A serial killer known as the "Happy Face" has confessed to killing an eighth victim, renewing concerns about the prevalence of serial killers working as long-haul truckers in the United States.
In a chilling interview with authorities, Keith Jesperson, the infamous "Happy Face" serial killer, has admitted to murdering an eighth victim. This revelation highlights the disturbing trend of serial killers operating as long-haul truckers across the country.
The FBI's Highway Serial Killings Initiative, launched in 2009, has identified a pattern of murdered women, often living transient lifestyles involving drug abuse and prostitution, who have been killed and dumped along highways throughout the US. Using a national database and analysis, the program linked hundreds of victims to hundreds of suspects, predominantly long-haul truckers.
Serial Killings on the Highway: Truckers Linked to Murder
Former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi, in his book "Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers," estimates that roughly 850 murders have occurred along America's highways since 1980, with around 200 remaining unsolved.
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, director of Arizona State University's Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, explains that the victims are often "invisible" and less likely to have connections or be easily missed.
Serial Killings on the Highway: Truckers Linked to Murder
The mobile nature of truckers' lifestyles and the numerous jurisdictions they traverse present challenges for law enforcement, reducing the likelihood of witnesses and making it easier for perpetrators to evade capture after picking up and murdering vulnerable individuals.
The FBI's Highway Serial Killings Initiative has successfully apprehended suspects responsible for homicides across the country, but the program has since been discontinued without explanation.
Serial Killings on the Highway: Truckers Linked to Murder
Roe-Sepowitz emphasizes the importance of the initiative and laments its closure, stating that it represents a setback in addressing violence against vulnerable women.
Despite the alarming statistics, it's crucial to note that the vast majority of long-haul truckers are not involved in criminal activity.
Serial Killings on the Highway: Truckers Linked to Murder
Organizations like Truckers Against Trafficking have trained over 235,000 truckers to identify and intervene in human trafficking situations. Roe-Sepowitz emphasizes that truckers can be valuable allies in protecting victims and preventing violence.
Without the FBI's Highway Serial Killings Initiative, the ability to track interstate crimes and identify patterns has been diminished, leaving gaps in intelligence and exacerbating the challenges in addressing serial killings involving long-haul truckers.
Serial Killings on the Highway: Truckers Linked to Murder
The article concludes by highlighting the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and combat violence against them, as well as the potential role that truckers can play in identifying and preventing further tragedies.
