What We Know About Link Between Four Dead Portland Women

(RepublicanDaily.org) – Authorities in Portland, Oregon say that four women found dead earlier this year in the Portland area are linked and that these women may be victims of the same serial killer. The Multnomah County District Attorney put out the statement on Monday, July 17, and added that they are pursuing leads and people of interest in the case, although no charges have been filed at this time.

The discovery of the dead bodies of 22-year-old Ashely Real, 31-year-old Bridget Webster, 24-year-old Charity Perry, and 22-year-old Kristin Smith occurred between February and May earlier this year, leaving the Portland community shaken. The DA has assured people that they do not believe there is “any active danger” to people at this time in regards to the case, however.

Smith’s body was found mid-February in Portland, Perry was found dumped in a ditch in late April, Webster was discovered in the countryside of Polk county in early May, and Real’s remains were found in the forest in proximate Clackamas County a few days after Webster was found. Portland police and nine local authorities collaborated and eventually discovered that initial reports by Portland PD assuring the public of no links between the deaths appear to be incorrect and the deaths do indeed appear to be connected or to have been committed by the same individual or individuals.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner has not released the cause of death in these four women, who all lived in Portland or had ties to the city. However, the DA’s office says at least one “person of interest” is being investigated in the case and is an individual who knew all four females. These four women’s dead bodies were found around northwest Oregon, but all had been people who went to downtown Portland frequently or had lived there, and at least one, Perry, had been reported by her family to have been experiencing serious mental health problems and struggles prior to the apparent murder. Smith’s family says they are sure foul play was involved. Around 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year in the United States.