But to Melissa Moore, he was more than just a serial killer . Pavlinac's daughters said their mother "was never the same" after she divorced their father after discovering he left her for another woman. Mahoney drove to the address, but Hurley was not there. Gannon, Duarte, Donovan and Gilbertson claim an organized group of serial killers would drug unsuspecting victims at a bar or party then abduct, hold and torture the victims before finally killing and dumping the bodies in water. She threatened to call the police, and he strangled her. Jesperson married Rose Hucke on August 2, 1975. After he strangled them, he dumped the dead bodies on the side of the road. He told investigatorshe could not remember anythingthat happened that night. Angela Surbrize was the name of Jesperson's second-to-last victim. Today, we're finishing our look at Keith Jesperson, the twisted murderer otherwise known as the Happy Face Killer. He left bodies in Oregon, California, Florida, Nebraska and Washington while working as a long-haul truck driver. Sosnovske pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. The morning of October 2, Homan's body was found not far from the shore of the Mississippi River. Victim 3:Cynthia Lyn Rose, 32, was found dead in September 1992. Largely considered an urban legend, the Smiley Face Killer, like the Manchester Pusher, murdered his victims by drowning. When that did not elicit a response, he began writing letters to the media and authorities. Could some of them be connected to a serial killer or group of killers? Jesperson resides in the Oregon State Penitentiary, where he spends much of his time making art. [13] Police originally considered her death a drug overdose. Pavlinac had been with Sosnovske, a farmhand 18 years her junior, for a decade when the Bennett case caught her attention in 1990. She found out that her son had reportedly suffered blunt force trauma to the head, his eye socket and behind his left leg. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Pentlands body was found in November 1992 after being discarded in Salem, Oregon. Julie Winningham is the last known victim of Keith Hunter Jesperson. By Joseph Diaz, Scott Engel, Emily Wynn, Jenner Smith, and Lauren Effron November 4, 2021, 3:32 AM 1:24 Laverne Pavlinac and John Sosnovske are seen here in this 1985 family photo. Pieces of his artwork have been seen on "murderabilia" sites. Serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer," brutally murdered eight women between 1990 and 1995. He had a relationship with his final victim and became a suspect after her body was discovered in March 1995. 'Happy Face Killer' case tapes reveal the lengths woman went to frame boyfriend Meanwhile, the real killer carried out a series of murders over five years. [2] Jesperson's father was a domineering alcoholic; according to Jesperson, his paternal grandfather was prone to violence. In the summer of 1992, Jesperson met "Claudia" at a truck checkpoint in California. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! This led police agencies in several states to reopen old cases, many of which were found to be possible victims of Jesperson. What Is the Smiley Face Killers Theory? On September 29, 2006, 21-year-old Lucas Homan vanished from La Crosse, Wisconsin. But when investigators were unable to match the purse and denim piece to Bennett, they confronted Pavlinac about fabricating evidence. The daughter of a man dubbed the "Happy Face Killer" has revealed the suffering she went through after discovering her father, Keith Jesperson, was a serial rapist and murderer who preyed on what he once claimed was as many as 185 people over a five-year span. The Happy Face Killer Raven Gender Male Birth Date April 6, 1955 (age 67) Place of Birth Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada Occupation Truck driver Pathology Serial Killer Serial Rapist Modus Operandi Strangulation Type Disorganized No. of Victims 8-185 killed 5 attempted Span of crimes 1995/1966-March 10, 1995 (confirmed) Criminal Charges [15], Although Jesperson at one point claimed to have had as many as 160 victims,[16] only the eight women killed in Washington, Oregon, California, Florida, Nebraska, and Wyoming have been confirmed. , who survived a violent encounter with Jesperson when she was 21. Between 1990-1995, a series of murders were discovered over several states, all with a very similar MO. Geib's body was found three weeks later in a lake that had previously been searched. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Today's episode is part 1 of our coverage of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson. "The Smiley Face Killers" movie was . She previously claimed to the FBI that he was a wanted bank robber and frequently complained to Sosnovske's probation officer that he was drinking too much. that, using genetic genealogy, they were able to identify a body found in 1993 as Patricia Skiple of Colton, Oregon. [6] He graduated from high school in 1973, but did not attend college because his father did not believe he could do it. Jesperson has said that he took 166 lives, but only the above eight murders have been attributed to him. First, she told investigators that she knew Sosnovske did it because she saw Bennett's body, said Ingram. Now 66, Jesperson is serving five non-consecutive life sentences in Oregon's state penitentiary. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! At age 35, Keith was 6'7.5" tall and weighed 240lbs. "The greatest human tragedy is that Laverne Pavlinac derailed the investigation in 1990, and in four years, Keith Jesperson killed more women," said Jim McIntyre, the Multnomah County, Oregon, prosecutor who handled the cases. Patrick McNeill is thought to be the first victim of the Smiley Face Killers. The Pittsburgh police theorized James fell into the river while crossing a bridge near the city center and drowned. And she [said], 'Well, they told me I had to tell you thisbecauseif I told you then they would believe me,'" Carpenter said. On January 25, 2017 around 11:30 p.m., James was walking back to his apartment after a night out drinking with friends and co-workers. Various witnesses outside the hotel saw Welzien vomiting in the street. It had been washed ashore on a beach in Gary, Indiana, 30 miles south of Chicago. Hundreds of college-aged men have died in accidental or undetermined drownings. After the murder, Jesperson remembered they'd spent days together and he'd let her use a credit card. A month later, in Turlock, California, the body of Cynthia Lyn Rose was discovered. Join Melissa Moore, host of Happy Face Season 1, as she helps Becky unravel the strange tale of her family, searching for answers to decades-old mysteries that remain unanswered in the modern day. Police interview tapes obtained by "20/20" show the lengths Pavlinac went to convince investigators she and Sosnovske were the killers responsible when they weren't. Hurley's mother received a copy of the autopsy report and allowed aphysician to analyze the report. Mahoney said she drove around for an hour before returning home, thinking Hurley got another ride, and that when she got back, Hurley was still gone. Investigators believedhe could have walked to the edge of Lake Michigan, a five-minute walk from the hotel, and fallen in. All Rights Reserved. James' body, however, had almost no visible damage, which was highly suspicious because it had traveled through heavily trafficked river. When she arrived, however, he was nowhere in sight. His last known victim was a woman he dated, which led to his capture and incarceration for life. [3], Treated like an outcast and a black sheep by his own family and teased by other children for his large size at a young age, Jesperson was a lonely child who showed a propensity for torturing and killing animals. According to police reports, one dog later hit on an an SUV owned by a local band member, who had played a show at the bar the night of Homan's disappearance, but the K9 alert was inconclusive. According to former detective Kevin Gannon and Dr. Lee Gilbertson, Geib's head and shoulders were sticking out of the water. We need to report this, John.' Jesperson claims she was a sex worker who climbed into his truck, even though he told her he wasnt interested in her services, according to the two-hour Oxygen special. She also examined her father's actions in the podcast Happy Face. The Lonely Hearts Killer, was a truly frightening and twisted serial murderer in the late 1950s. Jesperson sent the photo to the Duquesne University students. Her daughters are still trying to understand why their mother did what she did, and why she didn't see another way to end the relationship. This led Jesperson to violently attack Martin until his father pulled him away. Questions Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice Hopes to Answer, A First Look at the Murder of Susan Berman. That's whyall ofthis doesn'tmake sense. This finding is inconsistent with the belief that Booth drowned the night he disappeared. , 24, disappeared on January 19, 2008 from a bar in Woodlyn, Pennsylvania. If you need help or need help supporting someone else, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. He was a 21-year-old student at Fordham University, and his body was found in. Remains found in Merced County, California on June 3, 1993, belonged to a Jesperson victim he has said was called "Cindy." Several years later, Hucke began to suspect Jesperson was having affairs when strange women would call. "I sometimes now wonder, if he was freed now, if he was released, would he kill again? Jespersons heinous crimes as well as shocking twists in the case including a, couple who took the blame for one of his homicides. Jesperson claims she was a sex worker who climbed into his truck, even though he told her he wasnt interested in her services, according to the two-hour, , 26. When investigators asked him why he decided to come forward, Jesperson listed two reasons. went missing from Chicago, Illinois, after a night of celebrating Y2K with his friends. Jesperson met 21-year-old Bennett in a bar in Portland, Oregon. [29][30] In September 2018, podcast network HowStuffWorks began releasing a show called Happy Face[31] featuring interviews with Melissa about her childhood and her father. [11] Jesperson gives the Jane Doe's name as Claudia. . "[Julie] was beautiful inside as well as outside. He slapped her. Victim 2: California Jane Doe. His blood-alcohol concentrationwas only 0.08 percent. Jesperson was a middle child, with an older sister and brother and a younger sister and brother. . Pavlinac seemed to know intimate details about the case. went missing after leaving a Bruins hockey game in Boston,Massachusetts. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. In 1975, when Jesperson was aged 20, he married Rose Hucke, and the couple had three children: two daughters and one son. She later rescinded her confession, but in 1991 a jury still found her guilty. Published: Apr. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Criminal profiler Pat Brown calls the serial killer theory "ludicrous", arguing that the evidence does not fit what is known about serial killers. In the years following, Jesperson said he often thought about what it would be like to do the same to a human. The killers always leave a signature smiley face near the location of the body. He introduced himself to Bennett at a bar and invited her to a house he was renting. She maintains a very private lifestyle, so not much is known about her. A Navy veteran, 24-year-old William Hurley went missing after leaving a Bruins hockey game in Boston,Massachusetts. Jesperson met her in a bar in January 1995 and agreed to give her a ride before eventually killing her. Investigators have confirmed that he killed at least 8 people, including the woman now known to be Skiple. Director Carl Hindmarch Stars Doug Bates Janine Brugnone Beghtol Rick Buckner See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 1 User review Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. California State Route 152 in the Gilroy area about 80 miles southeast of San Francisco in June 1993, in an area known as Pacheco Pass. Jesperson reported that he was raped at age 14. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Pavlinac and Sosnovske were released from prison in November 1995. Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as "The Happy Face Killer ," is serving a life sentence in prison today. Investigators had been trying to nail down a suspect for weeks when Pavlinac brought Sosnovske to their attention. In September 1994, the body of a woman was found in Florida. ET on ABC. The Insane Details of the Smiley Face Killers Theory; The Most Recent Alleged Smiley Face Killers' Victims Highlight How Long This Theory Has . [7] She was a correspondent for Crime Watch Daily. ", This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 19:00. For example, the Canadian-American serial killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the . But in the process, she also falsely implicated herself. This included beatings, sometimes with a belt in front of others, and in one case he received an electric shock. He is serving three consecutive life sentences at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. Before he was identified as a serial killer, he anonymously confessed to his crimes in messages that contained smiley faces, leading to his being nicknamed the "Happy Face Killer." Her body was discovered behind the Blueberry Hill Cafe in Turlock, California. Her body disintegrated against the hot asphalt as he drove. Her body was found after his arrest. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. Some of his victims, as seen in this timeline, have never been identified. Welzien's friends said he had only three or four drinks, but by the end of the night he seemed very intoxicated. According to detectives Anthony Duarte and Kevin Gannon, the Smiley Face Theory came into . Victim 4:Laurie Ann Pentland, 26. Halfway through the game, Hurley called hisfiance, ClaireMahoney, pictured above, and said he wanted to leave. When she arrived, however, he was nowhere in sight. Others say there is no killer. He showed signs of psychopathic behavior from an. After Jesperson came forward in March 1995, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges for Bennett and Winningham of Camas, Washington, his last known victim. James' parents later hired a private investigator who organized a massive citywide search, which led tothe discovery of James' bodyin the Ohio River on March 6, 2017, 40 days after he had disappeared. "Madonna, that's what she listened to all day," White said. After Pavlinac confessed to investigators, her daughter said she got a call from the detectives asking her to come to her mother's house right away. Potential "Smiley Face Killers" victim Todd Geib. His brother gave this letter to law enforcement. Investigators have revealed the name of a heretofore unidentified victim of the Happy Face Killer, nearly 30 years after her murder. His boss informed his family, who filed a missing persons report 72 hours later. By Tim Stelloh. "Then it becameserious,a seriousargument. Victim 1:Taunja Bennett. I'm thinking, 'My God, she is actually involved in this,'" Ingram said. Serial killer Keith Jesperson murders at least eight women over a five-year span and taunts authorities with disturbing letters and scribbled confessions signed with a happy face. According to Gannon and Gilbertson, Homan had various injuries on his head, hands and arms, and they theorized that a mark on his forehead may have been a footprint that was the result of Homan being held down. The book I: the Creation of a Serial Killer (2002), by Jack Olsen, delved into Jesperson's life. The two would often get into trouble together, and Jesperson claimed he was often punished many times for things Martin had done and shifted the blame. One of them was to a friend. Or 'I will cause trouble for your family. Murderous Keith Hunter Jesperson became known as the Happy Face Killer for his boasting letters to police, signed with a smiley face. Serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer," brutally murdered eight women between 1990 and 1995. On 30 August 1992, the currently unidentified body of a woman Jesperson had raped and strangled was found near Blythe, California, United States. In 2019, investigators began utilizing genetic genealogy in an attempt to identify Blue Pacheco, partnering with the nonprofit DNA Doe Project.
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