A man accused of killing at least four women over three months has a long criminal history stretching back more than 20 years.
Jesse Lee Calhoun, 40, faces charges for the deaths of Kristin Smith, 22, and three other women. Smith is believed to have been killed in November 2022, though her remains weren’t found until February 2023.
Calhoun’s past includes convictions for assault, burglary, and car theft. In 2003, he was convicted of third-degree assault. In 2008, he admitted to another assault charge and was arrested for kidnapping, though that charge was later dropped as part of a plea deal. In 2019, he was sentenced to four years in prison for burglary. He was also accused of hitting a police officer and trying to choke a police dog.
While in prison in 2020, Calhoun joined a team of inmates helping fight Oregon wildfires and was one of 40 prisoners granted clemency by Governor Kate Brown. He was released in 2022 but later caught driving with a revoked license.
The deaths of the women raised concerns about a possible serial killer. The six women, all under 40, were found in a 100-mile area around Portland, Oregon, over about 10 weeks:
- Kristin Smith, 22 – found February 19, 2023
- Joanna Speaks, 32 – found April 8, 2023
- Charity Perry, 24 – found April 24, 2023
- Bridget Leann Webster, 31 – found April 30, 2023
- Ashley Real, 22 – found May 7, 2023
- One unidentified woman – found April 24, 2023, death ruled accidental
Calhoun was arrested in June 2023 on an unrelated parole violation before being charged in 2024 with the murders of Perry, Webster, and Speaks. He has also been charged in Smith’s death but has pleaded not guilty.
During a court hearing, Smith’s mother, Melissa, described the emotional toll of her daughter’s death. “It’s awful for a mother to know. It has weighed heavily on me,” she said.
Calhoun’s trial is expected to take place in 2027. Authorities continue investigating Ashley Real’s death.
