Man Arraigned on Fifth Murder Charge for Alleged Serial Killings in Portland Area

A man accused of killing several women and disposing of their bodies around the Portland area faced arraignment on a fifth murder charge. Jesse Calhoun, accompanied by his defense attorney, entered a not-guilty plea in a Portland courtroom where family members of the victims were present.

The most recent indictment charged Calhoun with the second-degree murder of Ashley Real, 22, in 2023. Calhoun now faces five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of abuse of a corpse. The victims were discovered over several months in early 2023, raising concerns about a potential serial killer targeting young women in the area.

Previously, Calhoun was charged in the deaths of Kristin Smith, 22; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32. Real, Perry, Webster, and Smith were found in northwestern Oregon, while Speaks was discovered near an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington. Bodies were found across a roughly 100-mile area, including wooded regions and a culvert.

Ashley Real’s father, Jose Real, previously reported to the Associated Press that his daughter came to him in November 2022, distressed and with marks on her throat. She claimed Calhoun had choked her. Despite an initial police report, the case was transferred to another jurisdiction, causing difficulty in communication. Her body was found in May 2023 by a man fishing southeast of Portland.

Calhoun was arrested in June 2023 on unrelated parole warrants, later facing indictments in 2024 and 2025 for the other women’s deaths. The first indictment was issued weeks before his scheduled release from state prison, where he was serving a term for assaulting a police officer, other charges, and participating in a prison firefighting program. Governor Tina Kotek revoked his commutation in 2023 amid the murder investigations.

A trial date has not been set yet. Calhoun remains in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center; his defense team has not provided comments.

Jose Real, father of Ashley Real, spoke to reporters after the hearing. Through an interpreter, he shared his gratitude that someone is being held accountable for his daughter’s death.

Masciell Real, Ashley’s sister, expressed her anguish, pointing out that while Calhoun remains alive behind bars, her sister’s life has irreversibly ended with her dignity violated.

Relatives of the other victims attended the arraignment. Diana Allen, Charity Perry’s mother, encountered Calhoun for the first time in the courtroom. She expressed her motivation to support other families while grappling with her emotions.