Happy Face: Moment Keith Jesperson almost confided in daughter Melissa Moore revealed in new account
Moore was 15 at the time and recalls her father nearly confessing his double life as a serial killer. In an account to Fox News Digital,she recollected, during their meal Jesperson told Moore he had something to reveal, saying, "But you'll tell the authorities." Moore initially thought he was referring to rumors about being fired for theft, but the conversation quickly turned uneasy. Jesperson became evasive, and Moore, feeling sick, went to the bathroom to compose herself. This moment marked one of the final interactions before Jesperson's arrest, which occurred shortly after Moore's 16th birthday.
Jesperson, also known as the "Happy Face Killer" for drawing smiley faces in letters to the media, was arrested in 1995 and confessed to killing eight women across several states. Moore, who was unaware of his crimes, learned of his arrest when her mother informed her and her siblings that their father was charged with murder. The news spread quickly, and Moore faced shame and isolation from her peers, which deeply affected her sense of identity.
Moore's story is now the subject of Happy Face, a true-crime drama on Paramount+ starring Dennis Quaid as her father. Moore, who previously authored the memoir Shattered Silence, shared her experiences to shed light on the complex relationships between family members of perpetrators. The show highlights the trauma families face and the lack of support for them.
Jesperson, now 69, remains imprisoned, serving multiple life sentences without parole. Moore continues to grapple with the impact of her father's actions but has found strength through her work supporting other families affected by similar tragedies.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Britain's Moore handed four-year ban
Tara Moore was handed a four-year ban after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal. Photo: REUTERS Britain's Tara Moore, who was previously cleared of an anti-doping rule violation, was handed a four-year ban on Tuesday after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal filed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Moore, Britain's former number one-ranked doubles player, was provisionally suspended in June 2022 due to the presence of prohibited anabolic steroids Nandrolone and boldenone. Moore said she had never knowingly taken a banned substance in her career and an independent tribunal determined that contaminated meat consumed by her in the days before sample collection was the source of the prohibited substance. Moore lost 19 months in the process before she was cleared of the ADRV but CAS upheld the ITIA's appeal against the first instance "No Fault or Negligence" ruling with respect to nandrolone. "After reviewing the scientific and legal evidence, the majority of the CAS Panel considered that the player did not succeed in proving that the concentration of nandrolone in her sample was consistent with the ingestion of contaminated meat," CAS said in a statement. "The panel concluded that Ms Moore failed to establish that the ADRV was not intentional. The appeal by the ITIA is therefore upheld and the decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal is set aside." Moore had previously said how she saw her reputation, ranking and livelihood "slowly trickling away" for 19 months during her initial suspension. The 32-year-old had also filed a cross-appeal at CAS "seeking to dismiss the ITIA appeal, dismiss the nandrolone result in the ADRV or alternatively confirm that she bears no fault or negligence". However, CAS said the cross-appeal was declared inadmissible and her four-year period of ineligibility would start from July 15, with credit for any provisional suspension that has already been served. "Our bar for appealing a first instance decision is high, and the decision is not taken lightly," ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said in a statement. "In this case, our independent scientific advice was that the player did not adequately explain the high level of nandrolone present in their sample. Today's ruling is consistent with this position." The 32-year-old Moore is currently ranked 864th in the world in singles and 187th in doubles, mostly playing in lower-level WTA Tour events since returning from her provisional suspension after the positive test.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business Recorder
FBI opens criminal probe into ex-FBI, CIA directors
WASHINGTON: The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into its former director James Comey and ex-CIA chief John Brennan, two prominent critics of President Donald Trump, US media reported. Fox News Digital said the probe involved 'potential wrongdoing' related to the investigation into claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election won by Trump and alleged false statements made to Congress. CIA director John Ratcliffe, a Trump appointee, had referred 'evidence of wrongdoing by Brennan' to FBI director Kash Patel, another Trump appointee, for potential prosecution, Fox News Digital said, citing Justice Department sources.
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Express Tribune
'Elsbeth' kills off major character in deadly courthouse shooting ahead of season 2 finale
The CBS legal drama Elsbeth delivered a pivotal twist in its latest episode, as the storyline escalated with a deadly courthouse shooting just before the Season 2 finale. The episode, aired on 24 April, followed Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston) and Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce) as they uncovered evidence linking Judge Milton Crawford (Michael Emerson) to a long-buried crime. After confessing to Elsbeth, Crawford was shot outside the courthouse by someone seeking justice. The shooting stirred debate among the characters over the legitimacy of Crawford's death. While some argued he should have faced the legal system, others viewed the act as overdue retribution. The dramatic incident marks a significant shift in the series as it heads toward its final episode. Crawford was introduced earlier this season when Elsbeth was selected for jury duty in a trial he presided over. The upcoming finale will follow Elsbeth as she investigates a new shooting incident involving Rod (Billy Magnussen), a thrill-seeking suspect. The episode is set to feature guest stars including Stephen Moyer, Alyssa Milano, and Mary-Louise Parker. Elsbeth airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, with episodes available for streaming the next day on Paramount+.
