A wave of fear and uncertainty swept through the community as a series of murders targeting women unfolded. At first, the police believed that the deaths were unrelated, dismissing any notion of a serial killer on the loose. However, as time went on, evidence began to emerge, forcing the authorities to reconsider their initial stance. The Portland Medium looked into the various stories on this case and new development.
Behind the scenes, there was a flurry of activity as investigators worked tirelessly to piece together the puzzle. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office and various law enforcement agencies joined forces. In a joint statement recently, they revealed that they had identified “at least one person of interest” linked to the victims and had conducted numerous interviews as part of the ongoing investigation. The person of interest is Jesse Lee Calhoun.
Calhoun’s name had come up during the course of the investigation, and the authorities saw fit to interview him. They did not disclose the reasons behind their interest in Calhoun, leaving the public to speculate. However, it became known that Calhoun had a criminal history, having been previously convicted on burglary and vehicle theft charges. Surprisingly, his prison sentence had been commuted by former Oregon Governor Kate Brown in 2021 due to his participation in a prison firefighting program. This decision reduced his sentence by approximately a year.
Shortly after regaining his freedom, the string of murders began. Calhoun was not only involved in the heinous acts but also engaged in further criminal activities, leading to the revocation of his commutation. In July 2023, he was returned to prison to serve the remaining months of his original sentence.
Finally, a breakthrough came in the investigation. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced that Jesse Lee Calhoun had been charged with the murders of three women: Charity Lynn Perry, Bridget Leanne Webster, and Joanna Speaks. Calhoun faced three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of second-degree abuse of a corpse, as determined by a grand jury.
The case was described as complex and required an extensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. District Attorney Mike Schmidt emphasized the significance of the collaboration between authorities to ensure justice for the victims and their families. Calhoun, who had been in custody for unrelated charges since July 2023, was scheduled for release in the coming month. He will now be transferred to the custody of Multnomah County authorities to face the charges against him.
