The families of four Oregon women whose remains were found in and around Portland may be one step closer to getting answers about their daughters’ deaths, after police announced they are holding a person of interest linked to all four deaths in state prison.
The bodies of Kristin Smith, 22, Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leann Webster, 31, and Ashley Real, 22, were found in various outdoor locations, including a state park, between February and May.
Just last month, Portland police had issued a lengthy news release saying that they didn’t believe the cases were connected.
The developments in the string of deaths in Oregon come after authorities in New York announced last week that they charged Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann in the deaths of three women whose bodies were found on Long Island. The women Heuermann is charged with killing were believed to be sex workers. He has pleaded not guilty.
Families in the dark
In interviews with media, mothers of the Oregon women said they’ve tried to learn more about the case from authorities, but it’s proven difficult because investigators have released little information.
Those who spoke to media said they have not been told how their daughters died.
“I’m in the dark about a lot,” Perry’s mother, Diana Allen told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “But the detective and I understand why this is required. We don’t need anything messing up this investigation.”
Family members of the women did not immediately respond to messages from USA TODAY Wednesday.
Jesse Lee Calhoun named person of interested in Portland deaths
Jesse Lee Calhoun, 38, is considered a person of interest in the deaths of the four women, the AP reported based on information provided by a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. The official requested anonymity because they are not authorized to comment publicly on the case. Calhoun has not been charged in the cases.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, which is taking the lead in the investigation, said Monday investigators had “interviewed multiple people” and it was not believed that there was any active danger to the public.
Causes of death remain unknown
Allen said she knows Perry died in April, but she has not been given an exact date and authorities said they were unable to tell how she died just from looking at her. The state medical examiner has not determined the cause or manner of death for Perry or the other women, prosecutors said in a statement.
“This hurts so bad. My daughter had such bad mental health issues, and any hope of her getting better is gone. It’s gone now, and a horrid ache replaced it,” Allen said.
Calhoun was released from prison in 2021 after having sentence commuted by governor
Calhoun was serving time in prison on stolen vehicle and burglary charges, but in 2021, then-Gov. Kate Brown commuted his sentence, along with 40 other prisoners.
They had helped fight wildfires, and Brown determined Calhoun and the other prisoners did not present an unacceptable public safety risk. If his sentence had not been commuted, Calhoun would likely have been released in summer 2022, months before the women went missing.
“I am absolutely horrified for the victims, their families, and all those who have experienced these losses,” Brown said in a statement to the Associated Press.
Calhoun was returned to prison earlier this month after Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Todd Jackson asked current Gov. Tina Kotek to revoke the commutation, saying he has been “involved in criminal activity currently under investigation.”
Mother remembers daughter’s cooking, ‘amazing personality’
Allen shared with the AP that Perry won a “spiciest chili” prize in a contest several years ago. A photo shows Perry smiling and proudly holding up two commemorative chili pots marking her win.
“She was so proud of it,” Allen said. “She had an amazing personality.”
Contributing: Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY; Associated Press
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