Three out of six women found dead in remote wooded areas in Oregon, Washington, are believed to have “visited the same locations in the months leading up to their deaths.”
Between February 19 and May 7, six women, between the ages of 22 and 32, were found within a 100-mile radius, prompting claims that a serial killer was on the loose.
Law enforcement insisted there was “no connection” between the women, but a source familiar with the investigation said the comment was premature.
Investigators are said to be investigating possible connections between JoAnna Speaks (32), Charity Lynn Perry (24) and Bridget Leann Ramsey Webster (31).
The three women are known to “frequently visit Southeast 82nd Avenue and an area near Clackamans Town Center,” the source told Oregon Live.
“It was premature to say these deaths are unrelated or related,” the source said.
“Investigators are always looking for common ground with unsolved homicides.”
has contacted the Portland Police Department regarding the allegations but has not received an immediate response.
Speaks, Perry and Webster’s “personal stories” “show similarities,” the source told the outlet — but she declined to offer more information.
It remains unclear if an individual is linked to the deaths of the three women, the source added, but all died within three weeks of each other in April.
Speaks, a mother of three and recovering drug addict, was found dead in a barn on April 8, shortly after her disappearance. She died as a result of blunt trauma and her case was ruled a homicide by investigators.
Her sister Robyn told NewsNation’s Banfield that authorities had been “very helpful” in her sister’s case but raised fears that “women were dying”.
“I think they (the police) want to make sure that the public isn’t scared too much about a serial killer.” Either way, women die. And the numbers are going up,” she said.
Perry and Webster both died under “suspicious circumstances,” investigators said, but no further information was released.
The Oregon State Police Forensic Science & Pathology Bureau, headed by Major Alex Gardner, said in an email to the outlet that state police prioritize forensic work and DNA analysis on suspected homicides.
Gardner has not provided a timeline for completion in these cases.
Between February 19 and May 7, six women, between the ages of 22 and 32, were found within a 100-mile radius, prompting claims that a serial killer was on the loose
An unidentified woman was found near a highway on the same day as Perry, and authorities said she was of Native American or Alaskan Native American descent. She had two distinctive tattoos: a black music note with the letter V and a Buddha on her upper right back
Speaks was found April 8 in a Clark County barn on an abandoned lot in Ridgefield, Washington, about 22 miles north of Portland. She died from blunt head trauma and neck injuries.
Perry’s body was found April 24 by Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies in a culvert, which is a drain or waterway that runs under a road or railroad, off the East Historic Columbia River Highway and the Northeast Tumalt Road, near Ainsworth State Park in eastern Multnomah County.
Webster’s body was found April 30 on Harmony Road near Mill Creek in northwest Polk County.
Little was released about Perry and Webster’s circumstances, but police said Perry was known to be in an area of downtown Portland known for the open air trafficking of fentanyl.
Three other women were also found dead around the same time as Speaks, Perry, and Webster.
An unidentified woman was found near a highway on the same day as Perry, and authorities said she was of Native American or Alaskan Native American descent.
She had two distinctive tattoos: a black music note with the letter V and a Buddha on her upper right back.
When she was found dead, she was wearing rings and bracelets, a green long sleeve shirt, a black and white zipped jacket, jeans and black and white Adidas cleats.
Kristin Smith, 22, was found on February 19 after going missing in late December. Her remains were discovered in a wooded area near a crossroads in Pleasant Valley.
The coroner has yet to rule on the cause of death, and her family has been searching for her themselves, setting up a GoFundMe to help with the costs.
The last body found by police was 22-year-old Ashley Real, whose remains were discovered by a fisherman on May 7 in a heavily wooded area in Eagle Creek.
Kristin Smith, 22, was found on February 19. She had been missing since December
The last body to be found was that of Ashley Real, 22. Her remains were discovered by a fisherman on May 7 in a heavily wooded area in Eagle Creek. She was last seen on surveillance footage at a fast food restaurant on March 27 (right). )
She was last seen on surveillance footage at a fast food restaurant on March 27.
Three local police departments work together on the cases.
Paul Holes, an investigator who helped identify and apprehend the Golden State killer, warned that the victims were “from a vulnerable segment of the population.”
Speaking to Banfield, he said, “The casualty toll is huge.” It sounds like some of those casualties are from a vulnerable demographic.
“And right now, in my experience, this population is the target of predators because they’re trying to find victims so they can feed their own needs.”
“Often even very experienced homicide detectives have never worked on cases like this before.
“There are some subtleties that the perpetrator may leave behind in multiple cases that get overlooked.”
He added that police need to find a connection between the killings and that authorities are usually “ill-prepared” for serial killer cases.