Pavlinac had been with Sosnovske, a farmhand 18 years her junior, for a decade when the Bennett case caught her attention in 1990. Jesperson claims she was a sex worker who climbed into his truck, even though he told her he wasnt interested in her services, according to the two-hour, , 26. He was caught after killing his 41-year-old girlfriend, Julie Ann Winningham, in 1995. Jesperson described murdering her, like other women he killed, as putting her out of her misery.. Jesperson would capture birds and stray cats and dogs around the trailer park where he lived with his family, severely beating the animals and then strangling them to death, something for which he claims his father was proud of him. One of the things about my dad - which made me very uncomfortable as a young woman - was that he was very explicit about his sexual relationships. After a night of barhopping, Homan headed home at around 10 p.m. with a friend. . The first happened when Jesperson was around age 10, when he was friends with a boy named Martin. Some of his victims, as seen in this timeline, have never been identified. , 24, disappeared on January 19, 2008 from a bar in Woodlyn, Pennsylvania. More than 25 years have passed since the ordeal, and in that time, both Sosnovske and Pavlinac have died. He strangled her and left her corpse in Oregon. Keith Hunter Jesperson, The Sad Story of the Happy Face Killer Stories about . 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department. In 2019, investigators began utilizing genetic genealogy in an attempt to identify Blue Pacheco, partnering with the nonprofit DNA Doe Project. The team believes the serial killers are highly sophisticated and communicate with each other on the dark web. His last known victim was a woman he dated, which led to his capture and, During his depraved spree, Jesperson taunted authorities with anonymous. Investigators believedhe could have walked to the edge of Lake Michigan, a five-minute walk from the hotel, and fallen in. John Ingram, who worked on the case. A journalist noticed the symbol and came up with the Happy Face Killer nickname. Happy Face stands out because of Moore 's intimate tie to the criminal in question. The term "Smiley Face Killers" come from the graffiti smiley faces supposedly found at the crime scenes. Investigators installed a hidden recording device in their home hoping to catch Sosnovske making incriminating statements. Or 'I will cause trouble for your family. She found out that her son had reportedly suffered blunt force trauma to the head, his eye socket and behind his left leg. One New York serial killer has been plying his grisly trade for over twenty years now, killing at least ten victims between 1996 and 2010, and possibly more we haven't yet discovered. In 1990, Taunja Bennett was found dead near a scenic overlook at the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. He claimed to have victims in five states: Washington, California, Florida, Wyoming and Oregon. Pieces of his artwork have been seen on "murderabilia" sites. Their house bordered an apple orchard, and Jesperson killed stray cats and gophers that wandered nearby. Meanwhile, the real killer carried out a series of murders over five years. Julie Winningham is the last known victim of Keith Hunter Jesperson. Now 66, Jesperson is serving five non-consecutive life sentences in Oregon's state penitentiary. Victim 7: Angela Subrize, 21. I don't," Sosnovke is heard saying on the tape. At some of the sites where the victims' bodies were found, smiley face graffiti had been left behind. Skiples remains were found on the side of California State Route 152 in the Gilroy area about 80 miles southeast of San Francisco in June 1993, in an area known as Pacheco Pass. Cloud State University. The morning of October 2, Homan's body was found not far from the shore of the Mississippi River. James' parents later hired a private investigator who organized a massive citywide search, which led tothe discovery of James' bodyin the Ohio River on March 6, 2017, 40 days after he had disappeared. Before serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, known by his nickname "Happy Face Killer," turned himself in, authorities believed they had solved the murder of his first victim Taunja Bennett. .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. Join Melissa Moore, host of Happy Face Season 1, as she helps Becky unravel the strange tale of her family, searching for answers to decades-old mysteries that remain unanswered in the modern day. By Tim Stelloh. An Oregon mother was identified Tuesday as a victim of "the Happy Face Killer" nearly four decades after her body was found on the side of a . The first victim was found in 1997. Victim 4:Laurie Ann Pentland, 26. Pavlinac told investigators during her last recorded statement on Feb. 26, 1990. Jesperson, also called the "Happy Face Killer", who is serving two life sentences in Oregon in connection with guilty pleas to two murders. Mahoney drove to the address, but Hurley was not there. All calls are toll-free and confidential. Director Rick Bota Writer Richard Christian Matheson Stars David Arquette Gloria Reuben Daryl Shuttleworth See production, box office & company info After he raped and strangled her, Jesperson dumped her body near the Columbia River Gorge, outside Portland. PHOTO: Justice for Mason/Facebook. In September 1994, another Jane Doe was found in Crestview, Florida. But in the process, she also falsely implicated herself. The Happy Face Killer's eighth and final victim that would be his downfall. Various witnesses outside the hotel saw Welzien vomiting in the street. 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. Pentlands body was found in November 1992 after being discarded in Salem, Oregon. He showed signs of psychopathic behavior from an. [6] Approximately one year later, Jesperson was swimming in a lake when another boy held him underwater until he blacked out. The two would often get into trouble together, and Jesperson claimed he was often punished many times for things Martin had done and shifted the blame. His fourth victim was another sex worker, Laurie Ann Pentland of Salem, Oregon, whose body was found in November 1992. The footage captured James entering a dark alley, and that was the last time he was seen alive. 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. Hurley walked outside while Mahoney drove to the stadium to pick him up. On January 21, 1990, after taking her to his rental place, plans to have sex went awry and he "beat her senseless," he told Phelps. He was a 21-year-old student at Fordham University, and his body was found in. "To come clean get it all over, the record straight. Based on Pavlinac's statements, and that Sosnovke failed a polygraph test, authorities arrested Sosnovke on murder charges. The victims were predominately white, male, athletic ("3.5 and above star athletes," according to Gannon), and young from 17 to early 20s. ". At age 35, standing 6feet 7inches (2.01m) and weighing approximately 255 pounds (116kg),[9] Jesperson began working toward the goal of joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), but an injury suffered while training ended this endeavor. When she arrived, however, he was nowhere in sight. After moving to Selah, Washington, United States, he had trouble fitting in and making friends because of his large size. went missing after leaving a Bruins hockey game in Boston,Massachusetts. The Lonely Hearts Killer, was a truly frightening and twisted serial murderer in the late 1950s. [00:02:05] Hi, everyone. Pavlinac had made the whole thing up. Convicted murderer Keith Jesperson, right, shown here at a Nov. 2, 1995, court appearance in Portland, Ore., with attorney Thomas Phelan, has recanted all his previous murder admissions. He left her remains in Nebraska, though Subrize was likely killed in Wyoming. She was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison with a 10-year minimum served. Questions Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice Hopes to Answer, A First Look at the Murder of Susan Berman. In these supposed "Smiley Face" serial killings, popular, high-achieving, athletic young men (i.e. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. was 23 years old when he went missing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bennett was found strangled to death near a scenic overlook at the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. The purse had not been found at the crime scene, and its location was considered information only the killer would know. His brothers did not help him, instead they nicknamed him "Igor" or "Ig", a name that stuck throughout his school years. RUIN SMILEY'S DAY: Follow these tips to minimize the danger of vanishing into thin air one night and ending up another unsolved "drowned" statistic: 1. 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. He had given police officers the location of the victim's purse. [10][14], Jesperson was arrested on 30 March 1995 for the murder of Julie Winningham. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His death was ruled an undetermined drowning. 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. Ciao ragazzi, oggi vi raccontiamo la storia di un assassino seriale che ha ucciso almeno 8 vittime in cinque anni e soprannominato "The Happy Face Killer". serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, with whom they corresponded during the fall semester. The term "smiley face" became connected to their theory when the team . Jesperson had dated before her before killing her on March 3, 1995 because he believed she was after his money. Investigators have revealed the name of a heretofore unidentified victim of the "Happy Face Killer," nearly 30 years after her murder. Jesperson claims she was a sex worker who climbed into his truck, even though he told her he wasnt interested in her services, according to the two-hour Oxygen special. She's told her own daughter the same story, very convincingly.' He would often get into trouble for behaving badly, sometimes violently, and would be severely punished by his father. . Her real name remains a mystery. First, she told investigators that she knew Sosnovske did it because she saw Bennett's body, said Ingram. "She slapped him. A television movie, Happy Face Killer, starring David Arquette as Jesperson, aired in 2014. [7] She was a correspondent for Crime Watch Daily. went missing from Chicago, Illinois, after a night of celebrating Y2K with his friends. She claimed to have found a strange purse in the trunk of her car with a piece of denim from a pair of jeans inside -- When Bennett was found, her purse was gone and her jeans were missing the fly. She had changed her story so many times that investigators said they wondered if she was telling the truth. Investigators have revealed the name of a heretofore unidentified victim of the Happy Face Killer, nearly 30 years after her murder. Today, we're finishing our look at Keith Jesperson, the twisted murderer otherwise known as the Happy Face Killer. [5] This continued as he got older. They divorced in 1989. "She was that kind of woman. Welzien told his friends he wanted to call it a night and go back to the hotel where they were staying. He left bodies in Oregon, California, Florida, Nebraska and Washington while working as a long-haul truck driver. Safety in numbers is the name of the game, before, during and after a night out on the town. Due to the unknown identity of the female adult, Cold Case Detectives later referred to Jane Doe as Blue Pacheco.. Pavlinac soon admitted to making up her entire story, but her claims were ignored. Here's what the evidence says. One of them was to a friendwho said she heard Geib say, "I'm in a field" before the call dropped. I have been a killer for five years and have killed eight people." Over the past 20 years, hundreds of college-aged men across the US have died as the result of undetermined or accidental drownings. I just said it, this is close enough," she said. For example, the Canadian-American serial killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the . She later rescinded her confession, but in 1991 a jury still found her guilty. The Smiley Face Killer. Could some of them be connected to a serial killer or group of killers? Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. [7] Jesperson continued to spend time with his children when he was in town. 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. He was sentenced to life in prison while Pavlinac was sentenced to no less than ten years, much more than she had anticipated. She threatened to call the police, and he strangled her. Between 1997 and 2008, authorities pulled the dead bodies of more than 40 young white men out of rivers and lakes in more than 25 cities across 11 states. Jesperson claims that her name was Susanne. Victims of the Smiley Face Killer | Photo Credits: Oxygen The Team of Men that Came Up With the Theory. For now it remains only a theory that has yet to be proved. Remembering the first known victim of Happy Face serial killer. After the murder, Jesperson remembered they'd spent days together and he'd let her use a credit card. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [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. She previously claimed to the FBI that he was a wanted bank robber and frequently complained to Sosnovske's probation officer that he was drinking too much. Before his arrest, he also wrote a letter to his brother that admitted, "I am sorry that I turned out this way. [10] Jesperson soon realized that this job afforded him the opportunity to kill without being suspected. Updated: Mar 3, 2021 (1955-) Who Is Keith Hunter. He introduced himself to Bennett at a bar and invited her to a house he was renting. "I don't think she was in love with him. 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." She called him a second time, but his cell phone seemed to be out of battery. In November 1992, Jesperson had an encounter with sex worker Laurie Anne Pentland at a truck stop. That's when they said she implicated herself in the murder, according to Det. "The greatest human tragedy is that Laverne Pavlinac derailed the investigation in 1990, and in four years, Keith Jesperson killed more women," said Jim McIntyre, the Multnomah County, Oregon, prosecutor who handled the cases. On January 1, 2000, Northern Illinois University junior Brian Welzien went missing from Chicago, Illinois, after a night of celebrating Y2K with his friends. Pavlinac made this false statement because she wanted to escape her abusive relationship with Sosnovske. Buddy up at all times. Pavlinac then confessed to her. All Rights Reserved. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and prosecutors. T he Smiley Face death toll continues to climb, this time in Germany. Police have not saidif a smiley face was present near the death site. 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. That's whyall ofthis doesn'tmake sense. A smiley face was found spray-painted near where Homans body was found. His boss informed his family, who filed a missing persons report 72 hours later. In the days following, Jesperson decided that he was certainly going to be arrested, and after two suicide attempts turned himself in hoping it would result in leniency during his sentencing. GHB was also found in his system along with alcohol. Taunja Bennett was the first to die. Several years later, Hucke began to suspect Jesperson was having affairs when strange women would call. He would go on to share details of the crime on other restroom walls. Dubbed the Long Island Serial Killer or the Craigslist Ripper, the extent of these unsolved crimes is still unknown. Angela Surbrize was the name of Jesperson's second-to-last victim. Pavlinac and Sosnovske were both arrested on 5 March 1990 and both were convicted of the murder on 8 February 1991. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. He slapped her. 18, 2022, 3:19 p.m. Patricia Skiple, who lived in Colton, Oregon, has been identified as a victim of Keith Jesperson, the "Happy Face Killer," almost 30 years after Skiple's body . However, the kicker is that these drownings happening in 11 different states. Her body was found on a roadside rock pile in Santa Nella, California. "I think what happened to mother was she was in an abusive relationship, and she was desperate, and desperate people do desperate things, not to say that it was right, but that's what I think happened," said Pavlinac's daughter Bonne McAlpine. 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. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department announced on Tuesday that, using genetic genealogy, they were able to identify a body found in 1993 as Patricia Skiple of Colton, Oregon. He was caught after killing his 41-year-old girlfriend, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, Republicans Use Arcane Political Tactic to Thwart Democrats, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return, Ryan Coogler Built A Multi-Million Dollar Empire, But His Brothers Work On Creed III Proves Its A Family Affair, Peoria's year of adversity turns into 4A basketball championship in win over Deer Valley, Monster Jam, Blake Shelton, Orlando City soccer: Orlando preparing for big crowds this weekend. James' body, however, had almost no visible damage, which was highly suspicious because it had traveled through heavily trafficked river. He then sought work again as an interstate truck driver after relocating to Cheney, Washington. Laverne Pavlinac and John Sosnovske are seen here in this 1985 family photo. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Santa. Jesperson became a suspect after Winningham's was found since he was known to be her boyfriend. She ran to get her mother, and when they returned, the kittens lay on the ground dead. Rather than fall victim to the trauma surrounding her father's crimes and arrest, she processed the events. Her body was discovered behind the Blueberry Hill Cafe in Turlock, California. In addition to murder, Jesperson's criminal history included animal cruelty, arson and sexual assault. Hurley's mother received a copy of the autopsy report and allowed aphysician to analyze the report. While he has claimed to have killed many more people, officials can only confirm that Jesperson killed eight women between 1990 and 1995 in California, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Nebraska and Wyoming. After a series of letters are sent to the press, the killer earned the moniker, the Happy Face Killer. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Brown also believes that the smiley face images found in some of the cases are likely nothing more than coincidences based upon making a guess at where the body entered the water and searching a wide . [1], At a very early ageas young as fiveJesperson would capture and torture animals. She'sgiveher the shirt off her back," McAlpine said. The only difference was that the American version, operating in the Midwest throughout the 1990s, spray painted a smiley face on his victims. , who survived a violent encounter with Jesperson when she was 21. Laverne Pavlinac is seen here showing investigators where Taunja Bennett's body was found, even though she had nothing to do with the crime. She was killed in Washington state on March 10, 1995, and her body was discovered the next day. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Jesperson was dubbed the "Happy Face Killer" for the smiley face drawings he included on a letter he sent to a Portland, Oregon newspaper, in which he bragged about killing women in a spree that began in 1990. Her body disintegrated against the hot asphalt as he drove. Her body was found after his arrest. Pentlands body was found in November 1992 after being discarded in Salem, Oregon. Detectives first became aware of Pavlinac when she anonymously called them to report that she overheard Sosnovske at a bar bragging about killing Bennett.