SALEM, OREGON – Keith Jesperson, also known as the Happy Face Killer, is a notorious serial killer who terrorized the United States in the early 1990s. His chilling crimes left a trail of horror and heartbreak in their wake.
Jesperson, a long-haul truck driver and divorced father of three, claimed the lives of at least 8 women before finally being apprehended by authorities. His first known victim, Taunja Bennett, was tragically linked to a wrongful conviction that derailed the investigation and allowed Jesperson to continue his killing spree for five more years.
During his reign of terror, Jesperson left a signature mark at his crime scenes – a smiley face. This distinctive and sinister calling card would eventually earn him the moniker, the Happy Face Killer. Despite his arrest and imprisonment at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Jesperson’s reign of terror continued to impact not only the lives of his victims but also those who loved and knew them.
In a stunning turn of events, as late as 2023, authorities identified Suzanne Kjellenberg as Jesperson’s last known victim, bringing closure to a case that had remained unsolved for decades. Jesperson’s chilling confession to his crimes revealed a disturbing narcissistic personality, one that took perverse pleasure in the pain and suffering he inflicted on his victims.
His story has been explored in a documentary series titled “Mind of a Monster,” available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The series delves deep into the evidence and investigation that ultimately led to Jesperson’s conviction. The impact of his heinous acts continues to reverberate, serving as a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked evil.