Keith Hunter Jesperson
Happy Face Killer
Active for 6 years
(1990-1995) in United States
8
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
185
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 10 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 18 Books Written About Keith Hunter Jesperson
- 7 External References
- Internal References
Keith Hunter Jesperson a Canadian-American serial killer known as the Happy Face Killer. He murdered at least eight women between 1990 and 1995. Jesperson's victims were sex worker transients who were raped and murdered by strangulation. His eight confirmed victims were killed in California, Florida, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Jesperson was known as the Happy Face Killer because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and prosecutors. Jesperson claimed to have killed hundreds of victims, authorities say only eight murders have been confirmed. Keith Hunter Jesperson was ultimately sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment.
Keith Hunter Jesperson Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Keith Hunter Jesperson (aka) Happy Face Killer, was active for 6 years between 1990-1995, known to have ( 8 confirmed / 185 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
Keith Hunter Jesperson was born on April 6th 1955 in Chilliwack, city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He was raised by both parents. He was raised as a middle child and had two brothers and two sisters. His father, Leslie (Les) Jesperson, a domineering alcoholic. His mother, Gladys Jesperson. His father abused alcohol and/or drugs. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems, including being teased or picked on. Keith Hunter Jesperson was physically psychologically abused at some point of his life.
Keith Hunter Jesperson a heterosexual male citizen of Canada. He took an intelligence quotient test before or after his crimes, Keith Hunter Jesperson had an IQ of 102. He completed 12 years of school, received a high school diploma. He divorced. He had three children, including Melissa Grace Moore.
In 1990 (Age 34/35) Keith Hunter Jesperson started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to strangle, rape, and murder his victims. He was known to kill victims at his own home. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, alone as a truck driver, where he was known to work as a serial killer.
He was arrested on March 30th 1995 (Age 39), convicted on June 3rd 1998 (Age 43), sentenced to life imprisonment, four life terms at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon, US. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.
Profile Completeness: 92%
serial killers by profile completenessKeith Hunter Jesperson has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.
Keith Hunter Jesperson a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
Keith Hunter Jesperson
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2020-05-12 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Keith Hunter Jesperson |
| Nickname: | Happy Face Killer |
| Victims: | 8 - 185 |
| Years Active: | 1990 - 1995 |
| Ages Active: | 34/35 - 39/40 |
| Active Countries: | United States |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1955 - |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Citizenship: | Canada |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♈ Aries Mar 20 - Apr 20 |
| Birth Month: | April |
| Marital Status: | divorced |
| Children: | three children, including Melissa Grace Moore |
| Living With: | himself, alone as a truck driver |
| Occupation: | serial killer |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Apr 6, 1955 |
| Given Name: | Keith |
| Birth Location: | Chilliwack, city in the province of British Columbia, Canada |
| Birth Order: | N/A |
| Siblings: | two brothers and two sisters |
| Raised By: | both parents |
| Birth Category: | middle child |
| Mother: | Gladys Jesperson |
| Father: | Leslie (Les) Jesperson, a domineering alcoholic |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | 102 |
| Highest School: | 12 years of school |
| Highest Degree: | high school diploma |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Mar 30, 1995 (Age 39) |
| Convicted: | Jun 3, 1998 (Age 43) |
| Sentence: | life imprisonment, four life terms |
| Prison Location: | Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon, US |
| Executed: | N/A |
| Previous Crimes: | FALSE |
| Previous Jail: | FALSE |
| Previous Prison: | FALSE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | N/A |
| Cause of Death: | N/A |
| Death Location: | N/A |
| Killed In Prison: | N/A |
| Suicide: | N/A |
10 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Keith Hunter Jesperson
The 10 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Apr 06 1955 | Keith Hunter Jesperson was born in Chilliwack, city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. #19550406 |
| Apr 06 1975 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| Apr 06 1985 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| 1990 (Age 34/35) | Keith Hunter Jesperson started his serial killing spree. #1990 |
| 1995 (Age 39/40) | Keith Hunter Jesperson ended his serial killing spree. #1995 |
| Mar 30 1995 (Age 39) | Keith Hunter Jesperson arrested. #19950330 |
| Apr 06 1995 (Age 40) | 40th Birthday |
| Jun 03 1998 (Age 43) | Keith Hunter Jesperson was convictedand sentenced to life imprisonment, four life terms at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon, US. #19980603 |
| Apr 06 2005 (Age 50) | 50th Birthday |
| Apr 06 2015 (Age 60) | 60th Birthday |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Keith Hunter Jesperson (1990-1995).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 37 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| father drug abuse | TRUE | 192 | ||
| problems in school | TRUE | 221 | ||
| teased in school | TRUE | 218 | ||
| physically abused | TRUE | 231 | ||
| psychologically abused | TRUE | 224 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| living with children | FALSE | 268 | ||
| mother drug abuse | FALSE | 195 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
| drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| psychologist | FALSE | 258 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous crimes | FALSE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | FALSE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | FALSE | 336 | ||
| previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
| kill at victims home | FALSE | 323 | ||
| used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| bound | FALSE | 406 | ||
| sex with body | FALSE | 430 | ||
| mutilated | FALSE | 447 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
| robbed | FALSE | 418 | ||
Books that Mention Keith Hunter Jesperson
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Jason Moss
The Last Victim
Jack Olsen
I: The Creation of a Serial Killer
Jack Olsen
The Happy Face Killer
Jack Olsen
I: The Creation of a Serial Killer
Melissa Grace Moore
Shattered Silence
Michelle Dresbold
Sex, Lies, and Handwriting
18 Books that mention Serial Killer
Keith Hunter Jesperson
Keith Hunter Jesperson (born 6 April 1955) is a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and prosecutors. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him.
External References
- Keith Hunter Jesperson on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Keith Hunter JESPERSON on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Peggy Krueger, Kendra Justice, Keith Hunter Jesperson on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Q2692190 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Nov 2, 2018.
- Adam Janos, Happy Face Killers Daughter Reveals Grief on www.aetv.com, Retrieved on Jan 20, 2019.
- My evil dad: Life as a serial killer’s daughter on www.bbc.com, Retrieved on Jan 20, 2019.
- Melissa Moore, How It Felt Learning My Dad Is a Serial Killer on www.vice.com, Retrieved on May 12, 2020.
Internal References
Keith Hunter Jesperson is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #15 of 38[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in April
- #17 of 42[ Page 2 ] of Aries Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #37 of 72[ Page 3 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
- #102 of 327[ Page 7 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #107 of 250[ Page 8 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #113 of 651[ Page 8 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #127 of 307[ Page 9 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #241 of 651[ Page 17 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #258 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #279 of 651[ Page 19 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Keith Hunter Jesperson is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Years of School Completed, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: