Riverside County, California – Riverside County investigators are on the brink of solving a decades-old mystery surrounding the identity of a woman who fell victim to the infamous “Happy Face Killer” over 30 years ago. Although the killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, claimed to have killed the woman, he referred to as “Claudia,” her identity remains unconfirmed. Authorities are now turning to the public for help in identifying the victim.
Jesperson, a serial killer, sent letters to the press in the 1990s, detailing his involvement in the deaths of the woman and seven other female victims, signing off with a smiling face. Despite his confession, the victim’s identity has remained a mystery, leaving Riverside County investigators determined to provide closure to her family after decades of uncertainty.
The tragic incident unfolded in August 1992 when Jesperson encountered the victim at a brake check area along Highway 15 south of Victorville. A dispute over money led to her violent death in his truck, after which he disposed of her body north of Blythe along Highway 95. The unidentified woman, described as in her 20s with shaggy blond hair and a unique tattoo, was found wearing a T-shirt with a motorcycle design.
Using advanced forensic techniques and DNA evidence, investigators have traced the victim’s biological father to Cameron County, Texas. However, her mother remains unidentified, potentially hailing from Louisiana or southeastern Texas. While reaching out to potential half-siblings of the victim, investigators have yet to make a breakthrough in confirming her identity.
Riverside County authorities are urging anyone with information that could assist in identifying the victim to come forward. They can contact the Riverside County district attorney’s cold case hotline at (951) 955-5567 or email coldecaseunit@rivcoda.org with any potential leads.
The case of the unidentified victim, who fell victim to the “Happy Face Killer” over three decades ago, remains a haunting unsolved mystery. With the assistance of the public, authorities are hopeful that they can finally bring closure to her family and ensure that she is given the recognition and respect she deserves.