The Smiley Face Murders

Serial Killer

The Smiley Face Murders

Overview of the Alleged Murders

The "Smiley Face Murders" is the name given to a controversial theory involving the deaths of numerous young men whose bodies were recovered from rivers, lakes, creeks, and other waterways across the United States. The theory does not concern one identified serial killer. Instead, retired New York City detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte, joined by criminal-justice professor Lee Gilbertson, have argued that some of the deaths may have been committed by an organized group of killers operating in different cities. The investigators began publicly discussing their theory in 2008 after reviewing cases dating back to the 1990s. Many of the men were college students or recent graduates who disappeared after leaving bars, parties, or social gatherings late at night. Their bodies were generally discovered days, weeks, or months later. Local authorities classified most of the deaths as accidental drownings, although a smaller number were ruled undetermined or, in one important case, homicide. Gannon and Duarte claimed that smiley-face graffiti had been found near possible entry or recovery points in several cases. They interpreted the drawings as signatures or messages left by the alleged killers. However, the locations, colors, sizes, and designs of the faces were not consistent, and many were found only after investigators searched broad areas surrounding the waterways.

Common Characteristics of the Cases

The alleged victims were usually young men who vanished during the late-night or early-morning hours. Alcohol was present in many cases, and some victims were last seen walking alone near rivers or bridges. Their personal belongings were sometimes recovered separately, while other men disappeared with their wallets, telephones, identification, or keys still in their possession. Supporters of the murder theory have pointed to unusual forensic details, including bodies allegedly appearing in locations that had already been searched, questionable decomposition levels, unexplained injuries, and disputes over where victims entered the water. They have suggested that the men may have been drugged, abducted, killed elsewhere, and later placed in waterways to make their deaths look accidental. Law-enforcement agencies and independent researchers have generally rejected the claim that all or most of the cases are connected. Investigators have emphasized that intoxication, darkness, cold temperatures, steep riverbanks, and strong currents create a serious drowning risk. They have also noted that smiley-face graffiti is common in urban areas and that no consistent DNA evidence, murder weapon, suspect, communication, or verified method links the deaths. ...

Confirmed Victims: (0)
Suspected Victims:

Patrick McNeill Age: (21), Date of Death: 1997-02-16

Christopher Mark Jenkins Age: (21), Date of Death: 2002-10-31

Michael Noll Age: (22), Date of Death: 2002-11-06

Joshua Guimond Age: (20), Date of Death: 2002-11-09

Todd Douglas Geib Age: (22), Date of Death: 2005-06-12

Lucas "Luke" Homan Age: (21), Date of Death: 2006-11-29

Thomas "Tommy" James Booth Age: (24), Date of Death: 2008-01-20

William Hurley Age: (24), Date of Death: 2009-10-08

Dakota Leo James Age: (23), Date of Death: 2017-01-25

Smiley face murder theory - Wikipedia