The deaths of four women whose bodies were found between February and May in and around Portland, Oregon, are linked, authorities said Monday.
Investigators have identified “at least” one person of interest linked to the deaths of 22-year-old Kristin Smith; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Ashely Real, 22, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
The person was not identified and no charges have been filed, and authorities declined to provide additional information on what connects the cases, citing ongoing death investigations.
The prosecutor’s office added that the cause and manner of death in each case remain under investigation by the state medical examiner’s office.
“Based on the information available to investigators, there are not believed to be any active dangers to the community at this time,” the prosecutor’s statement said.
Smith was found on February 19 in southeast Portland. Perry was discovered in a culvert on the historic Columbia River Highway in eastern Multnomah County on April 24.
Webster was found six days later on a country road in nearby Polk County, while Real was found in a wooded area in another nearby county, Clackamas, on May 7.
The statement did not mention the cases of two other women found dead in the region during the same time period. Portland’s NBC affiliate KGW first reported the six deaths.
The Portland Police Bureau said last month that authorities had found no evidence linking the deaths.
The agency said “widely distributed social media posts and media articles” suggesting a connection between the deaths had caused fear and anxiety, “and we want to ensure that the speculation is not supported by the facts available at this time.” moment”.
In its statement Monday, the prosecutor’s office said nine law enforcement agencies across the region had worked “collaboratively on numerous death investigations in northwestern Oregon” to determine links between the four cases.
Deon J. hampton and Andres Blankstein contributed.
