PORTLAND, OREGON: In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the families of four young women believed to have been murdered by a suspected serial killer in Oregon have voiced their deep dissatisfaction with the police investigation and the slow progress in apprehending the perpetrator. The discovery of the women's bodies, scattered across northwest Oregon, has sparked outrage among their loved ones, who feel that crucial opportunities to prevent the tragedy were missed.
Who is Melissa Smith?
Among those speaking out is Melissa Smith, the mother of Kristin, whose body was the first to be discovered on February 19. Smith recounted her distressing experience, saying she reported her daughter missing in December to Gresham Police in a Portland suburb but felt she "was not given the help that [she] needed." The initial response from the authorities left her feeling frustrated and concerned for her daughter's safety.
Chilling account of Ashley Real's father
Similarly, Ashley Real's father, Jose, shared his harrowing account of events leading up to the tragic discovery of his daughter's body on May 7. Jose disclosed that he had called the police on November 11 after Real arrived at his Portland home, visibly distressed and claiming she had been choked by Jesse Calhoun. Despite taking her to a hospital where the marks on her throat were documented, the alleged assailant was not arrested until months later, following the discovery of the other victims' bodies.
Jose's attempts to seek justice were met with disappointment when the Portland police officer who initially took the report referred the case to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office due to its location falling outside their jurisdiction. Sadly, Jose never received any updates or progress reports from the sheriff's office, even after he and his wife called repeatedly. The lack of communication from the authorities left him feeling abandoned and frustrated, believing that their inaction contributed to his daughter's tragic fate.
Melissa Smith's call for swift action
Both Smith and Jose have criticized the slow response of the police in their respective cases. Melissa shared her concerns, stating that the investigation gained momentum only after other young women started going missing. "I was not given the help that I needed in searching for her and I have concerns for that," she explained in a 10-minute-long video posted on Facebook. "After some of the girls went missing, that is when I started receiving phone calls and getting a new detective," she added.
Smith praised the new detective assigned to her daughter's case for being more proactive, but the delay in action still raises questions and doubts for the grieving mother. "I am hoping that we got him," Smith said of Calhoun's arrest, adding, "I want nothing more than justice. I know Kristen was murdered and I have faith that the police department are going to piece this together. I don’t know if they are linked with the other girls. I am in contact with the families of a few of the other girls."
A glimpse of hope
After extensive collaboration between nine law enforcement agencies, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced revently that they had identified at least one person of interest linking the four deaths together. While the statement did not disclose the name of the suspect, a law enforcement official close to the investigation revealed that Calhoun was arrested on June 6 by members of two sheriff's departments, with the US Marshals Service providing assistance. However, authorities have remained tight-lipped about the case, citing an "active ongoing criminal investigation." Portland Police Sgt Kevin Allen and Sheriff's Deputy John Plock have refrained from providing further details, adding to the families' distress and frustration.
Amid the sorrow and grief, Jose expressed his gratitude for finding his daughter's remains, allowing him to visit and pay his respects at a Clackamas County cemetery. His poignant words reflected the anguish of a father who wishes he could have done more to protect his beloved daughter and lamented the day he could no longer be with her. "I can tell her, 'Daddy's here, mija ... you know how much I miss you,'" Jose told KMTR, using an affectionate Spanish term for daughter. "Maybe you don't have a daughter, you don't have a son now, but believe me, when somebody loses a daughter or son, so sad. I cannot protect her. I cannot be with her that day. I always want her to be cared for and I feel so sad because I miss that day, I miss that day," the heartbroken father lamented.
