Keith Hunter Jesperson, born on April 6, 1955, in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, is a Canadian-American serial killer known as the “Happy Face Killer.” Between 1990 and 1995, Jesperson murdered at least eight women across six U.S. states, including California, Florida, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
He earned his moniker by drawing smiley faces on letters he sent to the media and authorities, taunting them about his crimes.
Jesperson’s first confirmed victim was Taunja Bennett in January 1990 near Portland, Oregon. His subsequent victims were often sex workers or transients. His killing spree ended in March 1995 when he murdered Julie Winningham in Oregon. Afterward, Jesperson turned himself in, partly because his earlier false confessions had led to the wrongful imprisonment of two individuals, Laverne Pavlinac and John Sosnovske.
In prison, Jesperson’s daughter, Melissa G. Moore, discovered her father’s crimes in 1995, profoundly impacting her life. She later became an advocate, producing media projects to support families affected by similar tragedies.
Jesperson is currently serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. Despite his incarceration, he continues to engage with the media, offering DNA samples to assist in solving cold cases.
The recent Paramount+ series “Happy Face” dramatizes Melissa Moore’s experience of discovering her father’s identity as a serial killer. Dennis Quaid portrays Jesperson, while Annaleigh Ashford plays Melissa Moore.