Melissa Moore reveals her father's dark legacy as the Happy Face killer
- Melissa Moore discovered her father's criminal identity as a teenager, learning he was the Happy Face Killer.
- She has since authored two books, created podcasts, and produced documentaries to advocate for victims and their families.
- Her story is being dramatized in a new series, emphasizing the impact of serial killers on those associated with them.
In the United States, Melissa G. Moore has lived with the harrowing legacy of her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, who is infamously known as the Happy Face Killer. Jesperson, originally from Canada, committed a series of murders in the 1990s while working as a long-distance truck driver, claiming to have killed as many as 160 women; however, only eight victims have been officially attributed to him. Melissa, who grew up in Spokane, Washington, had a difficult upbringing influenced by an allegedly abusive father and an emotionally distant mother. She didn't learn about her father's violent secret until her teenage years, which deeply traumatized her and altered her perception of family. After uncovering her father's dark identity, Moore became an advocate for victims of crime and their families. In her personal journey, she wrote two books; 'Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer’s Daughter' and 'WHOLE: How I Learned to Fill the Fragments of My Life with Forgiveness, Hope, Strength, and Creativity,' both published in 2016. Melissa also created and produced various documentary series, including A&E's 'Monster In My Family,' and launched two podcast series focused on her experiences, named 'Happy Face' and 'Life After Happy Face.' Her work aims to bring attention to the victims and their families, providing a voice to those affected by her father's heinous acts. In a new eight-episode drama series titled 'Happy Face,' set to be released on Paramount+, Melissa’s story will be further explored and dramatized. The series aims to focus not just on Keith Jesperson but also on the impact his actions had on those around him, particularly his family. Through this project, Melissa hopes to connect with other individuals who have faced similar struggles, asserting that victims' families deserve recognition in the true crime narrative often dominated by the criminal's story. Despite her father's continued efforts to reach out to her through letters, Melissa chose to distance herself from him, confronting the haunting reality of his actions. She shared that her grandfather once revealed that Jesperson contemplated harming Melissa and her siblings, further exposing the manipulation and duality of his character. Melissa's commitment to speaking out not only honors the victims but also aids in her healing process.