Jesse Calhoun, 41, has been indicted in the death of a sixth woman, Elizabeth “Libby” Gibson, 32, who vanished in late November 2022.
Calhoun, already facing second-degree murder charges for five other women, was charged Wednesday with first-degree manslaughter in Gibson’s death, the Multnomah County District Attorney announced. Gibson, who was homeless, had been missing for nearly four years when the indictment came down. Investigators have not disclosed how she died.
Gibson’s family spoke out after the charges were filed, expressing relief that the case was moving forward. “Our family is grateful that a definitive step toward justice is finally being taken for our sister, Libby,” they said in a statement. “Libby was kind, creative and silly. She welcomed everyone with love and acceptance. Her future was tragically taken from her way [too] soon.”
DA Nathan Vasquez addressed the new indictment at a press conference, framing it as part of a broader commitment to the victims’ families. “We will not stop,” he said. “We will do everything in our power to hold him accountable and see that justice is done for each and every one of these victims. We remain committed to these families for as long as it takes.” Vasquez called Gibson’s death a “profound and horrific tragedy.”
Calhoun’s criminal history stretches back to 2003, and he first drew investigators’ attention in July 2023 when authorities identified links between four cases: Ashley Real, 22, Kristin Smith, 22, Charity Perry, 24, and Bridget Webster, 31. Smith’s body was discovered in woodland in southeast Portland on Feb. 19, 2023, roughly two months after she was reported missing. Perry was found dead March 8, and Speaks 10 days after that. Webster’s body turned up on April 26. Real’s remains were located May 7, though authorities have not specified when she was allegedly killed.
The charges came in stages. Calhoun was first charged in 2024 with the murders of Perry, Webster, and Speaks. Smith’s murder charge followed in 2025, and Real’s came in May of that year. Jose Real, Ashley’s father, spoke to KOIN through an interpreter after that charge was filed. “I never thought or imagined that my family would experience something like this,” he said. “I’m still really grateful with God because now there’s someone responsible. He’s named for what happened to my daughter.”
Calhoun has pleaded not guilty to all previous murder charges. The manslaughter charge for Gibson differs from the murder counts in its legal framing: the grand jury indicted him for “unlawfully and recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life,” according to the DA’s office. The other five women were all charged as second-degree murders, plus two charges of four counts of second-degree abuse of a corpse.
Calhoun is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charge Monday.