Mom breaks down in tears visiting tunnel where suspected serial killer left her daughter's dead body

A bereaved mom was moved to tears when she visited the site where her daughter's body was found.

In 2023, Charity Perry was one of four women to have died in Portland within three months of each other - with the deaths later being linked.

Charity's body was discovered April 24 in a state park along the Columbia River Gorge after being reported missing in December 2022. Police immediately labelled the 24-year-old's death as 'suspicious'.

But over a year on, Charity's killer is still to be found.

Convicted felon Jesse Lee Calhoun has been named as a person of interest, but he's yet to be charged with any crimes relating to Charity's death.

He's also a person of interest regarding the deaths of Kristin Smith, 22, Bridget Webster, 31, and Ashely Real, 22 - all of whom were discovered in and around the Portland area last year.

Now, Charity's mom Diana Allen has visited the tunnel where she was found under I-84.

NewNation reporter Brian Entin asked the grieving mother: "Do you think she was alive when it got to this point [in the tunnel]?"

Diana Allen said she would have never stopped looking for her daughter. (NewsNation)

"I don't think that she died here," replied Diana. "I think she was placed."

She went on to say that Charity didn't drive and that her daughter had no reason to be in that area.

Noting it was a long way from Portland, Diana added that she's been told that there was no way that Charity walked there.

Becoming overcome with emotion in another part of the interview, Diana said: "They worked really hard to hide her."

"I almost went without even knowing [where she was]," she continued. "I wouldn't have never stopped looking for her."

Charity Perry's body was found on April 24, 2023. (Multnomah County Sheriff's Office)

Diana and the family of the other victims are urgently pushing for answers, especially as police's main person of interest is set to be released on parole in the coming weeks.

Calhoun was reprimanded in July 2023 on a probation violation.

He'd been released from his initial prison sentence in the summer of 2021 a year early. Calhoun served time after being found guilty of assaulting a public safety officer, interfering with a law enforcement animal, burglary and the unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2019 - but his criminal history dates back to 2003.

According to NewsNation, Calhoun is scheduled to be released from prison on June 7.

Topics: Crime, News, US News

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

@niamhshackleton