Portland, Oregon – Investigators are working to identify the last unknown victim of the Oregon serial killer known as the “Happy Face Killer.” The convicted murderer, born Keith Jesperson, was arrested in 1995 after eight confirmed murders. Despite his incarceration, Jesperson admitted to also killing an unidentified woman near Indio, California in 1992 – a victim Jesperson referred to as “Claudia.”
On Monday, Riverside County investigators announced a renewed effort to identify the woman. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin stated, “Our goal is to identify this victim and provide closure to her family, wherever they may be. We are hopeful someone hearing any of these details may remember anything that could help us reunite this woman with the family who may have been looking for her for over three decades.”
The woman was described by Jesperson as having shaggy, wild blonde hair, and tight clothing. He said her name was “Claudia,” but it’s not confirmed to be accurate. She was also described as about 20 to 30 years old, around 5′6″ to 5′7,” and medium build, around 140 to 150 pounds. She was found wearing a t-shirt printed with a motorcycle and had a tattoo of two small dots on the left side of her right thumb.
Forensic and DNA advancements were able to determine familial relatives including the biological father, who has since died. The victim’s father is said to be from Cameron County, Texas, but traveled across the country, including Washington, Oregon and California. In addition to the victim’s father, half-siblings were also identified but no living relatives were biological matches to the victim’s mother, investigators revealed.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office asks any tips be reported to the Cold Case Hotline at (951) 955-5567, or by emailing coldcaseunit@rivcoda.org. For his murders, Jesperson is serving life in prison without parole at the Oregon State Penitentiary.