PORTLAND, Ore. — A man accused of killing three women in the Portland area and dumping their bodies has been indicted on a fourth murder charge, authorities said Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors A grand jury has indicted Jesse Lee Calhoun in the November 2022 death of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said during a news conference. The new indictment, which comes roughly 2 1/2 years after Smith's remains were found, adds one count each of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse to Calhoun's case. Calhoun was indicted last year in the deaths of Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32. He pleaded not guilty to the three counts each of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the initial indictment. He remains in custody in Multnomah County's Inverness Jail, and his trial is expected to be held in 2027, authorities said. His defence attorney, Cameron Taylor, declined to comment. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Melissa Smith, Kristin Smith's mother, said she was 'overwhelmed with emotion.' 'I've always stayed hopeful that I would get justice for Kristin,' she said at the news conference. 'I thank every single person who didn't give up on this case.' The bodies of Perry, Webster and Speaks were found over several months starting in early 2023 — in wooded areas, in a culvert and under a bridge — in a roughly 100-mile (160-kilometer) radius, sparking concern that a serial killer might be targeting young women in the region. Calhoun was arrested in June 2023 on unrelated parole warrants and indicted in May 2024 in the women's deaths. The indictment came weeks before Calhoun was due to be released from state prison, where he was returned in 2023 to finish serving a four-year term for assaulting a police officer, trying to strangle a police dog, burglary and other charges. He was initially released in 2021, a year early, because he helped fight wildfires in 2020 under a prison firefighting program. Gov. Tina Kotek revoked the commutation in 2023 when police began investigating him in the deaths. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Vancouver Whitecaps News Local News NHL Sports
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
Oregon man accused of killing 3 women and dumping their bodies is indicted on fourth murder charge
A man accused of killing three women in the Portland area and dumping their bodies has been indicted on a fourth murder charge, authorities said Tuesday. A grand jury has indicted Jesse Lee Calhoun in the November 2022 death of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said during a news conference. The new indictment, which comes roughly 2 1/2 years after Smith's remains were found, adds one count each of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse to Calhoun's case. Calhoun was indicted last year in the deaths of Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32. He pleaded not guilty to the three counts each of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the initial indictment. He remains in custody in Multnomah County's Inverness Jail, and his trial is expected to be held in 2027, authorities said. His defense attorney, Cameron Taylor, declined to comment. Melissa Smith, Kristin Smith's mother, said she was 'overwhelmed with emotion.' 'I've always stayed hopeful that I would get justice for Kristin,' she said at the news conference. 'I thank every single person who didn't give up on this case.' Perry, Webster and Smith were found in Oregon, while Speaks was found in an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington. Their bodies were found over several months starting in early 2023 — in wooded areas, in a culvert and under a bridge — in a roughly 100-mile (160-kilometer) radius, sparking concern that a serial killer might be targeting young women in the region. Police and prosecutors have shared little information in the case. The death of another woman during that time period is still being investigated, Vasquez said. Calhoun was arrested in June 2023 on unrelated parole warrants and indicted in May 2024 in the women's deaths. The indictment came weeks before Calhoun was due to be released from state prison, where he was returned in 2023 to finish serving a four-year term for assaulting a police officer, trying to strangle a police dog, burglary and other charges. He was initially released in 2021, a year early, because he helped fight wildfires in 2020 under a prison firefighting program. Gov. Tina Kotek revoked the commutation in 2023 when police began investigating him in the deaths.
