Suzanne Kjellenberg, Keith Jesperson.Photo:Okaloosa County Sherrif’s Office
Okaloosa County Sherrif’s Office
The last known victim of “Happy Face Killer"Keith Hunter Jespersonhas been identified nearly three decades after her remains were discovered off a Florida interstate.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Officeannounced on Tuesdaythat skeletonized remains found in 1994 near I-10 in Florida belonged to Suzanne Kjellenberg, who Sheriff Eric Aden described as “the final unidentified victim of Jesperson’s cross country murder sprees.”
The woman, who was 34 at the time of her death, was identified after the District One Medical Examiner’s Office sent samples to Texas-based company Othram, which specializes in forensic genetic genealogy. The company was then able to create a genealogical profile to assist in Kjellenberg’s identification, thanks to funding from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
Suzanne Kjellenberg.Okaloosa County Sherrif’s Office
Despite a facial reconstruction in 2007, an anthrophological examination a year later and other efforts, Kjellenberg’s remains had not been identified until now.
The sheriff’s office noted that Jesperson had “outlined again” the events of the murder while at the Oregon State Penitentiary, when he explained that he met the victim in August 1994 at a Tampa truck stop.
He added that they then traveled to a rest area, where he pushed his first against her neck and placed zip ties around her throat after he claimed she “began screaming and wouldn’t stop.” Jesperson claimed that he was not allowed to “have unauthorized riders” in his vehicle and didn’t want a security guard to hear her.
Aspreviously reported, Jesperson is serving three life sentences for strangling and killing eight women in multiple states between 1990 and 1995. He earned his nickname for reportedly drawing happy faces on letters he wrote to authorities and media.
The victim’s family in Wisconsin has since been notified, and according to the sheriff’s office, has asked for privacy and expressed gratitude toward those involved in the investigation.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of so many over so long, the remains of Suzanne Kjellenberg, the final unidentified victim of Jesperson’s cross country murder sprees, can finally leave the Medical Examiner’s Office, and return home.” Sheriff Aden said in a release.
AsCBS Newsnotes, another one of Jesperson’s victims was identified in 2022, three decades after her remains were discovered along California’s State Route 152. The serial killer reportedly confessed to the murder in 2006.
source: people.com
