Police in Oregon have determined that a woman found dead near an abandoned barn in rural Clark County was murdered in Portland.
Joanna Speaks, 32, disappeared in March, and her body was found in early April about 22 miles north of Portland, as CrimeOnline reported.
Police said at the time of the discovery they suspected the body had been moved from the crime scene. The Clark County Medical Examiner said that Speaks died from blunt head and neck injuries.
“Based on information developed in that investigation, there is reason to believe that the homicide happened in Portland,” the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement on Monday. “No arrests have been made.”
Police did not provide any updates on the investigation into Speaks’ death, which has been included with the deaths of five other women in the Portland area thought to be possibly the work of a serial killer. Four of the deaths have been linked to a person of interest, police said in June, although they did not identify that person, but the Willamette Week identified him as 38-year-old Jesse Lee Calhoun, who was released early from prison in 2021 after joining other inmates in fighting devastating wildfires in Oregon.
Calhoun was taken back into custody in June and his clemency revoked. He has not, however, been charged with any of the deaths.
Portland Police initially put out a statement attempting to quell rumors of a serial killer but later put out a second statement acknowledging links in the deaths of Bridget Webster, Charity Perry, Ashley Real, and Kristin Smith, KGW reported. Speaks’ death has not so far been linked with the other four. The sixth victim, who has not been identified, as also not been linked.
Speaks’ family has questioned whether she should be included, however, and they have joined family members of the other women calling for answers.
“This can’t be for nothing,” said Ariel Hanby, Speaks’ stepsister, during a September fundraiser. “They couldn’t have died for nothing.”
Speaks’ sister, Robyn Speaks, did not mention the other deaths in a statement after PBB’s announcement that it was now handling the case.
“In light of today’s press release from the Portland Police Bureau regarding them taking over the case to find JoAnna’s killer, our family would like to express how hopeful we are that PPB will bring us answers and a conviction!” she said. “PPB now handling the case will open up many more opportunities for witness testimony and evidence tracking within the jurisdiction of the (probable) original crime scene.”
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[Featured image: Joanna Speaks/Facebook]
