What did Keith Hunter Jesperson do?
Keith Hunter Jesperson is a Canadian American serial killer who murdered 8 women during the early 1990s. He was known as the “Happy Face Killer” for his sick act of drawing smiley faces on letters he sent to the media and police taunting them about his brutal crimes. He was known to target sex workers and transients, and his preferred method of killing was strangulation.
A woman called Taunja Bennett was Jesperson’s first victim, and in a shocking twist, a woman called Laverne Pavlinac falsely confessed to the murder. This enraged Jesperson, as it was taking the media attention away from him, so he wrote an anonymous letter which he left in a public bathroom, in which he confessed to Bennett’s murder and it included proof that only the killer would know. This didn’t get a response, so he started writing letters directly to the media and authorities.
Jesperson was eventually caught, and he went on to claim he killed as many as 160 people. However, only 8 murders have been confirmed.
What happened to Laverne Pavlinac?
Laverne Pavlinac admitted to Taunja Bennett’s murder and claimed her boyfriend John Sosnovske had assisted her. This was an attempt to put a stop to the abuse she was suffering at his hands. Pavlinac and Sosnovske were arrested in March 1990 and convicted of the murder in February 1991.
To avoid facing the death penalty, Sosnovske pleaded no contest. He was sentenced to life in prison and Pavlinac was sentenced to 10 years. Pavlinac admitted she made up the story but it was too late. In January 1996, Pavlinac and Sosnovske were released from prison after Jesperson officially confessed and provided evidence of his guilt.
Where is Keith Hunter Jesperson now?
Jesperson is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Oregon State Penitentiary. He is 68 years old now. Jesperson has a daughter called Melissa Moore who has spoken publicly of the correspondence she’s had with her father while he’s been in prison.
In July 2021, a true crime podcast called Life After Happy Face was released. It was hosted by Melissa Moore and forensic criminologist Laura Pettler.
What do you think of Keith Hunter Jesperson’s case? Let us know in the comments below.