SALEM, Ore. - The bodies of four women began appearing in wooded areas in northwest Oregon in February, though police initially said the cases appeared to be unconnected.
But on Monday, prosecutors dropped a bombshell, saying they are linked and "at least one person of interest" has been identified.The state medical examiner has not determined the cause or manner of death for any of the women, prosecutors said in a statement.
Officials did not use the words "serial killer" in announcing the connection between the deaths.But, in an about-face from a June 4 Portland Police Bureau statement saying six deaths did not appear to be connected, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in Portland announced that four of them are."Investigators and prosecutors from multiple law enforcement agencies have been working collaboratively, ...
and they have determined that there are links between four cases: Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster, and Ashley Real," the prosecutor’s office said."Investigators have interviewed multiple people in connection with these cases and have identified at least one person of interest that is linked to all four," the DA's office added. (Multnomah County District Attorney's Office)The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in Portland says no charges have been filed against anyone but that the community is not currently in any danger.