She grew up in a small town in Washington state and survived the escalating violence from her home life and. [17] He was convicted of another murder and received a fourth life sentence in January 2010. A "witchy" smiley face left at a murder site of the supposed "Smiley Face Serial Killer" seems to represent Charlie Manson. 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. Jespersons heinous crimes as well as shocking twists in the case including a couple who took the blame for one of his homicides are covered in bracing detail in the Oxygen special Snapped Notorious: The Happy Face Killer, now streaming. But a few days later, they got another call from Pavlinac. [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. More than 25 years have passed since the ordeal, and in that time, both Sosnovske and Pavlinac have died. Victim 5: California Jane Doe. Jesperson worked as a truck driver to support the family. Rather than fall victim to the trauma surrounding her father's crimes and arrest, she processed the events. He could not find Welzien and reported him missing around 1 p.m. After extensive searches, Welzien's body was found 77 days later on March 17. Laverne Pavlinac, who, along with John Sosnovske, was convicted for the killing of Taunja Bennett, waits at the Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem, Ore., Oct. 27, 1995, for word on her release. Welzien's friends said he had only three or four drinks, but by the end of the night he seemed very intoxicated. California 'Happy Face Killer' victim ID'd after 29 years - Yahoo! , who became known for signing the letters with a happy face symbol thus the Happy Face Killer moniker. Pavlinac then confessed to her. [He said,] 'No, no. Jesperson claims that her name was Susanne. "She was a free spirit, and she would go here, there, and she would go to work at a place, and wouldn't work for very long because she would always go out on the road. In 1990, Taunja Bennett was found dead near a scenic overlook at the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Jespersons second victim, known only as Claudia, was found murdered on August 30, 1992 in Blythe, California. In both cases, and as per usual . [7] Jesperson continued to spend time with his children when he was in town. ", This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 19:00. These convictions meant Jesperson was unlikely to ever face charges for his crime. Six days after his disappearance,Hurley's body was foundin the Charles River, close to where he asked Mahoney to pick him up. Victim 6: Florida Jane Doe. Some say the Smiley Face Killer has taken 40 victims over two decades. Pavlinac and Sosnovske were released from prison in November 1995. Victim 1:Taunja Bennett. A Navy veteran, 24-year-old William Hurley went missing after leaving a Bruins hockey game in Boston,Massachusetts. His friend told him to get out of the car while he parked. The Smiley Face Killers. Alleged Smiley Face Killer Victims: Dakota James, Tommy Booth, Lucas According to former detective Kevin Gannon and Dr. Lee Gilbertson, Geib's head and shoulders were sticking out of the water. Homan did not arrive for a golf outing the next day. He claimed to have victims in five states: Washington, California, Florida, Wyoming and Oregon. After getting in an argument with Bennett, he strangled her to death with his hands and disposed of her body. Tommy Booth, 24, disappeared on January 19, 2008 from a bar in Woodlyn, Pennsylvania. When the body of Taunja Bennett was found along the side of an Oregon highway in 1990, investigators never imagined that it would lead to the capture of a vicious serial killer. That letter-writer turned out to be. Oregon mom identified as victim of 'Happy Face Killer' nearly 4 decades Keith Hunter Jesperson (born 6 April 1955) is a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s. Victim 1: Taunja Bennett. Jesperson is serving four life sentences without possibility of parole in Oregon. Jesperson married Rose Hucke on August 2, 1975. He decided to drag her body underneath his truck to impede identification. Keith Hunter Jesperson (born April 6, 1955) is a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s. Keith Hunter Jesperson, The Sad Story of the Happy Face Killer Stories about . They'd mostly all been college-aged, popular, and athletic. . Melissa Moore's father, known as the Happy Face Killer, murdered eight or more women. [19] To avoid the possibility of facing the death penalty, Sosnovske pleaded no contest. [00:02:14] are covered in bracing detail in the Oxygen special Snapped Notorious: The Happy Face Killer, now streaming. The killers always leave a signature smiley face near the location of the body. In 1975, when Jesperson was aged 20, he married Rose Hucke, and the couple had three children: two daughters and one son. In the majority of the cases, the victims were successful students and athletes who disappeared after a night out drinking with friends, and they were ultimately found dead in a body of water. She threatened to call the police, and he strangled her. The renowned crime journalist and author of The Misbegotten Son turns his attention to serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, the "Happy Face Killer" from Oregon who strangled eight women in the 1990s, detailing his evolution from angry child to psychotic murderer. In these supposed "Smiley Face" serial killings, popular, high-achieving, athletic young men (i.e. "[Julie] was beautiful inside as well as outside. Between 1990 and 1995, eight women died at the hands of Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the Happy Face Killer. A month later, in Turlock, California, the body of Cynthia Lyn Rose was discovered. Oddly,Geib's head and shoulders were sticking out of the wateras if he had gone for a swim. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! That night, he had been celebrating a friend's 21st birthday with a group of friends. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The 21-year-old finance student rarely partied since he was dedicated to the university's soccer team, but he decided to have a few drinks for the new year. [21], Following Bennett's murder, as all the attention was going to Pavlinac and Sosnovske, Jesperson wrote a confession on the bathroom wall of a truck stop and signed it with a smiley face. Or 'I will cause trouble for your family. Jesperson is currently serving a sentence of life without parole at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Photo: [2] Jesperson's father was a domineering alcoholic; according to Jesperson, his paternal grandfather was prone to violence. You can find episodes of Serial Killers and all other Spotify originals from podcast for free on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Pavlinac remarried, but her second husband died a few years later. The Happy Face Killer: The Truth About Keith Jesperson's Childhood He duct-taped her mouth and hands before raping and strangling her. I'm thinking, 'My God, she is actually involved in this,'" Ingram said. Skiple was known to family and friends as Patsy, according to the sheriffs department. Some of his victims, as seen in this timeline, have never been identified. When that did not elicit a response, he began writing letters to the media and authorities. Sometimes they even brag about it. Geib's remains also had very little signs of decomposition, which would have been present if he had died the day he went missing 22 days before the recovery of his body. A few days before his arrest, he wrote a letter to his brother in which he confessed to having killed eight people over the course of five years. California 'Happy Face Killer' victim identified after 29 years - 9News At some of the sites where the victims' bodies were found, smiley face graffiti had been left behind. Daughter of the infamous 'Happy Face' serial killer, Melissa Moore, and leading female Forensic Criminologist, Dr. Laura Pettler, unearth chilling details from homicide case files in this weekly true-crime series which tells the actual stories of people who shared their lives with a killer or their victims. [11] Jesperson gives the Jane Doe's name as Claudia. The morning of October 2, Homan's body was found not far from the shore of the Mississippi River. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. "The Smiley Face Killers" movie was . Mahoney drove to the address, but Hurley was not there. 'Life After Happy Face': Serial killer's daughter and expert One of them was to a friend. Pavlinac had made the whole thing up. The Happy Face Killer: Mind of a Monster - IMDb In addition to murder, Jesperson's criminal history included animal cruelty, arson and sexual assault. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In reality, smiley face is a joyous symbol to convey happiness and joy, which is used everywhere from message chatting to letters to wall decoration in our daily lives. Bennett was found strangled to death near a scenic overlook at the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, with whom they corresponded during the fall semester. CONSPIRACY: The Smiley Face Killer | Crime Junkie Podcast 10 Twisted and Unbelievable Facts About the Happy Face Killer "He went off into the woods with her," Pavlinac told investigators. The only difference was that the American version, operating in the Midwest throughout the 1990s, spray painted a smiley face on his victims. She would pop in and pop out, and over the years, She was that type of person.". He enjoyed watching animals kill each other as well as the feeling he got from taking their lives. I don't," Sosnovke is heard saying on the tape. NR Jul 18th, 2021 Documentary. He strapped the woman beneath his big rig, the New York Post reported. [22] She was also featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show,[23] the Lifetime Movies network series Monster in My Family,[24][25] and a 20/20 special on ABC. While in custody, Jesperson shared details of his eight murders. "I don't think she was in love with him. She found out that her son had reportedly suffered blunt force trauma to the head, his eye socket and behind his left leg. [10] Jesperson soon realized that this job afforded him the opportunity to kill without being suspected. Happy Face Presents: Two Face iHeart True Crime True Crime 4.3 8.5K Ratings; What would you do if you learned you were adopted, your biological . I'm here with my co-host, Vanessa Richardson. However, Jesperson.css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;} later said he actually killed another woman and did not recognize Wilcox's photo. California 'Happy Face Killer' victim identified nearly 30 years later Today, we're finishing our look at Keith Jesperson, the twisted murderer otherwise known as the Happy Face Killer. Pavlinac set up a meeting with investigators and gave a false confession, using the details she had read in the newspaper to give a detailed story of how Sosnovske forced her to help him rape, murder, and dispose of Bennett's body. Welzien told his friends he wanted to call it a night and go back to the hotel where they were staying. Jesperson was born on 6 April 1955, to Leslie (Les) and Gladys Jesperson in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada,[1] the middle child with two brothers and two sisters. Criminal profiler Pat Brown calls the serial killer theory "ludicrous", arguing that the evidence does not fit what is known about serial killers. Her sister Michelle White said Bennett was the only one in their family who graduated from high school, someone who read a lot and loved music. GILROY (CBS SF/AP) A victim of the Happy Face Killer has been identified nearly 30 years after her body was left near a rural Gilroy highway . 'Happy Face Killer's' daughter believes he would kill again if released On Monday, the Santa Clara County Sheriff . The night of his disappearance, Geib made several calls from his cell phone. California 'Happy Face Killer' victim identified after 29 years By Associated Press 8:06am Apr 20, 2022 A victim of the Happy Face Killer has been identified nearly 30 years after her body was left near a California highway, authorities said this week. California investigators have identified a victim of the Happy Face Killer using DNA nearly 30 years after her body was left near a California highway. He confessed to killing her and subsequently admitted to seven other murders. Killing Killers: 10 tips for eluding the Smiley Face killers Are the Smiley Face Killers Real? - A&E True Crime ABC News/YouTube By Jean Mendoza / June 8, 2021 9:24 am EST Keith Hunter Jesperson is a serial killer who claimed the lives of eight women between 1990 and 1995. Laverne Pavlinac and John Sosnovske are seen here in this 1985 family photo. She called him a second time, but his cell phone seemed to be out of battery. Keith Jesperson | Photos | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers I wanted to get those two people out of prison," he said in 1995, referring to Pavlinac and Sosnovske. Hurley walked outside while Mahoney drove to the stadium to pick him up. 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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. Officials did not implicate the band member in Homan's death. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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." .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Adnan Syed: A Complete Timeline of His Trial, Appeal and Killing of Hae Min Lee. Jesperson, who was born in British Columbia in 1955 and moved to the US when he was 12, kept on killing until he was caught in 1995. "I said 'Why is she dead?'" Her body, which had been strangled and tied up with duct tape, was found on August 30, 1992. On April 23 in Hamburg and the following weekend in Dusseldorf, the bodies of young men were retrieved from waterways. Others say there is no killer. 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. Before his arrest, he also wrote a letter to his brother that admitted, "I am sorry that I turned out this way. "Her persistence in this manipulation resulted in her own conviction.". At her trial, Pavlinac recanted her confession, but the jury found her guilty. Moore, Melissa G. & M. Bridget Cook (2009). When Mahoney called Hurley to find out where he was waiting, Mahoney said he answered the phone, and she heard him ask someone where he was located. Updated: Mar 3, 2021 (1955-) Who Is Keith Hunter. Alcohol and antidepressants were foundin Geib's toxicology screen, but it was reported thatGeib was not sufferingfrom any form of depression at the time. When investigators asked him why he decided to come forward, Jesperson listed two reasons. "I [had] seen all these tracks and all this and that. Jesperson had dated before her before killing her on March 3, 1995 because he believed she was after his money. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Angela Surbrize was the name of Jesperson's second-to-last victim. Daun Slagle is the sole survivor of the "Happy Face Killer." She is the only person to survive an attack by the infamous serial killer. Cloud State University. This finding is inconsistent with the belief that Booth drowned the night he disappeared. Keith grew to be a large, imposing man. A journalist noticed the symbol and came up with the Happy Face Killer nickname. Jespersons heinous crimes as well as shocking twists in the case including a, couple who took the blame for one of his homicides. That this never happened. After a night of barhopping, Homan headed home at around 10 p.m. with a friend. Welzien's friends said he had only three or four drinks, but by the end of the night he seemed very intoxicated. His friends went up to their room and never saw Welzien again. 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. Pavlinac soon admitted to making up her entire story, but her claims were ignored. The production features interviews betweenJesperson and M. William Phelps, author Dangerous Ground: My Friendship with a Serial Killer.Italso features an interview with Daun Slagel, who survived a violent encounter with Jesperson when she was 21. In one six-page letter to The Oregonian newspaper, the serial killer revealed . He is now 66 years old, according to his prison records. How Happy Face Killer Keith Hunter Jesperson Terrorized America 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The team believes the serial killers are highly sophisticated and communicate with each other on the dark web. Pavlinac's daughters said their mother "was never the same" after she divorced their father after discovering he left her for another woman. Some of his victims, as seen in this timeline, have never been identified. Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Birth Year: 1955, Birth date: April 6, 1955, Birth City: British Columbia, Birth Country: Canada. Patrick McNeill is thought to be the first victim of the Smiley Face Killers. That triggered him. Her sister Michelle White said Bennett was a compassionate person who loved everyone.. Happy Face Killer (TV Movie 2014) - IMDb In November 1992, Jesperson had an encounter with sex worker Laurie Anne Pentland at a truck stop. Jesperson's father denied being an abusive parent; however, while investigating for his book on the killer, author Jack Olsen was able to confirm much of the claimed abuse with other family members. She was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison with a 10-year minimum served. . 9 Currently Active Serial Killers: Unsolved Cases in 2022 (2023) He showed signs of psychopathic behavior from an early age which included torturing animals and attacking other children. In April 1990, he sexually assaulted a woman who managed to escape. . The Happy Face Killer Keith Hunter Jesperson - Medium 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. Authorities came to believe they had convicted the wrong people. Remains found in Merced County, California on June 3, 1993, belonged to a Jesperson victim he has said was called "Cindy."