Authorities in Oregon have identified a person of interest in connection with the deaths of four women whose bodies were found between February and May of this year. The victims, Kristin Smith, 22; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Ashely Real, 22, were discovered in and around Portland, Oregon, sparking concerns of a potential serial killer in the area. The names of the victims and the person of interest have not been released to the public. However, relatives of the victims expressed hope that justice would be served. Melissa Smith, the mother of Kristin Smith, stated, "This is step one, so we just have to keep going and follow the process. It would definitely be nice to get the justice that my daughter and these three other girls deserve."

Currently, no charges have been filed in the cases, and all four deaths are still under investigation by the state medical examiner's office. Liz Merah, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, stated, "Officially, we have not named a person of interest. 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 of the decedents." The authorities did not provide further details on how the deaths were connected to the person of interest.

Despite the identification of a person of interest, some relatives remain cautious and believe it is too soon to confirm the alleged killer has been found. "Hopefully, there will be an outcome (to this) and then everyone can take a deep breath and move on with their lives," said Webster's step-grandfather. "I'm gonna wait and see what happens."

The deaths of the four women initially appeared unrelated until investigators from nine law enforcement agencies collaborated and determined the cases were linked. The Portland Police Bureau had previously stated that there was no evidence connecting the deaths, cautioning against speculation that caused fear and anxiety within the community.

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office emphasized that there is no current danger to the community. However, the investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed any further information regarding the person of interest or the potential motives behind the killings.