Welzien told his friends he wanted to call it a night and go back to the hotel where they were staying. 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. At the time, Pavlinac said she was able to dupe authorities because she had learned details of the crime from newspaper articles and from reading the search warrant without police noticing. His last known victim was a woman he dated, which led to his capture and, During his depraved spree, Jesperson taunted authorities with anonymous. Her real name remains a mystery. 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. 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. One day, she watched, horrified, as he hung stray kittens from the family's clothesline. 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. A Navy veteran, 24-year-old William Hurley went missing after leaving a Bruins hockey game in Boston,Massachusetts. 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. They had three children, two girls and a boy. [10][14], Jesperson was arrested on 30 March 1995 for the murder of Julie Winningham. Oddly,Geib's head and shoulders were sticking out of the wateras if he had gone for a swim. The Untold Conspiracy Of The Smiley Face Murders - Grunge.com She had changed her story so many times that investigators said they wondered if she was telling the truth. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. "Then it becameserious,a seriousargument. The only difference was that the American version, operating in the Midwest throughout the 1990s, spray painted a smiley face on his victims. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Pavlinac seemed to know intimate details about the case. You could tell where people had been in and out, the vehicles and everything else, limbs broke. The team believes the serial killers are highly sophisticated and communicate with each other on the dark web. 'Happy Face Killer' Bay Area murder victim identified - SFGATE How "Happy Face Killer" Keith Jesperson's Daughter Discovered His While police didn't get any hard evidence, the recordings demonstrate how Pavlinac attempted to convince her boyfriend he played a role in Bennett's death. 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. In. 'Happy Face' Serial Killer Victim Identified Nearly 30 Years After Her Here's what the evidence says. I had been worried about this for a long time. I knew it had to be around there someplace. [1] A smiley face was found spray-painted near where Homans body was found. 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. Welzien's friends said he had only three or four drinks, but by the end of the night he seemed very intoxicated. Her body disintegrated against the hot asphalt as he drove. Her body was found after his arrest. More than a dozen of these cases have been outlined in Gannon and Gilbertson's book "Case Studies in Drowning Forensics," but there are six deaths in particular that stand out as potential Smiley Face murders: Dakota James was 23 years old when he went missing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [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. Her body, which had been strangled and tied up with duct tape, was found on August 30, 1992. Pavlinac's son also died shortly after due to medical reasons. Keith Hunter Jesperson | Criminal Minds Wiki | Fandom of Victims 8-185 killed 5 attempted Span of crimes 1995/1966-March 10, 1995 (confirmed) Criminal Charges The smiley face murder theory (also known as the smiley face murders, smiley face killings, and smiley face gang) is a theory advanced by retired New York City detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte, as well as Dr. Lee Gilbertson, a criminal justice professor and gang expert at St. 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. His death was ruled an undetermined drowning. I'm here with my co-host, Vanessa Richardson. NR Jul 18th, 2021 Documentary. Following the discovery of Bennett's body in January 1990, Laverne Pavlinac lied to police that she'd aided her boyfriend John Sosnovske in committing the crime. But Pavlinac claimed she knew where she and Sosnovske had left Bennett's body in the Columbia Gorge outside of town, and took investigators to the exact remote wooded area where Bennett was found. Smiley faces again served as his signature, prompting a journalist to dub Jesperson the "Happy Face Killer.". The Happy Face Killer: Mind of a Monster - IMDb A victim of the Happy Face Killer has been identified nearly 30 years after her body was left near a California highway, authorities said Monday. Others say there is no killer. [20], On 7 January 1996, more than five years after their conviction, Pavlinac and Sosnovske were released from prison after Jesperson and his attorney offered his confession with convincing evidence of his guilt. A "witchy" smiley face left at a murder site of the supposed "Smiley Face Serial Killer" seems to represent Charlie Manson. [6] Approximately one year later, Jesperson was swimming in a lake when another boy held him underwater until he blacked out. 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. "I don't think she was in love with him. Serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer," brutally murdered eight women between 1990 and 1995. He was reported missing later that day by his mother, and a massive manhunt ensued. Taunja Bennett was the first to die. His older daughter has described witnessing acts of animal cruelty that included Jesperson killing kittens. The last known sighting of the Duquesne University graduate student was caught on asurveillance camera in the downtown area. 'Life After Happy Face': Serial killer's daughter and expert On January 1, 2000, Northern Illinois University junior Brian Welzien went missing from Chicago, Illinois, after a night of celebrating Y2K with his friends. Jesperson claimed this still-unidentified woman as his fifth victim but told Phelps that he cant recall anything about her. 'Happy Face Killer' Victim Identified 30 years After Body Found Near These convictions meant Jesperson was unlikely to ever face charges for his crime. There, he assaulted, beat and strangled her. In April 1990, he sexually assaulted a woman who managed to escape. Over the past 20 years, hundreds of college-aged men across the US have died as the result of undetermined or accidental drownings. A smiley face had been spray-painted on a tree near where Geib's body was found, and a smiley face sticker was later placed on his gravesite. The couple divorced in 1990.[8]. In both cases, and as per usual . Todd Geib was 22 years old when he went missing during the early hours of June 12, 2005, at a bonfire party in an orchard close to his home in Casnovia, Michigan. They'd mostly all been college-aged, popular, and athletic. The body of Julie Winningham, 41, of Camas, Washington, was found alongside a Washington State road in 1995. [5], That desire manifested in two attempted murders. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. 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 also examined her father's actions in the podcast Happy Face. Her body was discovered behind the Blueberry Hill Cafe in Turlock, California. This led police agencies in several states to reopen old cases, many of which were found to be possible victims of Jesperson. After a night of barhopping, Homan headed home at around 10 p.m. with a friend. Jesperson claims he killed her after she tried to double charge him for sex, according to Snapped Notorious: The Happy Face Killer., Because Jesperson allowed her to use his credit card to make a phone call, he devised a depraved way to conceal her identity. Today's episode is part 1 of our coverage of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson. M. William Phelps penned a memoir about his interactions with Jesperson: Dangerous Ground: My Friendship with a Serial Killer (2017). He later claimed his intention was to kill the boy. [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. [He said,] 'No, no. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Homan was the eighth accidental drowning case in La Crosse over a nine-year period. Jesperson resides in the Oregon State Penitentiary, where he spends much of his time making art. Largely considered an urban legend, the Smiley Face Killer, like the Manchester Pusher, murdered his victims by drowning. The morning of October 2, Homan's body was found not far from the shore of the Mississippi River. 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. This included beatings, sometimes with a belt in front of others, and in one case he received an electric shock. The 'smiley face' murder theory: They didn't - Mysteriesrunsolved You can find episodes of Serial Killers and all other Spotify originals from podcast for free on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. California 'Happy Face Killer' victim ID'd after 29 years She's told her own daughter the same story, very convincingly.' He showed signs of psychopathic behavior from an. April 19, 2022 / 7:43 AM / CBS San Francisco. She told investigators she had gone to the bar to meet Sosnovke, but Bennett was alive when she picked them up and both got in the car with 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. However, a part of him wanted to claim credit, so he wrote about murdering Bennett in a bus terminal bathroom. During the drive, Welzien started throwing up. 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. All drowned after getting intoxicated. The Happy Face Killer's eighth and final victim that would be his downfall. She later rescinded her confession, but in 1991 a jury still found her guilty. [4] Because of this, Jesperson was a shy child, content to play by himself much of the time. A smiley face was found painted near the river. [29][30] In September 2018, podcast network HowStuffWorks began releasing a show called Happy Face[31] featuring interviews with Melissa about her childhood and her father. Pentlands body was found in November 1992 after being discarded in Salem, Oregon. His father often punished Jesperson by hitting him with a leather belt. The Smiley Face Killers. When an Oregon newspaper ran a five-part series called The Happy Face Serial Killer in 1994, an anonymous author took credit for the five murders. He was sentenced to life in prison while Pavlinac was sentenced to no less than ten years, much more than she had anticipated. He was found guilty of killing Bennett, Pentland, and Winningham and was sentenced to six consecutive and concurrent sentences. That night, he had been celebrating a friend's 21st birthday with a group of friends. Who is the Happy Face Killer Keith Hunter Jesperson? Photo: He split from his wife in 1990 after 15 years of . , who became known for signing the letters with a happy face symbol thus the Happy Face Killer moniker. Moore recounts living with Jesperson until her parents' 1990 divorce, and noticing how her father was different when she was in elementary school. That night, he had been celebrating a friend's 21st birthday with a group of friends. California 'Happy Face Killer' victim ID'd after 29 years According to former detective Kevin Gannon and Dr. Lee Gilbertson, Geib's head and shoulders were sticking out of the water. Murderous Keith Hunter Jesperson became known as the Happy Face Killer for his boasting letters to police, signed with a smiley face. Keith Hunter Jesperson committed his first murder in 1990. Smiley face murder theory - Wikipedia Jesperson's last victim was the crime that ultimately led to his capture. At her trial, Pavlinac recanted her confession, but the jury found her guilty. Officials did not implicate the band member in Homan's death. Alleged Smiley Face Killer Victims: Dakota James, Tommy Booth, Lucas Surveillance footage captured Booth entering the bar where the celebration took place, but there is no video evidence of him leaving. Patrick McNeill is thought to be the first victim of the Smiley Face Killers. Jesperson claims he killed her after she tried to double charge him for sex, according to Snapped Notorious: The Happy Face Killer.. Despite the distance between them, some detectives think that drownings are actually the work of a serial killer or group of serial killers. The Happy Face Killer Keith Hunter Jesperson - Medium On October 8, 2009, Hurley went to the game with two friends. "Now, I'm thinking, 'She's confessed she's pointed out the dump site, she's confessed to us on tape. Laverne Pavlinac, right, touches the tear-stained face of her grandaughter, Nicole Sullivan, after being released from prison in Salem, Ore., Nov. 27, 1995. The following morning, James did not show up for work. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Laverne Pavlinac and John Sosnovske are seen here in this 1985 family photo. Because of their relationship, authorities connected her death to him. The term "smiley face" became connected to their theory when the team . Between 1990-1995, a series of murders were discovered over several states, all with a very similar MO. [17] He was convicted of another murder and received a fourth life sentence in January 2010. Jesperson told Phelps they met at a truck stop and that after he agreed to give her a ride he felt like she was trying to play him. Tommy Booth, 24, disappeared on January 19, 2008 from a bar in Woodlyn, Pennsylvania. After Pavlinac confessed to investigators, her daughter said she got a call from the detectives asking her to come to her mother's house right away. She told investigators she drove them to a scenic overlook at the Columbia Gorge, where Sosnovske told her to pull over. "John That's the worst thing you've ever gotten yourself into," she told him. Happy Face Killer victim's body identified after 29 years Could some of them be connected to a serial killer or group of killers? Jesperson was linked to murdering six other women, some of which remain unknown to this day: an unidentified woman who Jesperson said was named "Claudia" in August 1992 near Blythe, California; Cynthia Lynn Rose in September 1992 in Turlock, California; Lori Ann Pentland in November 1992 in Salem, Oregon; an unidentified woman who Jesperson said was named "Carla" in June 1993 in Santa Nella, California; an unidentified woman who Jesperson said was named "Suzanne" in September 1994 in Crestview, Florida; and Angela Subrize in January 1995 in Laramie County, Wyoming.