Truth Voices reports that authorities may be getting closer to identifying a suspect in the killings of four women in Portland that occurred last year. Over a span of three months in 2023, five women under the age of 35 were found dead, with police initially believing the murders were unrelated before discovering connections between four of the deaths.
The victims included Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real, while the cause of death for Joanna Speaks was determined to be blunt force trauma. Jesse Lee Calhoun, a person of interest in the case, is currently in jail on a parole violation but could be released soon. Calhoun had his sentence commuted in 2021 for helping battle wildfires while serving time for burglary, car theft, and assaulting an officer.
The mothers of the victims spoke with Truth Voices, forming a bond they never expected to share. Despite the lack of information from authorities, they remain hopeful for progress in the case.
“We are very thankful to have each other. We call ourselves the fighting families,” one mother expressed. Another family member pondered the possibility of a serial killer or multiple killers being responsible for the deaths.
While there are signs of advancement in the investigation, the families believe they are nearing a resolution. “We are at the end of this finish line. It is going to happen,” a mother remarked.
