Keith Hunter Jesperson: The Happy Face Killer
Introduction
Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer," is a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women across the United States between 1990 and 1995. He earned his nickname from the smiley faces he drew on letters to the media and authorities, in which he taunted them about his crimes. Jesperson, a long-haul truck driver, used his job to travel across multiple states, making it difficult for law enforcement to track his movements.
Modus Operandi
Jesperson primarily targeted women, many of whom were sex workers or transients. He often strangled his victims with his bare hands, a method he later described as giving him a sense of power and control. After killing, he sometimes defiled the bodies or moved them to delay discovery.
Known Victims
- Taunja Bennett (January 21, 1990) – Jesperson's first known victim was 23-year-old Taunja Bennett. He met her at a bar in Portland, Oregon, and lured her to his home. After an argument, he strangled her and dumped her body near the Columbia River Gorge.
- Unnamed Victim ("Jane Doe") (August 30, 1992) – A woman was found murdered near Blythe, California. She was a transient, and Jesperson later confessed to killing her.
- Laurie Ann Pentland (November 1992) – Jesperson strangled 26-year-old Laurie Ann Pentland in Salem, Oregon, after she tried to extort money from him.
- Another Unidentified Victim ("Jane Doe") (1993) – Jesperson confessed to killing an unknown woman in California, but her identity has never been confirmed.
- Cynthia Lyn Rose (September 1994) – A 34-year-old sex worker in Turlock, California, was strangled by Jesperson after he picked her up at a truck stop.
- Angela Subrize (January 1995) – Jesperson picked up 21-year-old Angela Subrize in Washington, later killing her and disposing of her body in Wyoming.
- Julie Ann Winningham (March 10, 1995) – His final known victim was 41-year-old Julie Ann Winningham, a former girlfriend. She was killed near Washougal, Washington. This murder led to his downfall, as Winningham was known to have been dating Jesperson, bringing him to the attention of authorities.
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Account
