Oregon Man Charged With Five Murders to Face Single Trial
PORTLAND, OR – A 41-year-old Oregon man already in custody for the deaths of four women was arraigned Wednesday on a fifth murder charge, with prosecutors confirming they will seek a single trial for all five killings.
Jesse Calhoun appeared in court for the second-degree murder of 22-year-old Ashley Real, whose body was discovered in a Clackamas County pond in May 2023. His attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
"We intend to try Calhoun for all five murders in a single proceeding next year," prosecutors stated.
Current Charges
Calhoun now faces a total of five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of abuse of a corpse.
The Victims
The charges span the deaths of five women:
- Kristin Smith, 22
- Charity Perry, 24
- Bridget Webster, 31
- Joanna Speaks, 32
- Ashley Real, 22
Investigation & Arrest Timeline
Calhoun was initially arrested in June 2023 on unrelated parole warrants. He was charged in August 2023 with the murder of Kristin Smith. In May 2024, a grand jury indicted him in the deaths of three of the women.
A controversial early release from prison has become a focal point of the case. Calhoun was released from prison in 2021, a year early, after participating in a prison firefighting program. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek revoked that commutation in 2023 following his arrest.
Families React
Relatives of the victims expressed a mix of relief and shared grief following the arraignment.
"I felt relieved knowing he is in custody," said Masciell Real, Ashley Real's sister.
Melissa Smith, mother of Kristin Smith, noted the collective pain among the families, stating they share a "shared grief" as they await the proceedings.