Keith Jesperson, otherwise known as the infamous “Happy Face Killer,” has revealed that has had cooresponace with the notorious Rex Heuermann, during which he said that he urged the accused Gilgo Beach Killer to confess to his alleged crimes.
Jesperson, 68, also said that Heuermann wrote back to him, essentially saying that he would think about his words.
Jesperson is a serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s; he was known as the “Happy Face Killer” because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. He is currently sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Massapequa Park resident Heuermann made national headlines when was arrested on July 13 as a suspect in the Gilgo Beach case; he was charged the following day in the murders of three of “the Gilgo Four” victims: Amber Lynn Costello, 27, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Megan Waterman, 22.
Authorities say he may have been involved with the deaths of additional victims connected to the case as well, and is also currently the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.
Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jesperson said in a video posted by the Okaloosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office that he wrote to Heuermann and shared his experiences with the accused murderer and encouraged him to come clean about his purported deeds.
“Like I tried to explain to other killers who are arrested, I write to them, and I tell them how the system works. When you’re dealing with serial crimes, there’s a difference than a single murder. You open yourself up for litigation across the board,” he said. “You have no say in the matter, it continues, and continues, and continues. So I always try to tell people to own it. Just admit it. If you’re arrested, it means the prosecutor has enough evidence to take you to court and prove you guilty. They wouldn’t have arrested him if they didn’t, right?”
In his response, Heuermann wrote that he would take Jesperson’s advice “under advisement.”
Heuermann’s letter, which has been publically released, also contains complaints about the quality of the food at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility (SCCF) and the lack of activities available to him in its yard.
“I will admit that food at SCCF is not much to look forward to each day,” Heuermann’s letter reads. “Also yard is just walking in circles outside.”
The accused Gilgo Beach Killer also noted that he’s been getting a number of letters from other individuals while he has been incarcerated from people wanting to either interview or befriend him.
