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That's a Bad Sign - The Torso and Happy Face Killers

The Torso and Happy Face Killers

That's a Bad Sign

07/29/20 • 38 min

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Richard Francis Cottingham AKA 'The Torso Killer' AKA 'The Times Square Ripper' received his nicknames due to his habit of dismembering his victims, usually leaving nothing but a torso behind. Then we dive into Keith Hunter Jesperson, 'The Happy Face Killer,' who was a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s. Get ready for some dark and twisted stories, EVERY THURSDAY.
Sources:
https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/cottingham-richard.htm
https://www.criminallyintrigued.com/blog/2019/3/3/the-torso-killer-richard-cottingham
https://www.thoughtco.com/profile-of-serial-killer-richard-cottingham-973146
https://www.nj.com/news/2020/01/the-torso-killer-dismembered-her-mother-so-why-did-this-woman-become-his-friend.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Hunter_Jesperson
https://murderpedia.org/male.J/j/jesperson.htm

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07/29/20 • 38 min

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That's a Bad Sign - The Torso and Happy Face Killers

Transcript

Liz: [00:00:00] Hey, everyone. You're listening to the pilot episode of that's a bad sign. I'm Liz and this is my cohost.
Emily: [00:00:07] Hey everybody, I'm Emily. This is a true crime podcast. And we are here every Thursday to give you guys stories.
Liz: [00:00:13] Now we take these crimes seriously, but true crime is a very dark subject. So we like to keep things a little bit light by adding an element of levity.
And for us, that's having a few cocktails.
Emily: [00:00:23] Y

The Torso and Happy Face Killers Top Questions Answered

Who is the "Happy Face Killer"?

The "Happy Face Killer" is Keith Hunter Jesperson, a serial killer known for his murders of women along his truck driving routes.

How many consecutive life sentences is Keith Hunter Jesperson serving?

Keith Hunter Jesperson is currently serving three consecutive life sentences in the Oregon state penitentiary.

What is the name of the true crime podcast discussing the Torso and Happy Face Killers?

The true crime podcast is called "That's a Bad Sign."

Where did Keith Hunter Jesperson's victims' bodies get found?

Keith Hunter Jesperson's victims' bodies were found in various states, including Oregon, California, Florida, Nebraska, Washington, and Wyoming.

How did Richard Cottingham derive pleasure from his crimes?

Richard Cottingham derived pleasure from torturing his victims and did not care if they lived or died.

What jobs did Richard Cottingham have?

Richard Cottingham worked as a computer operator at an insurance company and later at Blue Cross Blue Shield.

How did Jennifer Weiss attempt to find her mother's resting place?

Jennifer Weiss, the daughter of one of the victims, sought closure and attempted to track down her mother's resting place.

What led to increased evidence against Keith Hunter Jesperson?

Several women who survived Keith Hunter Jesperson's attacks could identify him, which led to increased evidence against him.

Where was Richard Cottingham active as a serial killer?

Richard Cottingham was active in New York City and New Jersey as a serial killer.

What did Keith Hunter Jesperson write in confessions?

Keith Hunter Jesperson wrote confessions on men's room walls and sent anonymous letters, signing them with a happy face.

What did Keith Hunter Jesperson's girlfriend falsely claim?

Keith Hunter Jesperson's girlfriend falsely claimed to have played a role in a crime.

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