Portland Suspect Faces Fourth Murder Charge in Serial Killing Case

Jesse Lee Calhoun, a man accused of murdering three women in the Portland area, has been formally charged with a fourth homicide, the death of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, whose remains were found in November 2022. The new charges, including second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, come more than two years after Smith's body was discovered and add to previous charges related to the deaths of Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Joanna Speaks. Calhoun has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody, with his trial expected to begin in 2027. The victims were found in remote locations across Oregon and southwestern Washington, raising fears of a serial killer in the region. Calhoun was rearrested on parole violations in 2023 and had his early release revoked by Governor Tina Kotek after becoming a suspect in the homicides. The investigation into another woman possibly linked to Calhoun is ongoing, and authorities have shared limited details about the case.