When bodies of women started turning up in wooded parts of northwestern Oregon back in February, the local PD thought they had some unconnected cases on their hands. Somehow multiple murderers had been choosing similar locations for their victims.
That thought was changed for the public on July 17th when prosecutors said “at least one person of interest” had been identified in their deaths. Yet back on June 4th, the Portland Police Bureau released a statement claiming they were not related at all.
“Investigators and prosecutors from multiple law enforcement agencies have been working collaboratively, … and they have determined that there are links between four cases: Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real,” said the prosecutor’s office.
The DA’s office followed up by stating, “Investigators have interviewed multiple people in connection with these cases and have identified at least one person of interest that is linked to all four.” Local media has reported a man is in custody and that there is no danger to the public.
Smith was the first to vanish back on December 22, 2022. She was discovered on February 19th in a heavily wooded area 45 miles outside of Portland.
Perry’s body was discovered on April 24th near a skate park. Webster’s body was discovered less than a week later near Mill Creek on April 30th.
Real was last seen on March 27th at a fast-food restaurant and reported missing on April 4th. Her body was found on May 7th.
The discovery of these linked bodies should hopefully lead to the prosecution of the killer and their conviction. With little information being given to the public, it’s hard to see exactly how these cases are connected.
