Between late 2022 and mid-2023, the bodies of multiple women were discovered across Oregon and southern Washington—found weeks apart, across jurisdictions, and under circumstances that initially appeared unrelated.
In this episode of Shadows in the Pines, we examine the case of Jesse Lee Calhoun, an Oregon man charged with the murders of four women, with a fifth death remaining legally uncharged.
This episode unfolds deliberately and chronologically. We begin with the fragmented early discoveries and the slow convergence of investigations across county and state lines. We then take a deep dive into who Jesse Lee Calhoun is—what is publicly known about his criminal history, incarceration, early release through gubernatorial commutation, and the institutional record that now defines his public identity.
From there, we center the women at the heart of this case through extensive victim sections:
•Kristin Smith (22) — reported missing in December 2022 and later found in southeast Portland
•Joanna Speaks (32) — found in Ridgefield, Washington, with her death ruled a homicide
•Charity Lynn Perry (24) — discovered near a culvert outside Ainsworth State Park
•Bridget Leann Webster (31) — found along a rural roadway in Polk County
•Ashley Real (22) — whose death remains uncharged, but whose name appears in the broader investigation due to documented prior contact with Calhoun
We also examine the legal posture surrounding Ashley Real’s case, including how and why additional charges could be filed—and why they have not been yet.
This episode avoids speculation and rumor. No motive has been publicly established, and that absence is addressed directly. We focus instead on what has been charged, what remains unresolved, and how multi-jurisdiction homicide cases are built quietly long before they reach a courtroom.
At the time of recording, Jesse Lee Calhoun has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial has not yet begun, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This is not a verdict. It is a record of what is known so far—and the lives at the center of it.
