Keith Hunter Jesperson

Happy Face Killer

  Active for 6 years
(1990-1995) in United States

8

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

185

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 10 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 18 Books About Keith Hunter Jesperson
  14. 7 External References
  15. 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 completeness

Keith Hunter Jesperson has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.

Keith Hunter Jesperson a known:

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 1955Keith 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
ANSWERED
Serial 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

Book: Serial Killer Stranglers (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: The Last Victim (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Jason Moss
The Last Victim
Book: I: The Creation of a Serial Killer (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Jack Olsen
I: The Creation of a Serial Killer
Book: The Happy Face Killer (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Jack Olsen
The Happy Face Killer
Book: I: The Creation of a Serial Killer (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Jack Olsen
I: The Creation of a Serial Killer
Book: Shattered Silence (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Melissa Grace Moore
Shattered Silence
Book: Sex, Lies, and Handwriting (mentions serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson)
Michelle Dresbold
Sex, Lies, and Handwriting

18 Books that mention Serial Killer
Keith Hunter Jesperson

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630600 Serial Killer Stranglers 164
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
0759528306 The Last Victim 25
0312241984 I: The Creation of a Seri... 1
1844545474 The Happy Face Killer 1
0312983840 I: The Creation of a Seri... 1
1599552388 Shattered Silence 1
0743288106 Sex, Lies, and Handwritin... 1
1548119644 The Big Book of Serial Ki... 60
1843586436 Dead Men Talking 5
1530140978 The Happy Face Murderer 1
1459701240 Cold North Killers 12
1843588390 Serial Killers - Up Close... 4
1782193650 The Evil Within - A Top M... 14
1101139943 A Sudden Shot 4
0786420758 Murders in the United Sta... 32
1439851557 Creating Cultural Monster... 9
0786040858 Dangerous Ground 3

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.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Keith Hunter Jesperson on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Keith Hunter JESPERSON on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
  3. Peggy Krueger, Kendra Justice, Keith Hunter Jesperson on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
  4. Q2692190 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Nov 2, 2018.
  5. Adam Janos, Happy Face Killers Daughter Reveals Grief on www.aetv.com, Retrieved on Jan 20, 2019.
  6. My evil dad: Life as a serial killer’s daughter on www.bbc.com, Retrieved on Jan 20, 2019.
  7. 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

  1. #15 of 38[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in April
  2. #17 of 42[ Page 2 ] of Aries Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  3. #37 of 72[ Page 3 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
  4. #102 of 327[ Page 7 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  5. #107 of 250[ Page 8 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #113 of 651[ Page 8 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  7. #127 of 307[ Page 9 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #241 of 651[ Page 17 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  9. #258 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  10. #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: