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Happy Face Killer's eighth victim identified

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A photograph of Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter.

Two years after a major break in the case, the last known victim of serial killer Keith Jesperson has been identified. 

Jesperson, who got the moniker the “Happy Face Killer” after sending letters to the media with smiley faces, killed at least eight women across the nation. As a long-haul trucker, Jesperson had easy access to victims who were less likely to draw the attention of authorities: hitchhikers and sex workers. He also could dump their bodies in random locations, obscuring his involvement in their murders. It’s believed he began killing in 1990. He had multiple victims in California, including Patricia Skiple in Santa Nella, Cynthia Rose in Turlock and a woman he believed was named “Claudia.” 

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“Claudia” was found along Highway 95 on Aug. 30, 1992. According to Jesperson, who is currently serving a life sentence in........

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