The Happy Face Killer

Keith Hunter Jesperson "The Happy Face Killer"

Active 1990 - 1995

California, Oregon, Washington State, Florida

Jesperson was a long-haul truck driver who murdered at least eight confirmed victims across the U.S. between 1990 and 1995. He targeted women, most of them transient or working as sex workers. After becoming frustrated that another couple was falsely charged with one of his murders, he began sending taunting confessions to authorities, signed with a smiley face — which gave him his chilling nickname.

Timeline

1990, Jan: Murders his first known victim, Taunja Bennett, in Portland.

1990–1995: Murders at least 8 women across multiple states.

1994: Begins sending anonymous confession letters to police and media, signing them with a smiley face.

March 30, 1995: Arrested for the murder of Julie Winningham.

June 1995: Pleads guilty to several murders.

1995–2009: Confesses to more murders, some unverified.

Status: Serving life without parole at Oregon State Penitentiary.

Victims

Taunja Bennett (23)
Jesperson's first known victim, murdered in January 1990 near Portland, Oregon. Her case initially led to the wrongful conviction of two individuals, prompting Jesperson to confess anonymously by writing letters signed with a smiley face.

Claudia (Last name unknown)
A woman Jesperson claimed to have killed in California. Details about her identity remain scarce.

Cynthia Lynn Rose (34)
A sex worker found murdered in Turlock, California, in 1992. Jesperson confessed to her killing.

Laurie Ann Pentland (26)
Murdered in November 1992 in Salem, Oregon. Jesperson claimed he killed her after a dispute over payment for sex.

Angela Subrize (21)
Met Jesperson in a bar in January 1995. After offering her a ride, he murdered her and attempted to conceal the crime by attaching her body beneath his truck.

Julie Ann Winningham (41)
Jesperson's final known victim, killed in March 1995 in Washington state. Their prior romantic relationship led authorities to connect her death to him, ultimately resulting in his arrest.

Suzanne Kjellenberg (34)
Remains discovered in September 1994 near Interstate 10 in Florida. Jesperson confessed to her murder in 1996, but her identity remained unknown until 2023, when forensic genealogy identified her.

Patricia Skiple (45)
Previously known as "Blue Pacheco" due to the clothing found on her remains in 1993 near California's State Route 152. Jesperson confessed to her murder in 2006, and she was identified in 2022 through genetic genealogy.

California Jane Doe
An unidentified woman whose body was found in Santa Nella, California. Jesperson admitted to her murder but could not recall details about her identity.