Accused serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun enters plea for fourth murder charge

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Alleged serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun entered another plea in Multnomah County on Monday after being indicted for a fourth murder charge last week.

Following his indictment for the November 20, 2022, murder of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, Calhoun pleaded not guilty on Monday to his fourth second-degree murder charge — he also pleaded not guilty to his fourth abuse of a corpse charge.

Calhoun pleaded not guilty to the other murder and abuse of a corpse charges in 2024.

Calhoun was previously accused of murdering three women, Charity Lynn Perry, Joanna Speaks and Bridget Leanne Webster, after their bodies were discovered in Oregon and Washington two years ago.

In April 2023, Speaks’ body was found at an abandoned barn in Ridgefield, Washington.

A few weeks later, Perry’s body was found near Ainsworth State Park in East Multnomah County, and days after that, Webster’s body was discovered near Mill Creek in Polk County.

In May of 2024, Calhoun was indicted for the murders, as he was already in custody at the time for parole violations.

Previously, Calhoun had been in prison after he was charged with three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, assaulting a public safety officer and first-degree burglary.

In 2021, then-Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a commutation to provide clemency for certain prisoners and Calhoun met the criteria, so he was released.

The clemency was later revoked by Gov. Tina Kotek in 2023.

Calhoun pleaded not guilty to the murders in June 2024.

Calhoun has also been named as a person of interest in the death of Ashley Real, 22, though he has not been indicted in that case.