Riverside County, California – Investigators are working tirelessly to identify the last unknown victim of the notorious “Happy Face” serial killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson. The victim, known only as “Claudia,” was murdered by Jesperson in August 1992, and her body was dumped on the side of the road in the city of Blythe in eastern Riverside County.
Jesperson, who confessed to at least eight murders across multiple states, met “Claudia” in Victorville, California, and drove her towards Southern California. The two got into a heated argument at a rest stop, which tragically escalated to murder. Although her true identity remains a mystery, investigators managed to track down living relatives by using DNA, although no one has been a biological match to her mother, and her father passed away years ago.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office released an updated sketch and description of “Claudia,” hoping that new tips will lead to her identification. They believe she may have lived in Southern California, possibly Los Angeles, San Bernardino, or areas in Riverside County, and had ties to Las Vegas and southern Nevada. “Claudia” was likely between 20 and 30 years old, about 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 7-inches tall, and had a distinctive tattoo of two small dots on her left thumb.
Jesperson, also known as the “Happy Face” killer, was a long-haul trucker who sent letters to the media detailing his crimes, signing them off with a smiley face. He was eventually arrested in 1995 and is currently serving four life sentences without the possibility of parole in an Oregon prison.
The case of “Claudia” is another step in the ongoing efforts to bring closure to the victims and their families, as investigators continue to seek out new leads and information. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Cold Case Hotline at (951) 955-5567 or email coldcaseunit@rivcoda.org.