As Todd & I were talking on-air this morning about our mutual love of "GORN" (gore porn as I refer to what most people call "Murder Porn"), we got onto the topic of how the Pacific Northwest really seems like it ranks #1 with serial killers! I asked him if he had ever heard of the serial killer who lived in Selah in the 80's. He had not heard of Keith Hunter Jesperson. Todd did know him by his nickname... The "Happy Face Killer".

Keith Hunter Jesperson killed at least eight women over a five year period in the early 90's. Most of his crimes took place all over the United States, but mainly of his actual murders happened along the west coast, California, Oregon & Washington state. His family moved to Selah, WA. where he attended school and graduated in 1973. He worked several jobs, including as a truck driver, and made his home up and down the west coast, including stints living in Cheney and Spokane. His first confirmed murder wasn't until January of 1990 near Portland, Oregon. He got the nickname of the "Happy Face Killer" because he eventually started drawing smiley faces on letters that went to the authorities and media. According to his Wikipedia.org page, he is currently serving three consecutive life sentences in the Salem, Oregon at the Oregon State Penitentiary.

Jesperson is just one name in a long list of Serial Killers who have made their mark in the PNW. Ted Bundy, Gary Ridgway (The Green River Killer), Robert Lee Yates, Warren Leslie ForrestLinda Hazzard, Dayton Leroy Rogers (The Molalla Forest Killer), Alvin Brown, & Richard Marquette who is the oldest serial killer still in jail at the age of 86. This goes on and on. Heck even the D.C. Snipers (who some are still debating if they fit the criteria of a Serial Killer) have ties to Washington state.

Some ask my why I have fascination with serial killers. Some have even called me sick. Judging by my conversation with Todd, as well as the many TV shows, movies, and podcasts out there, it looks like I'm in good company. For me, I'm fascinated by the fact that someone can have so much evil in them. What would drive someone to do these things. Not to mention all the violent acts that lead up to finally taking someones life. By learning about this type of evil, maybe we can understand it, and in the future help prevent it. Simply put...nature vs nurture? We may never know.

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