Oregon man indicted on fourth murder charge linked to another woman's death

In the United States, specifically Oregon, Jesse Lee Calhoun has been indicted for the 2022 murder of 22-year-old Kristin Smith. This indictment was announced by the Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez during a news conference, adding one count each of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse to Calhoun's existing charges. Prior to this, he was indicted in May 2024 for the deaths of three other women: Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Joanna Speaks. The remains of Smith were discovered in Portland in early 2023, and her murder is believed to be linked to those earlier cases, indicating a potential pattern of violence targeting women in the region. Law enforcement agencies have expressed concern that Calhoun may be connected to a series of homicides that occurred within a short timeframe, prompting renewed investigative efforts into other cases as well, including the death of a fifth woman. Smith's mother expressed emotional relief and gratitude for the new developments in the case, which had haunted her since her daughter's disappearance in December 2022. Kristin Smith had been reported missing two months before her body was discovered in a wooded area, intensifying fears of a serial killer in the Portland area. Smith's murder, along with the others, has drawn significant media attention. As police continue their investigation, officials have indicated that further evidence connects these cases, spurring ongoing interest from the public and implications for community safety. The bodies of the other three victims were located from March to April of 2023, revealing a tragic pattern as authorities searched for connections between the murders. This situation continues to unfold, and Calhoun remains in custody at Multnomah County's Inverness Jail, awaiting trial scheduled for 2027.