Oregon man, in court for allegedly killing 4 women, has just been arraigned for the murder of a fifth

Oregon’s Jesse Calhoun was arraigned on a fifth murder charge on Wednesday in a Portland courtroom, where victims’ family members gathered to witness the proceedings. According to The Associated Press, Calhoun remained silent throughout the session, during which his defense attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. This latest charge follows an indictment handed down last week regarding the death of 22-year-old Ashley Real in 2023.

The legal proceedings now involve five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of abuse of a corpse. Calhoun is currently being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center in Oregon, and his legal team has declined to provide comments to the press. 

The investigation into these deaths began in early 2023, when the bodies of several young women were discovered across a roughly 100-mile radius, including locations in wooded areas and a culvert. Reportedly, these findings initially sparked fears of a serial killer targeting women. Before this latest charge, Calhoun had already been indicted in the deaths of Kristin Smith, 22; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32.

A multi-agency team across Oregon has been reportedly investigating the cases

Jose Real, the father of Ashley Real, spoke to reporters after the hearing with the help of a Spanish interpreter. He recalled his daughter’s personality, stating, “I never thought or imagined that my family would experience something like this,” and added, “She had a heart of gold.” 

Masciell Real, Ashley’s sister, also spoke up. “I think being in that courtroom today and being able to see him, and know that he is behind bars now, it takes the weight off my shoulders knowing that he isn’t around and free to cause any harm to any other women out there,” she said. “But it also doesn’t take away the fact that my sister isn’t here anymore.”

AP News reported that the families of the other victims also shared their grief and desire for closure. Melissa Smith, the mother of Kristin Smith, stated, “We’ve all experienced the worst thing that could ever happen to you, and it’s incredibly hard to see one of the other families hurt the way we do,” she said. 

According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Ashley Real had reported an assault to police in November 2022. Her father recounted that she arrived at his home crying, describing how she had been allegedly choked by Calhoun. The initial police report was taken as a case of domestic violence. However, the case was later transferred between jurisdictions, and the family reported a lack of follow-up from law enforcement.

Ashley was reported missing on March 27th, 2023, in southeast Portland. On May 7th, a fisherman reported finding human remains, which were identified as Ashley’s on the 31st. 

The investigation reportedly has been a massive collaborative effort, involving nine different law enforcement agencies. These agencies have shared notes to piece together the events surrounding the deaths. For instance, the body of Bridget Leann Webster was found under a bridge in Polk County. 

Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have been actively working alongside Portland-area investigators. Sheriff Mark Gerton emphasized the importance of the work, stating, “The detectives know that it is important that we do justice for Bridget.”

Calhoun’s path through the justice system has reportedly been complicated by his previous release and subsequent return to prison. He was serving time for a 2019 conviction of stolen vehicle and burglary charges. Calhoun was initially released in 2021, one year early, as part of a program that recognized his efforts fighting wildfires in 2020. 

When the police began investigating him in connection with the deaths of the women, Governor Tina Kotek revoked his commutation in 2023. This action allowed authorities to return him to state prison to finish a four-year sentence for separate charges, including assaulting a police officer and attempted strangulation of a police dog.

The date for the trial has not been set yet. Until then, the family of the victim continues to seek answers. Diana Allen, the mother of Charity Perry, told The Associated Press, “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.” 

This isn’t the only case where families lost loved ones and had to wait for the investigation to be completed for closure. Justice, though delayed, was finally served in the case of a Brooklyn multi-storey building when the serial killer, who “was hiding in plain sight,” pleaded guilty. Meanwhile, in Long Island, the Gilgo Beach serial killer claimed responsibility for his victims, but it still leaves 4 bodies that the police are still investigating.