Four Portland women’s deaths linked, person of interest ID’d: Police

(NewsNation) — There are links in the cases of four of the women found dead in the Portland, Oregon, area earlier this year, police said Monday.

At least one person of interest who is linked to the four has been identified, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release, but no charges have been filed in connection to the investigations.

Investigators and prosecutors from nine different law enforcement agencies have been working on finding out what happened to multiple women whose bodies were discovered mostly in wooded, secluded rural areas within 100 miles of each other.

Now, investigators say there are connections in the cases of Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real.

Smith, 22 was the first of the four women to be found in February, NewsNation local affiliate KOIN wrote. Perry, 24, was found on April 24 after last being seen in downtown Portland in early March, while just six days later 31-year-old Webster’s body was discovered.

Real was found May 7.

KOIN reports that local media outlets have been told the name of the person of interest by multiple different agencies. That person is now in custody, The Willamette Week said.

“Based on the available information to investigators, there is not believed to be any active danger to the community at this time,” the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said.

The Multnomah County DA’s office stated that more information, such as what exactly links the four women together, is being released at this time, “as these are ongoing death investigations.”

Police previously urged the public to be cautious after news of the six deaths spread, as did rumors.

Authorities have since said in one of the cases, an unidentified woman found dead in a tent, there is no indication that foul play should be suspected, KOIN reported.