A woman who has been missing for nearly four years is now linked to the case against alleged serial killer Jesse Calhoun, the man accused of killing five women across Oregon and Washington.
A woman who has been missing for nearly four years is now linked to the case against alleged serial killer Jesse Calhoun, the man accused of killing five women across Oregon and Washington.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced a new indictment for first-degree manslaughter for 32-year-old Elizabeth “Libby” Gibson , who's been missing since Novemeber 2022. Court documents show Libby's death came before the other five women Calhoun is accused of killing.
Gibson went missing in November 2022. The district attorney’s office said investigators believe she died Nov. 18, 2022. No information was provided about how she may have died.
Gibson’s family has asked for privacy but released a statement following Calhoun’s indictment Wednesday.
“Our family is grateful that a definitive step toward justice is finally being taken for our sister, Libby,” the family’s statement read. “Libby was kind, creative, and silly. She welcomed everyone with love and acceptance. Her future was tragically taken from her way [too] soon. We are deeply appreciative of the tireless work and dedication of the law enforcement offices and the District Attorney’s Office whose efforts have helped bring us to this point.”
Calhoun previously pleaded not guilty to five counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Joana Speaks, Ashley Real, and Bridget Webster. He also faces four counts of second-degree abuse of a corpse.
Prosecutors believe those five women were killed between November 2022 and June 2023.
COMPLETE COVERAGE | Jesse Calhoun case
Michelle Bart, the founder and president of the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation (NWCAVE), has been working with some of the families involved in the case against Calhoun.
“These were families’ daughters, sisters, granddaughters, mothers; many of them were mothers,” Bart said. “And so, there are children left behind that deserve to know that people fought for their moms.”
Friends of Gibson told KATU that Gibson, like other victims in the case, was experiencing homelessness in the Portland area when she went missing.
“The vulnerability is what these evil monsters prey on,” Bart said. “You know, when you’re houseless, homeless, when you might be doing different forms of lifestyle differences that you and I might not do with addictions, things of that nature, survival sex, you know, they are vulnerable. But, does that make it right? It doesn’t.”
“There are so many services that victims didn’t receive when they were alive, or didn’t qualify for when they were alive, or there were too many people waiting at the shelter and they couldn’t get in,” Bart added. “The system is the broken piece.”
Bart said services available for women experiencing homelessness are not enough to meet the need.
“So, instead of asking what makes the victims vulnerable, let’s ask how we can fix a broken system and stop giving all the power to those that do harm to all of us,” Bart said. “And until that question is answered, we’re going to continue to meet, we’re going to continue to advocate, we’re going to continue to try to provide some kind of normalcy for these families, especially the parents.”
The District Attorney’s Office said Gibson’s body has not been recovered. They would not provide information about how they found out about Gibson and why it took so long to charge Calhoun but said simply that they were aware of her.
Calhoun is set to be arraigned on the new manslaughter charge Monday.
Prosecutors have said they want to consolidate the cases into a single trial, rather than hold separate trials.
"Through the process of indictments, and I believe, through our court filings, we intend to show that they were connected. And we will be looking to prove that in court," District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said.
Bart emphasized the importance of focusing on the alleged victims and the impact of their losses.
“Stop talking about him,” Bart said. “Let the prosecutors talk about him and get him where he’s in a place [where] he’ll never be able to harm another human being. Let’s talk about the girls. Let’s talk about their lives.”
NWCAVE will be holding a candlelight vigil for its Annual National Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims next Friday, Sept. 25 at Esther Short Park in Vancouver. The vigil starts at 5 p.m.
Prosecutors said the case against Calhoun remains active.
“We will not stop. We will do everything in our power to hold him accountable and see that justice is done for each and every one of these victims,” said Vasquez. “We remain committed to these families for as long as it takes.”
Investigators are asking anyone with information about Gibson’s appearance or death to come forward.
