According to former detective Kevin Gannon and Dr. Lee Gilbertson, Geib's head and shoulders were sticking out of the water. Director Carl Hindmarch Stars Doug Bates Janine Brugnone Beghtol Rick Buckner See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 1 User review He then sought work again as an interstate truck driver after relocating to Cheney, Washington. Dubbed the Long Island Serial Killer or the Craigslist Ripper, the extent of these unsolved crimes is still unknown. [6] He graduated from high school in 1973, but did not attend college because his father did not believe he could do it. But it was all a lie. Pavlinac had been with Sosnovske, a farmhand 18 years her junior, for a decade when the Bennett case caught her attention in 1990. Watch the full story on "20/20" THIS FRIDAY at 9 p.m. "John That's the worst thing you've ever gotten yourself into," she told him. 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. Notorious serial killer Keith Jesperson, better known by the "Happy Face Killer" nickname he was given in the '90s, has spent decades behind bars but his daughter believes he would kill again if released from prison today. Six days after his disappearance,Hurley's body was foundin the Charles River, close to where he asked Mahoney to pick him up. He tries to paint the victim as someone who needed to be killed, Phelps, whose nearly decade-long relationship with the killer gives him insight into Jespersons mind, told producers. The 21-year-old finance student rarely partied since he was dedicated to the university's soccer team, but he decided to have a few drinks for the new year. Pavlinac soon admitted to making up her entire story, but her claims were ignored. [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. Officials did not implicate the band member in Homan's death. A month later, in Turlock, California, the body of Cynthia Lyn Rose was discovered. In 2006, the serial killer submitted a letter to the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office admitting to sexually assaulting and killing an unknown female subject along a dirt turnout on Highway 152, the department wrote in its release, and a year later he pled guilty to killing her. I don't," Sosnovke is heard saying on the tape. He decided to drag her body underneath his truck to impede identification. The victims were predominately white, male, athletic ("3.5 and above star athletes," according to Gannon), and young from 17 to early 20s. 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. [6] Although Jesperson was not successful with girls in high school, having never even attended a school dance or his prom, he did enter into a relationship after high school. She also said she was able to point to the location of Bennett's body based on where the brush had been cleared away. Possible Smiley Face killers victim Mason Cox. Laverne Pavlinac and John Sosnovske are seen here in this 1985 family photo. His fourth victim was another sex worker, Laurie Ann Pentland of Salem, Oregon, whose body was found in November 1992. He is now 66 years old, according to his prison records. When contacted by sheriffs detectives, he said he had gagged her with duct tape, raped her in the sleeping cab of his rig and strangled her, reported the Spokesman-Review. They'd mostly all been college-aged, popular, and athletic. "He went off into the woods with her," Pavlinac told investigators. That night, he had been celebrating a friend's 21st birthday with a group of friends. Surveillance footage captured Booth entering the bar where the celebration took place, but there is no video evidence of him leaving. "I said 'Why is she dead?'" In September 1994, the body of a woman was found in Florida. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Homan and his friend somehow got separated during their walk home, and his friend ended up at the ER detox with a head injury after being picked up by police. Before his arrest, he also wrote a letter to his brother that admitted, "I am sorry that I turned out this way. The message was signed with a smiley face. [13] Police originally considered her death a drug overdose. While in custody, Jesperson began revealing details of his killings and making claims of many others, most of which he later recanted. He met the developmentally disabled Bennett while out drinking and convinced her to go to his house. About two weeks after he went missing,Booth's body was foundfacedown in a creek behind the bar. The Smiley Face Killers. 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. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department announced. [11] Jesperson gives the Jane Doe's name as Claudia. Keith Hunter Jesperson was born in 1955 in British Columbia, Canada and is a serial killer. 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. Homan was the eighth accidental drowning case in La Crosse over a nine-year period. [26], In 2008, Moore published a book titled Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer's Daughter. 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. "Madonna, that's what she listened to all day," White said. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department. Victim 3:Cynthia Lyn Rose, 32, was found dead in September 1992. He never made it home. The last known sighting of the Duquesne University graduate student was caught on asurveillance camera in the downtown area. Police have not saidif a smiley face was present near the death site. But the judge did not overturn Pavlinac's conviction, writing he did not find a constitutional defect with her trial since she had been convicted by a jury of her peers. The night of his disappearance, Geib made several calls from his cell phone. According to former detective Kevin Gannon and Dr. Lee Gilbertson, when Booth was found, his body was in full rigor mortis, which normallydissipates within 24 to 36 hours after death. In the summer of 1992, Jesperson met "Claudia" at a truck checkpoint in California. She'sgiveher the shirt off her back," McAlpine said. Jespersons fifth victim was known only as Susanne, whom he met in Crestview, Florida. I'llgo to the pen. After Jesperson was in custody, he provided the location of Bennett's purse, which only the killer would know. Despite the distance between them, some detectives think that drownings are actually the work of a serial killer or group of serial killers. Strangulation was Jesperson's preferred method of murdering, the same method he often used to kill animals as a child. . [7] He had watched and laughed as the kittens clawed each other to escape, then he killed them. He could not find Welzien and reported him missing around 1 p.m. After extensive searches, Welzien's body was found 77 days later on March 17. In September 2009, Jesperson was indicted in Riverside County, California, on murder charges; he was extradited in December 2009. The "Smiley Face Killer" may or may not be a killer or group of killers who've murdered at least three dozen drunken white college-aged males, dumped their bodies in waterways, and taunted police by drawing a smiley face near the crime scene. Rather than fall victim to the trauma surrounding her father's crimes and arrest, she processed the events. 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. 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 . B. She had changed her story so many times that investigators said they wondered if she was telling the truth. Now 66, Jesperson is serving five non-consecutive life sentences in Oregon's state penitentiary. But when investigators were unable to match the purse and denim piece to Bennett, they confronted Pavlinac about fabricating evidence. She was killed in Washington state on March 10, 1995, and her body was discovered the next day. The Happy Face Killer Raven Gender Male Birth Date April 6, 1955 (age 67) Place of Birth Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada Occupation Truck driver Pathology Serial Killer Serial Rapist Modus Operandi Strangulation Type Disorganized No. His boss informed his family, who filed a missing persons report 72 hours later. Victim 2: California Jane Doe. 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 called him a second time, but his cell phone seemed to be out of battery. That triggered him. After a series of letters are sent to the press, the killer earned the moniker, the Happy Face Killer. In 2019, investigators began utilizing genetic genealogy in an attempt to identify Blue Pacheco, partnering with the nonprofit DNA Doe Project. After he raped and strangled her, Jesperson dumped her body near the Columbia River Gorge, outside Portland. Jesperson sent the photo to the Duquesne University students. Jesperson was born on April 6, 1955, in British Columbia, Canada. His friend told him to get out of the car while he parked. However, a part of him wanted to claim credit, so he wrote about murdering Bennett in a bus terminal bathroom. Buddy up at all times. Criminal profiler Pat Brown calls the serial killer theory "ludicrous", arguing that the evidence does not fit what is known about serial killers. 'Happy Face Killer' case tapes reveal the lengths woman went to frame boyfriend Meanwhile, the real killer carried out a series of murders over five years. The Pittsburgh police theorized James fell into the river while crossing a bridge near the city center and drowned. She was a previously-unidentified woman named Patricia Skiple,[12] who, he claimed, was named "Carla" or "Cindy". Jesperson killed his next victim in June 1993 in Santa Nella, California. In addition to murder, Jesperson's criminal history included animal cruelty, arson and sexual assault. 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. Gannon and Gilbertson also notedthe body appeared to have been staged three sticks were strategically placed around his body, and there were shoe and drag marks in the soil. Detectives first became aware of Pavlinac when she anonymously called them to report that she overheard Sosnovske at a bar bragging about killing Bennett. His death was ruleda probable drowning, and there wereno signs of trauma. However, the kicker is that these drownings happening in 11 different states. The purse had not been found at the crime scene, and its location was considered information only the killer would know. Often Keith would dream of becoming an RCMP officer, the power of a position like that appealed to him, but his dream was dashed in 1990 after an injury prevented him from qualifying. The body of a woman found near Gilroy, California was this week identified as Patricia Skiple, a victim of the Happy Face Killer. M. William Phelps penned a memoir about his interactions with Jesperson: Dangerous Ground: My Friendship with a Serial Killer (2017). Sosnovske was brought in for questioning and denied any involvement. Hundreds of college-aged men have died in accidental or undetermined drownings. "Now, I'm thinking, 'She's confessed she's pointed out the dump site, she's confessed to us on tape. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. Although two different people were originally charged in Bennett's murder, the real killer turned out to be Keith Hunter Jesperson, who the media already knew as "The Happy Face Killer." James' body, however, had almost no visible damage, which was highly suspicious because it had traveled through heavily trafficked river. [3], Treated like an outcast and a black sheep by his own family and teased by other children for his large size at a young age, Jesperson was a lonely child who showed a propensity for torturing and killing animals. He showed signs of psychopathic behavior from an early age which included torturing animals and attacking other children. "To come clean get it all over, the record straight. Pentlands body was found in November 1992 after being discarded in Salem, Oregon. "She slapped him. [18], Early in the investigation of Bennett's murder, Laverne Pavlinac read the news reports surrounding Bennett's death and saw it as an opportunity to force an end to the long-term abusive relationship she had been in with her live-in boyfriend, John Sosnovske. [2] Jesperson's father was a domineering alcoholic; according to Jesperson, his paternal grandfather was prone to violence. On September 29, 2006, 21-year-old Lucas Homan vanished from La Crosse, Wisconsin. , "I'm in a field" before the call dropped. Moore recounts living with Jesperson until her parents' 1990 divorce, and noticing how her father was different when she was in elementary school. This led police agencies in several states to reopen old cases, many of which were found to be possible victims of Jesperson. Taunja Bennett, 23, is seen here in this undated photo. In March 2018, she was featured in an episode, titled "Put on a Happy Face", of the Investigation Discovery true crime series Evil Lives Here. 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. He enjoyed watching animals kill each other as well as the feeling he got from taking their lives. The Happy Face Killer's eighth and final victim that would be his downfall. Her body disintegrated against the hot asphalt as he drove. Her body was found after his arrest. Between 1990-1995, a series of murders were discovered over several states, all with a very similar MO. Patricia Skiple of Colton, Oregon, had been . 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. He strapped the woman beneath his big rig, the New York Post reported. Jesperson, also called the "Happy Face Killer", who is serving two life sentences in Oregon in connection with guilty pleas to two murders. When she recanted, Pavlinac said she falsely confessed because she was stuck in a volatile relationship with Sosnovske, desperately seeking a way out and wanting him in prison. That letter-writer turned out to be Keith Hunter Jesperson, who became known for signing the letters with a happy face symbol thus the Happy Face Killer moniker. 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. In the years following, Jesperson said he often thought about what it would be like to do the same to a human. . Surveillance footage captured Booth entering the bar where the celebration took place, but there is no video evidence of him leaving. To learn more about this case, watch Snapped Notorious: The Happy Face Killer, streaming now on Oxygen. 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. Investigators said there wasno sign of foul play, and his death was ruled an undetermined drowning. The police gave him the nickname "The Happy Face Killer" as he would leave a happy face on his confession letters to the media. of Victims 8-185 killed 5 attempted Span of crimes 1995/1966-March 10, 1995 (confirmed) Criminal Charges 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. Jesperson was a. Jesperson was a middle child, with an older sister and brother and a younger sister and brother. [10][14], Jesperson was arrested on 30 March 1995 for the murder of Julie Winningham. Some say the Smiley Face Killer has taken 40 victims over two decades. In November 1995, a judge released Pavlinac and Sosnovske from prison. [5], That desire manifested in two attempted murders. Serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer," brutally murdered eight women between 1990 and 1995. And just like his British counterpart, the police denied . Published: Apr. When she arrived, however, he was nowhere in sight. According to Jesperson, Pentland attempted to double the fee she charged for the sex he had been engaged in with her. "Theyhave her tell me the story and I looked at her again, and I said, 'Mom, are you sure?' Eight murders were eventually linked to Jesperson, whos serving multiple concurrent sentences in Oregon State Penitentiary. Police saidthere were no signs of foul play, and his death was ruled an undetermined drowning. Their work has spawned an Oxygen series, Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice, which aired in January 2019. Halfway through the game, Hurley called hisfiance, ClaireMahoney, pictured above, and said he wanted to leave. Courtesy of Kathy 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. Punched her, slapped her. When that did not create the attention he desired, he wrote letters to media outlets and police departments confessing to his murders, starting with a six-page letter to The Oregonian in which he revealed the details of his killings. Serial killer Keith Jesperson murders at least eight women over a five-year span and taunts authorities with disturbing letters and scribbled confessions signed with a happy face. jocks) usually after a night of drinking at a bar are kidnapped, tortured, murdered and then their . Investigators had been trying to nail down a suspect for weeks when Pavlinac brought Sosnovske to their attention. 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. Based on Pavlinac's statements, and that Sosnovke failed a polygraph test, authorities arrested Sosnovke on murder charges. Today's episode is part 1 of our coverage of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson. Jespersons second victim, known only as Claudia, was found murdered on August 30, 1992 in Blythe, California. For the 2014 film about Jesperson, see, List of serial killers in the United States, List of serial killers by number of victims, "The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)", "Serial killer receives fourth life sentence", "Dr. Phil Returns to The Oprah Show: My Father Is a Serial Killer", "ABC '20/20': Melissa Moore, Daughter Of Serial Killer, Opens Up Tonight About Life With 'Happy Face Killer' Keith Jesperson", "Meet Crime Watch Daily Correspondent Melissa Moore | Truecrimedaily.com", "My evil dad: Life as a serial killer's daughter", "Happy Face Presents: Two Face on Apple Podcasts", "Life After Happy Face on Apple Podcasts", Daughter of the 'Happy Face Killer' Talks About Growing Up With a Serial Killer Dad, Keith Hunter Jesperson: Happy Face Killer, Daughter of serial killer confronts her past, Radio Interview with Melissa Moore (daughter), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keith_Hunter_Jesperson&oldid=1142498372, American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, Canadian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, Crimes against sex workers in the United States, People extradited within the United States, Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Oregon, Violence against women in the United States, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from November 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 8 confirmed (confessed to as many as 185). He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and prosecutors. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Pavlinac seemed to know intimate details about the case. 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. As she and Sosnovske started their life sentences, one of the United States' most notorious serial killers continued his murder spree. Her body, which had been strangled and tied up with duct tape, was found on August 30, 1992. Due to the unknown identity of the female adult, Cold Case Detectives later referred to Jane Doe as Blue Pacheco.. Victim 7: Angela Subrize, 21. Her body was discovered behind the Blueberry Hill Cafe in Turlock, California. 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. Laverne Pavlinac, right, touches the tear-stained face of her grandaughter, Nicole Sullivan, after being released from prison in Salem, Ore., Nov. 27, 1995.