Six women found dead in the Portland, Oregon area in 2023 *ARREST*

Six women have been found dead in less than three months in secluded, wooded areas in the Portland, Oregon, region, but law enforcement authorities said they have not found any evidence that the cases are linked.

The women's bodies were found within 100 miles of each other, the Portland Police Bureau said in a news release over the weekend. Police have not determined whether they were all homicide victims, but they were all under age 40.


Although news of the deaths was widely circulated on social media, the Portland Police Bureau said there was no reason to believe the deaths were connected. (more at link)

6 women found dead within 3 months in Portland, Oregon, metro area

Police said they have not found any evidence that the cases are connected.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Mel70]

But that's two years for the victim to get their life together without the stalker interfering.

I personally haven't seen that many stalkers get jail time. Unless they hurt someone.

 

[GrandmaBear]

But that's two years for the victim to get their life together without the stalker interfering.

He's guessing at the two years and I doubt most if any get that and if they do I doubt they serve it. Not to mention them being able to get to them from jail. I personally had it happen more than once., more than twice. Same guy. Not like they go to prison, usually county and half the time don't do any sentenced jail time, probably more than half. Out on bond, deal, etc. It's a joke. And not a funny one.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I personally haven't seen that many stalkers get jail time. Unless they hurt someone.

Totally agree.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Man linked to deaths of four Portland-area women writes to KGW from prison

Over the past three months, Jesse Calhoun has exchanged messages with KGW using the inmate communication system. He claims he's been wrongly accused.

www.kgw.com

Man linked to deaths of four Portland-area women writes to KGW from prison​

The man reportedly linked by investigators over the summer to the deaths of four women in the Portland area claims he didn’t do it. “I'm no killer,” Jesse Calhoun wrote in a message to KGW from behind bars.

Calhoun is currently being held at Snake River Correctional Institution in eastern Oregon on charges unrelated to the women’s deaths.

Over the past three months, Calhoun has exchanged messages with KGW using the inmate communication system. Calhoun claims he has been wrongly accused and paints himself as a victim.

“I have not been charged with anything for a reason,” Calhoun wrote. “I’m guessing they are trying to come up with whatever they can on me cuz they have no one else as a easier target as me\sitting duck.”

In July, the Associated Press, The Oregonian and Willamette Week all cited law enforcement sources who identified Calhoun as a person of interest in the deaths of Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster and Ashley Real. The women’s bodies were all found in separate wooded or secluded areas around Portland between February and May. Calhoun has not been charged in any of the deaths.

In his electronic messages, Calhoun suggested he’s been blamed for something he didn’t do.

“I’m an easy target and my name was leaked,” he wrote. “The community wants blood and I’m the one who unfortunately got plastered on the news.”

A source close to the investigation said police are still waiting on results from forensic testing. No formal decision has been made on which cases will be taken to a grand jury, where the cases will be prosecuted or whether the cases will be consolidated.

“They are grasping for straws in a desperate attempt to hold somebody accountable,” Calhoun wrote from prison. “And I’m on the serving block.”

Diana Allen, the mother of Charity Perry, is cautious to avoid mentioning Calhoun by name or pointing fingers.

“You have to honor that you are innocent until proven guilty, no matter how strong your emotions are,” said Allen.

 

[Kimster]

Since police warned against the public zooming in on the serial killer theory in the beginning, I can see why he’s trying to get out of it. But then again, maybe he is innocent? I don’t know! That’s why we need to go to trial and find out.

 

[Mel70]

Man linked to deaths of four Portland-area women writes to KGW from prison

Over the past three months, Jesse Calhoun has exchanged messages with KGW using the inmate communication system. He claims he's been wrongly accused.

www.kgw.com

Man linked to deaths of four Portland-area women writes to KGW from prison​

The man reportedly linked by investigators over the summer to the deaths of four women in the Portland area claims he didn’t do it. “I'm no killer,” Jesse Calhoun wrote in a message to KGW from behind bars.

Calhoun is currently being held at Snake River Correctional Institution in eastern Oregon on charges unrelated to the women’s deaths.

Over the past three months, Calhoun has exchanged messages with KGW using the inmate communication system. Calhoun claims he has been wrongly accused and paints himself as a victim.

“I have not been charged with anything for a reason,” Calhoun wrote. “I’m guessing they are trying to come up with whatever they can on me cuz they have no one else as a easier target as me\sitting duck.”

In July, the Associated Press, The Oregonian and Willamette Week all cited law enforcement sources who identified Calhoun as a person of interest in the deaths of Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster and Ashley Real. The women’s bodies were all found in separate wooded or secluded areas around Portland between February and May. Calhoun has not been charged in any of the deaths.

In his electronic messages, Calhoun suggested he’s been blamed for something he didn’t do.

“I’m an easy target and my name was leaked,” he wrote. “The community wants blood and I’m the one who unfortunately got plastered on the news.”

A source close to the investigation said police are still waiting on results from forensic testing. No formal decision has been made on which cases will be taken to a grand jury, where the cases will be prosecuted or whether the cases will be consolidated.

“They are grasping for straws in a desperate attempt to hold somebody accountable,” Calhoun wrote from prison. “And I’m on the serving block.”

Diana Allen, the mother of Charity Perry, is cautious to avoid mentioning Calhoun by name or pointing fingers.

“You have to honor that you are innocent until proven guilty, no matter how strong your emotions are,” said Allen.

It's "Chopping block" Genius. WTH is a "Serving block"?. You're the victim huh?.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Who or what is KGW?

 

[Imamazed]

Who or what is KGW?

It's the news station GrandmaBear.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It's the news station GrandmaBear.

Thank you. So tired I guess. And trying to catch up a bit. You wouldn't believe the people and things that i was trying to make the initials work for. Sorry. But thanks!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Reminder, Joanna Speaks is considered "not connected" to this case.

Police: Woman Found Dead in Rural Oregon in April Was Murdered in Portland

Police in Oregon have determined that a woman found dead near an abandoned barn in rural Clark County was murdered in Portland. Joanna Speaks, 32, disappeared in March, and her body was found in early April about 22 miles north of Portland, as CrimeOnline reported. Police said at the time of the...

www.crimeonline.com

Police: Woman Found Dead in Rural Oregon in April Was Murdered in Portland​

Police in Oregon have determined that a woman found dead near an abandoned barn in rural Clark County was murdered in Portland.

Joanna Speaks, 32, disappeared in March, and her body was found in early April about 22 miles north of Portland, as CrimeOnline reported.

Police said at the time of the discovery they suspected the body had been moved from the crime scene. The Clark County Medical Examiner said that Speaks died from blunt head and neck injuries.

“Based on information developed in that investigation, there is reason to believe that the homicide happened in Portland,” the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement on Monday. “No arrests have been made.”

Police did not provide any updates on the investigation into Speaks’ death, which has been included with the deaths of five other women in the Portland area thought to be possibly the work of a serial killer. Four of the deaths have been linked to a person of interest, police said in June, although they did not identify that person, but the Willamette Week identified him as 38-year-old Jesse Lee Calhoun, who was released early from prison in 2021 after joining other inmates in fighting devastating wildfires in Oregon.

Calhoun was taken back into custody in June and his clemency revoked. He has not, however, been charged with any of the deaths.



Speaks’ family has questioned whether she should be included, however, and they have joined family members of the other women calling for answers.

“This can’t be for nothing,” said Ariel Hanby, Speaks’ stepsister, during a September fundraiser. “They couldn’t have died for nothing.”

Speaks’ sister, Robyn Speaks, did not mention the other deaths in a statement after PBB’s announcement that it was now handling the case.

“In light of today’s press release from the Portland Police Bureau regarding them taking over the case to find JoAnna’s killer, our family would like to express how hopeful we are that PPB will bring us answers and a conviction!” she said. “PPB now handling the case will open up many more opportunities for witness testimony and evidence tracking within the jurisdiction of the (probable) original crime scene.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Multnomah County DA candidate Nathan Vasquez tells voters man ‘murdered’ 4 women even though he has not been charged

Nathan Vasquez referred in his statement in the Oregon Secretary of State Voters’ Pamphlet to the case of convicted felon Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, though he did not identify Calhoun by name.

www.oregonlive.com

Multnomah County DA candidate Nathan Vasquez tells voters man ‘murdered’ 4 women even though he has not been charged​

Nathan Vasquez, a senior prosecutor challenging his boss in the Multnomah County District Attorney race, took the unusual step of publicly accusing a man of murder even though the man has not been charged, triggering an ethics complaint to the Oregon State Bar.

In his Oregon Secretary of State Voters’ Pamphlet statement, Vasquez referred to the case of convicted felon Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, though he did not identify Calhoun by name.

Vasquez wrote that under District Attorney Mike Schmidt “a violent criminal who was arrested for kidnapping and assaulting a police officer was released from prison. Once free, he murdered four women. This is unacceptable.”

Last month, Calhoun’s court-appointed lawyer, Cameron Taylor, wrote to Todd Jackson, one of the Multnomah County prosecutors overseeing the investigation into the women’s deaths, calling Vasquez’s characterization of Calhoun “an unprecedented situation, particularly given that Mr. Calhoun has not been formally charged in this matter, much less convicted in a court of law.”

“For a ranking member of your office to issue an unequivocal statement of our client’s guilt in such a forum, in the absence of any due process and for the sole apparent purpose of obtaining political advantage against another member of your office, is deeply troubling and antithetical to our system of justice,” Taylor wrote.


Police have released no information about the investigation and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has not publicly commented beyond Vasquez’s statement. Only Speaks’ death has been ruled a homicide. Investigators have not said how the other women died.

Calhoun has not been charged in connection with any of the deaths.

Gov. Tina Kotek rescinded Calhoun’s commutation, returning him to the Snake River Correctional Institution to serve out the remainder of his original sentence. He is scheduled to be released from prison on June 7.

Schmidt on Tuesday declined to comment on the status of the investigation into the women’s killings, saying only that it continues.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Oh yeah politics playing into justice. Welcome to the day. Now if people were not being released that should never be, that seems to me to be a huge part of it but certainly not the only thing going on.

Politics should NEVER affect justice. And it is happening all the time. And the one being investigated is the one claiming the guy did these murders? And he is from the same office works in it so I would guess knows the case and the evidence. Okay. Maybe he can't prove it, I don't know but you know they used to sometimes name a suspect or POI and some still do but God Forbid many do now. So who knows. Not sure which side is bad here but one guess is well no one has been charged yet the gov returned him to prison. How so? If he has not been charged with anyone fthe deaths? What am I missing or tired and not up on here or recall?

I know @Kimster is not enamored with this governor if I recall from where ever or whatever case but I am not fresh or up to speed on this one. Is this the one that was thought to be a serial killer with many women/people around an immediate radius but fairly close radius in OR?

I will wait for her to weigh in as she is from the state. And I'm tired. Haven't even gotten to Daybell yet or any coverage of the day.

 

[RoundPeg]

Multnomah County DA candidate Nathan Vasquez tells voters man ‘murdered’ 4 women even though he has not been charged

Nathan Vasquez referred in his statement in the Oregon Secretary of State Voters’ Pamphlet to the case of convicted felon Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, though he did not identify Calhoun by name.

www.oregonlive.com

Multnomah County DA candidate Nathan Vasquez tells voters man ‘murdered’ 4 women even though he has not been charged​

Nathan Vasquez, a senior prosecutor challenging his boss in the Multnomah County District Attorney race, took the unusual step of publicly accusing a man of murder even though the man has not been charged, triggering an ethics complaint to the Oregon State Bar.

In his Oregon Secretary of State Voters’ Pamphlet statement, Vasquez referred to the case of convicted felon Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, though he did not identify Calhoun by name.

Vasquez wrote that under District Attorney Mike Schmidt “a violent criminal who was arrested for kidnapping and assaulting a police officer was released from prison. Once free, he murdered four women. This is unacceptable.”

Last month, Calhoun’s court-appointed lawyer, Cameron Taylor, wrote to Todd Jackson, one of the Multnomah County prosecutors overseeing the investigation into the women’s deaths, calling Vasquez’s characterization of Calhoun “an unprecedented situation, particularly given that Mr. Calhoun has not been formally charged in this matter, much less convicted in a court of law.”

“For a ranking member of your office to issue an unequivocal statement of our client’s guilt in such a forum, in the absence of any due process and for the sole apparent purpose of obtaining political advantage against another member of your office, is deeply troubling and antithetical to our system of justice,” Taylor wrote.


Police have released no information about the investigation and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has not publicly commented beyond Vasquez’s statement. Only Speaks’ death has been ruled a homicide. Investigators have not said how the other women died.

Calhoun has not been charged in connection with any of the deaths.

Gov. Tina Kotek rescinded Calhoun’s commutation, returning him to the Snake River Correctional Institution to serve out the remainder of his original sentence. He is scheduled to be released from prison on June 7.

Schmidt on Tuesday declined to comment on the status of the investigation into the women’s killings, saying only that it continues.

The powers that be need to get their ducks in a row prior to June 7. Yikes.

 

[Kimster]

Oh yeah politics playing into justice. Welcome to the day. Now if people were not being released that should never be, that seems to me to be a huge part of it but certainly not the only thing going on.

Politics should NEVER affect justice. And it is happening all the time. And the one being investigated is the one claiming the guy did these murders? And he is from the same office works in it so I would guess knows the case and the evidence. Okay. Maybe he can't prove it, I don't know but you know they used to sometimes name a suspect or POI and some still do but God Forbid many do now. So who knows. Not sure which side is bad here but one guess is well no one has been charged yet the gov returned him to prison. How so? If he has not been charged with anyone fthe deaths? What am I missing or tired and not up on here or recall?

I know @Kimster is not enamored with this governor if I recall from where ever or whatever case but I am not fresh or up to speed on this one. Is this the one that was thought to be a serial killer with many women/people around an immediate radius but fairly close radius in OR?

I will wait for her to weigh in as she is from the state. And I'm tired. Haven't even gotten to Daybell yet or any coverage of the day.

The current governor is better than the last one, in my opinion. But getting off politics, certain counties in our state are lax on crime and other ones are still holding the line. I happen to live in one that holds the line. When you get closer to Portland, they’re softer on crime.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The current governor is better than the last one, in my opinion. But getting off politics, certain counties in our state are lax on crime and other ones are still holding the line. I happen to live in one that holds the line. When you get closer to Portland, they’re softer on crime.

Good to know. Thank you. Our state has similarities in that the southern more populated part is vastly different than the northern less serious crime ridden areas and the south has all the big cities to speak of and the north does not.

ETA: And he political epicenter. So it isn't the way one would think where the crime is heaviest it is not necessarily harsher. Kind of depends.

On the other hand they sentence for almost exact same crime to 25 years for the murder of a baby where here It was SIX and they also give real cash high bonds, not like we see in the cases we follow of a million but a real one where in my area they have almost NONE or a triflingi amount even on murder.

So it is a bit of a mixed bag.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Prosecutors seek indictment before man linked to deaths of multiple women released from prison

A grand jury is expected to hear testimony next week regarding the murder of Joanna Speaks, one of at least five women who turned up dead around Portland last year.

www.kgw.com

Prosecutors seek indictment before man linked to deaths of multiple women released from prison​

A Multnomah County grand jury is expected to hear testimony next week surrounding the murder of Joanna Speaks, one of at least five women who went missing and turned up dead across the Portland area last year.

Detectives believe Speaks, 32, was killed in Portland, although her body was found in an abandoned barn in Ridgefield, Washington on April 8, 2023. She died of blunt head and neck injuries, according to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. No arrests have been made in the case.


Calhoun is scheduled to be released from prison on June 7, according to public records obtained by KGW from the Oregon Board of Parole. Calhoun is currently being held at Snake River Correctional Institution in eastern Oregon on charges unrelated to the women’s deaths.

Last year, Calhoun claimed he’d been wrongly accused in a series of messages sent to KGW through an inmate communication system.

“Im (sic) no killer,” Calhoun wrote from behind bars. “I have not been charged with anything for a reason. I’m guessing they are trying to come up with whatever they can on me cuz they have no one else as a easier target as me\sitting duck.”

KGW has reached out to Calhoun’s attorney about the upcoming grand jury and will update this story when we hear back.

 

[Kimster]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Man indicted on murder charges for deaths of 3 Portland-area women

Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, on murder charges for the deaths of three women.

www.kptv.com

Man indicted on murder charges for deaths of 3 Portland-area women​

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced Friday that a grand jury has indicted Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, on murder charges for the deaths of three women who were found dead in the Portland area last year.

Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leanne Webster, 31, and Joanna Speaks, 32, were found dead under suspicious circumstances in 2023.

Calhoun is charged with three counts of Murder in the Second Degree and three counts of Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree.

Calhoun is currently at Snake River Correctional Institution at this time and is expected to be transferred to the custody of Multnomah County for arraignment on the indicted charges.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Thank GOD. And they kept him from being released in weeks. To put such a person on the streets, shudder although it does get done.

Interesting that basically a serial killer here but it is hardly huge news. Why is that does anyone think?

 

[Cousin Dupree]

Thank GOD. And they kept him from being released in weeks. To put such a person on the streets, shudder although it does get done.

Interesting that basically a serial killer here but it is hardly huge news. Why is that does anyone think?

I don't think enough evidence has been presented to the public yet. AFAIK, they haven't had a press conference naming him the killer.