Jesse Calhoun, 39, appeared in Multnomah County court on Thursday, accused of killing three women in the Portland area. The victims, identified as Charity Lynn Perry, Joanna Speaks, and Bridget Leanne Webster, were allegedly murdered by Calhoun, who now faces three charges of second-degree murder and three charges of second-degree abuse of a corpse.

Pleading Not Guilty

During his first court appearance, Calhoun pleaded not guilty to all six charges against him. His next court date is set for July 19. Melissa Smith, the mother of Kristin Smith, one of the victims, expressed her determination to seek justice, stating, “I will be at every hearing, every meeting, I will always drop everything. I will never give up fighting for not only my daughter Kristin but to be there and be the support for all of these other family members.”

Previous Allegations and Clemency

Calhoun was previously a person of interest in the deaths of two other women, Kristin Smith and Ashley Real, but no charges have been filed in those cases. Notably, during the time of the alleged murders, Calhoun was a free man due to the clemency granted by former Governor Kate Brown.

Legal Proceedings

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that a grand jury indicted Calhoun on murder charges for the deaths of the three women. The indictment came just before Calhoun was set to be released from prison in eastern Oregon for unrelated crimes. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 19.

Victims’ Families Seek Closure

Family members of the victims expressed a mix of emotions, from determination to seek justice to relief that Calhoun is now behind bars. Colene Bargas, JoAnna Speaks’ mother, stated, “We’re on the right track now, we’re getting there. There’s still a whole lot of process and a whole lot of stuff that needs to be done before anything else, but we’re on the right step.”

Conclusion: Seeking Justice for the Victims

As legal proceedings continue, the families of Charity Lynn Perry, Joanna Speaks, and Bridget Leanne Webster remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice. With Calhoun now facing charges for their deaths, they hope for closure and accountability.

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