An Oregon man already accused of killing four women has now been charged in the death of a fifth, deepening a disturbing case that once sparked fears of a possible serial killer targeting women in the Pacific Northwest.
Jesse Lee Calhoun, 41, appeared in a Portland courtroom Wednesday, June 3, after being indicted in the death of 22-year-old Ashley Real.
Calhoun showed no emotion during the hearing, according to local reports. His attorney entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced on May 26 that Calhoun had been indicted for second-degree murder in Real’s death, which allegedly happened on or about March 27, 2023.
“Ashley Real is the fifth person Calhoun is charged with killing,” prosecutors said.
Calhoun had already been charged in the deaths of Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leanne Webster, 31, Joanna Speaks, 32, and Kristin Smith.
Perry, Webster and Speaks were all found dead under suspicious circumstances in 2023. Smith was allegedly killed on or about Nov. 20, 2022, according to prosecutors.
Calhoun is now facing five counts of second-degree murder. He is also charged with four counts of abuse of a corpse, according to reports.
The victims’ bodies were found during the early months of 2023, and the deaths fueled widespread fear and speculation that a serial killer may have been targeting young women in the area.
Real, Perry, Webster and Smith were found in northwestern Oregon. Speaks was found near an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington state.
For the families of the victims, Wednesday’s hearing was another painful step in a case filled with grief, anger and unanswered questions.
After the hearing, Ashley Real’s father, Jose Real, spoke about the heartbreak of losing his daughter.
“I never thought or imagined that my family would experience something like this,” he said through a Spanish interpreter. “She had a heart of gold.”
Ashley’s sister, Masciell Real, said seeing Calhoun in court brought some relief, but no peace.
“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.”
Kristin Smith’s mother, Melissa Smith, also spoke about the agony shared by the families.
“We’ve all experienced the worst thing that could ever happen to you,” she said. “And it’s incredibly hard to see one of the other families hurt the way we do.”
Calhoun remains in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center. A trial date has not yet been set.
The case now involves five women, five grieving families and a suspect facing a growing list of murder charges as prosecutors prepare for what could become one of Oregon’s most closely watched criminal cases.
