Murdered Oregon woman’s sister says cops avoiding serial killer theory
A string of murders in the Portland, Oregon metro area that police previously said were unrelated have now been linked as authorities have identified a person of interest.
Deputies in nine different police departments released a joint statement on Monday saying the deaths of four women who were found either near or on the sides of roads between February and May are connected.
The women have been identified as Kristin Smith, 22, Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leann (Ramsay) Webster, 31, and Ashely Real, 22. Authorities have so far been unable to determine the victims’ cause and manner of deaths.
Police did not use the term “serial killer” to describe how the murders were connected but said through speaking with people connected to the deaths they were able to link one person of interest to all four deaths.
A serial killer is defined as a person who kills a series of three or more people with a common characteristic, according to the FBI.
At this time, police have not identified the person of interest or filed any charges.
Local media sites have identified the alleged person at the center of the investigation, but this information is unconfirmed.
