Portland Man Arraigned on Fifth Murder Charge in Serial Killer Case

A man accused of killing several women and disposing of their bodies in the Portland area appeared in court on Wednesday to face a fifth murder charge. Jesse Calhoun’s defense attorney entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf during the arraignment in Portland, while victims’ families observed.

The recent charge relates to the 2023 death of Ashley Real, 22. Previously, Calhoun faced charges for the deaths of four other women: Kristin Smith, 22; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Joanna Speaks, 32. In addition to five second-degree murder charges, four counts of corpse abuse have been filed against him. The discovery of the victims’ bodies throughout early 2023 initially raised fears of a serial killer targeting young women in the area.

The locations where the bodies were found span a 100-mile radius, including northwestern Oregon and near an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington. These areas comprised wooded regions and a culvert.

In a disturbing past incident involving Ashley Real, her father, Jose Real, reported that she came to him in November 2022 crying and marked from strangulation by Calhoun. The initial report filed became complicated when the case transferred jurisdictions, leaving communication gaps for the family. Her body was discovered in a pond southeast of Portland in May 2023.

Calhoun faced arrest in June 2023 for unrelated parole violations. The initial murder indictment was delivered just before his scheduled release from prison, where he was serving a four-year sentence for various charges, including assaulting a police officer. His sentence was shortened for assisting in wildfire efforts, but the commutation was reversed by Gov. Tina Kotek in 2023 as the murder investigations progressed. Calhoun remains detained, pending a yet-to-be-decided trial date, and his defense team has chosen not to comment.

In an emotional response following the hearing, Ashley’s father, Jose Real, expressed gratitude for accountability being sought, despite his family’s suffering. Ashley’s sister, Masciell Real, highlighted the injustice of her sister’s lost life compared to Calhoun being alive and incarcerated.

Diana Allen, Charity Perry’s mother, shared her own sentiments after attending the arraignment, marking the first time she saw Calhoun in person. She reflected on supporting other victims’ families as a source of strength while attending the hearing.