Final ID of Happy Face Killer’s Victim | Portland News

After 32 years, the identity of the last victim of the “Happy Face Killer,” Keith Hunter Jesperson, has finally been revealed: Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter. Her remains were discovered near Blythe, California, in 1992. Jesperson, already serving multiple life sentences, admitted to killing her while driving a long-haul truck — even calling her “Claudia” during interrogations. A breakthrough came in 2024 when DNA technology helped identify her maternal relatives, confirming her identity after decades of mystery. Her sisters, unaware of her fate since she vanished from Texas in the ’90s, are now being offered closure as authorities work with the family to honor her memory. Jesperson pleaded guilty to her murder in 2010 and received a 25-to-life sentence. He’s tied to at least eight murders across several states in the mid-’90s. The cold case team stressed that public tips — no matter how small — can be vital to solving these old cases, highlighting the power of persistence and community involvement. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6b63c288061ce3bd