Kristin Smith, a 22-year-old woman from Gresham, Oregon, was a young life tragically cut short in the winter of 2022. Her disappearance just before the holidays would evolve into a months-long search fueled by her mother’s relentless determination, and ultimately unmask a series of killings that instilled fear across the Portland metropolitan area.
Kristin was last seen in November 2022, and her family officially reported her missing on December 22.
Her mother, Melissa Smith, immediately launched a tireless campaign to find her daughter. For months, she distributed flyers, gave interviews to the media, and harnessed the power of social media to keep Kristin's name and face in the public eye, fearing she could have been a victim of sex trafficking. The agonizing uncertainty for her family stretched through the cold winter months, a period Melissa later described as "deeply saddening, lost and broken."
The family's worst fears were realized on February 19, 2023, when human remains were discovered in a wooded area in Southeast Portland's Pleasant Valley neighborhood, near the intersection of Southeast Deardorff Road and Flavel Street. In May 2023, authorities publicly confirmed the remains were those of Kristin Smith. The discovery shocked the quiet residential community where she was found. Initially, police did not release a cause of death or state whether they considered it suspicious, leaving her family and the public with more questions than answers.
As the investigation into Kristin’s death continued, a disturbing pattern began to emerge. Over the following months, the bodies of several other young women were discovered in rural and wooded areas within a 100-mile radius of Portland, sparking fears of a potential serial killer. The victims included Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; Joanna Speaks, 32; and Ashley Real, 22. Law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions began collaborating, eventually linking the deaths and identifying a person of interest.
In the summer of 2023, authorities named Jesse Lee Calhoun as a person of interest in connection with the deaths of four of the women, including Kristin. Calhoun was arrested in June 2023 on unrelated parole violations. The case against him grew, and in May 2024, a grand jury indicted him for the murders of Perry, Webster, and Speaks. Then, in August 2025, after a prolonged and painful wait for Kristin's family, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Calhoun for her murder as well, adding charges of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors believe he killed Kristin on or about November 20, 2022. Calhoun has since been charged in the deaths of a total of six women.
Throughout the painful ordeal, Melissa Smith has been a pillar of strength, not only for her own daughter but for the families of the other victims. She has become a vocal advocate for justice, attending court hearings and speaking to the media, ensuring the young women are never forgotten. After Calhoun's indictment for Kristin's murder, a tearful Melissa Smith expressed her gratitude, saying, "I've always stayed hopeful that I would get justice for Kristin... I thank every single person who didn't give up on this case." She has stood alongside the other victims' families, united in their grief and their fight.
Jesse Lee Calhoun has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He remains in custody awaiting trial, which is not expected to begin until 2027. For the families of Kristin Smith and the other victims, the legal process is slow, but they remain steadfast. Melissa Smith’s promise to her daughter endures: "I always told Kristin, 'Never give up.' I never gave up. And I never will."
