Published • loading... • Updated
Investigators Identify Final Victim of 'Happy Face Killer' More than 30 Years After Her Death
A DNA match from her sister ended a decadeslong search and confirmed the remains belonged to the final unidentified victim of Keith Hunter Jesperson.
- Lydia McWhorter was identified on Friday as the final unknown victim of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the 'Happy Face Killer,' according to the Riverside County district attorney.
- Jesperson, currently serving time at the Oregon State Penitentiary, confessed to murdering eight women between 1990 and 1995, referring to this victim only as 'Claudia' while working as a truck driver.
- After decades of wondering, Brenda Burks provided DNA, saying she knew the test "would prove whether or not the lady that they found was actually my little bitty sister that" was missing.
- Investigators credited genealogy research and public tips for providing investigative leads, while the district attorney works with the family to determine how to lay Lydia to rest.
- Lydia's remains were discovered along U.S. Route 95 near Blythe in August 1995, following the 2022 identification of another Jesperson victim, Patricia Skiple, by the Santa Clara County Sheriff.
Insights by Ground AI
15 Articles
15 Articles
California authorities identify final unknown victim of ‘Happy Face Killer’ Keith Jesperson after 34 years
'Happy Face Killer' Keith Hunter Jesperson's final unknown victim has been identified via DNA as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter, whose body was found along a California highway in 1992.
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Final victim of the 'Happy Face Killer' identified 34 years later
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) - Investigators have identified the final unidentified victim of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the “Happy Face Killer,” 34 years after the discovery of her body near Blythe. The woman, previously referred to by investigators as “Claudia,” was officially identified on Thursday as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter, a 26-year-old from The post Final victim of the ‘Happy Face Killer’ identified 34 years later appear…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution74% Center
Bias Distribution
- 74% of the sources are Center
74% Center
13%
C 74%
13%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
