Keith Hunter Jesperson: The Happy Face Killer | The Killer in My Backyard

In this third and final installment of our Killer in My Backyard series, we examine the life and crimes of Keith Hunter Jesperson, better known as the Happy Face Killer.Born in Canada and raised in Selah, Washington, Jesperson later lived and worked throughout Eastern Washington, including the Spokane area, before becoming a long-haul truck driver. That access to the open road allowed him to murder at least eight women across multiple states between 1990 and 1995.In this episode, we walk through Jesperson’s early life, his movements across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and the step-by-step details of each confirmed victim, where they were last seen, where they were found, and how his crimes went undetected for years. We also discuss the devastating wrongful convictions tied to his first murder, the taunting letters signed with a smiley face that earned him his nickname, and recent developments identifying victims who were once known only as Jane Does.This case is deeply tied to Washington State, and it serves as a reminder that some of the most prolific killers aren’t distant monsters, they lived, worked, and moved through our own backyards.