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The \u201cHappy Face Killer\u201d was one of the most disturbing serial killers of the 90s. While he was arrested in 1995 and is serving a life sentence, the story of the killer has captivated true crime fans for years. After his 1995 arrest, he claimed to be responsible for 160 murders, but only eight have officially been linked to the Happy Face Killer.<\/p>\n
A wide range of podcasts have covered the story of the Happy Face Killer. There have also been movies loosely based on him and the murders. His daughter Melissa Moore\u00a0<\/strong>also wrote the book\u00a0Shattered Silence\u00a0<\/em>about her experience growing up with a serial killer for a dad. Melissa\u2019s story plays a part in the upcoming Paramount+ series\u00a0Happy Face.\u00a0<\/em>Before the show hits the streamer, find out the true story behind the Happy Face Killer.<\/p>\n The Happy Face Killer has been connected to eight murders that took place between 1990 and 1995. He strangled most of his victims, some of whom were sex workers. It took years to identify some of the victims, with the last one being identified in October 2023, as Suzanne Kjellenberg<\/strong>, according to\u00a0CNN<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>The murderer was arrested in 1995 following the murder of\u00a0Julie Winningham<\/strong>. He was given three life sentences, and in January 2010, he received a fourth.<\/p>\n The killer was given his infamous nickname shortly after his first murder of\u00a0Taunja Bennet\u00a0<\/strong>in 1990. After the news of Bennet\u2019s death,\u00a0Laverne Pavlinac\u00a0<\/strong>had falsely confessed to the murder, claiming that her then-boyfriend\u00a0John Sosnovske\u00a0<\/strong>was responsible, per\u00a0People<\/a>.<\/em> She had claimed that her relationship was abusive and saw the confession as a chance to end the relationship. Following her confession, both she and her boyfriend were convicted and spent four years in jail for the murder.<\/p>\n In 1994, the killer wrote the letter, which earned him the nickname. It was a confession letter to\u00a0The Oregonian\u00a0<\/em>newspaper, where he detailed five murders, including Bennet\u2019s. He signed the letter with a drawing of a Happy Face, thus earning the nickname, per\u00a0The New York Times.\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n After his arrest, the Happy Face Killer\u2019s identity was revealed to be\u00a0Keith Hunter Jesperson<\/strong>. He had been married to\u00a0Rose Hucke\u00a0<\/strong>from 1975 to 1990, when they divorced. They had four children together, including their eldest daughter\u00a0Melissa, who was 10 when they split. Jesperson had worked as a trucker, and during one of his trips Rose left with the kids, suspecting that he was having an affair.<\/p>\n The upcoming series from Paramount+ will be based on an iHeartMedia podcast\u00a0Happy Face,\u00a0<\/em>as well as Moore\u2019s book and her own experiences. The show will reportedly star\u00a0Annaleigh Ashford\u00a0<\/strong>as Melissa, while\u00a0Dennis Quaid\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>will play Keith, according to\u00a0Variety<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>It\u2019s expected to premiere in 2025.<\/p>\nWhat Did the Happy Face Killer Do?<\/h2>\n
Why Was He Called the \u201cHappy Face\u201d Killer?<\/h2>\n
Who Is the Happy Face Killer?<\/h2>\n
Who Is Playing the Happy Face Killer in the New Show?<\/h2>\n
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Happy Face<\/em> Trailer<\/h2>\n