Prosecutors in Multnomah County, Oregon, have filed a new indictment connecting Jesse Calhoun to the death of Elizabeth “Libby” Gibson, a 32-year-old Portland woman believed killed in November 2022. Gibson’s remains have never been recovered. A friend reported her missing in March 2023, and the case remained open until this week’s announcement. Calhoun now faces charges in the deaths of six women total. He was already facing second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse charges in the deaths of Ashley Real, Kristin Smith, Charity Lynn Perry, Joanna Speaks, and Bridget Leanne Webster.
Those five women’s bodies were discovered in rural areas across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington between late 2022 and mid-2023. The multi-agency investigation involved local, state, and federal partners across two states. Gibson’s family released a statement saying they are grateful a definitive step toward justice is finally being taken. A loved one described her as a true light in this world and said hearing she’s never coming back is heartbreaking.
Calhoun is scheduled for arraignment Monday, with a trial expected later. Prosecutors have not ruled out additional charges. The case has raised broader questions about how missing persons investigations unfold when they span multiple jurisdictions, and whether earlier intervention could have changed the outcome. What questions do you have about how these cases are handled in your community?
