Laverne Pavlenak

The homicide investigation is finally picking up speed. Laverne Pavlenak says she heard her boyfriend talking about killing a woman.

The homicide investigation is finally picking up speed. Laverne Pavlenak says she heard her boyfriend talking about killing a woman.

It is nothing like shoplifting. You're killing somebody.

It is nothing like shoplifting. You're killing somebody.

Remember, when Tanya's body was found, the fly had been cut out of the jeans. Now, police think this is a huge break because this appears to be that missing piece of denim.

Remember, when Tanya's body was found, the fly had been cut out of the jeans. Now, police think this is a huge break because this appears to be that missing piece of denim.

John writes out a seven-page statement and reads it out on tape.

John writes out a seven-page statement and reads it out on tape.

Nelson Mandela walking free in South Africa after spending decades in prison.

Nelson Mandela walking free in South Africa after spending decades in prison.

For the detectives, their investigation hits a major roadblock when they examine evidence found in Laverne Pavlinak's trunk.

For the detectives, their investigation hits a major roadblock when they examine evidence found in Laverne Pavlinak's trunk.

Laverne tells police a new story, that she got a call from John in the middle of the night and that he had a request.

Laverne tells police a new story, that she got a call from John in the middle of the night and that he had a request.

Vern Pavlenak says she immediately recognized the woman to be Tanya Bennett, a former patient at the mental hospital where Pavlenak herself once worked.

Vern Pavlenak says she immediately recognized the woman to be Tanya Bennett, a former patient at the mental hospital where Pavlenak herself once worked.

So they say to her, OK, take us to where you disposed of Tonya's body.

So they say to her, OK, take us to where you disposed of Tonya's body.

Multnomah County detectives believe they have finally solved the murder of Tanya Bennett. They arrest John Sosnovsky.

Multnomah County detectives believe they have finally solved the murder of Tanya Bennett. They arrest John Sosnovsky.

And a few days later, they get another call from Laverne Pavlinak, and she has more to talk about.

And a few days later, they get another call from Laverne Pavlinak, and she has more to talk about.

They slam that metal door on you. That's when I started to realize what I had done. Like it woke me up.

They slam that metal door on you. That's when I started to realize what I had done. Like it woke me up.

So once behind bars, alone with her thoughts, Laverne Pavlenak has a stunning about face. She says her dying grandson pleads with her to finally come clean.

So once behind bars, alone with her thoughts, Laverne Pavlenak has a stunning about face. She says her dying grandson pleads with her to finally come clean.

I finally told my attorney, what would you say if I told you I didn't, that I made all this up? I lied. He said he wouldn't believe me. But I says, well, I did. I lied.

I finally told my attorney, what would you say if I told you I didn't, that I made all this up? I lied. He said he wouldn't believe me. But I says, well, I did. I lied.

The jury finds her guilty of felony murder and sentences her to life.

The jury finds her guilty of felony murder and sentences her to life.

These cryptic messages were found hundreds of miles away from the courthouse, one in Montana and one in eastern Oregon.

These cryptic messages were found hundreds of miles away from the courthouse, one in Montana and one in eastern Oregon.

Now, remember, Laverne had implicated her boyfriend John in the murder of Tanya Bennett. She even claimed that she was involved. But now there's a whole new suspect.

Now, remember, Laverne had implicated her boyfriend John in the murder of Tanya Bennett. She even claimed that she was involved. But now there's a whole new suspect.

He'd tell anybody who'd listen, I'm the happy-faced killer.

He'd tell anybody who'd listen, I'm the happy-faced killer.

For more than 25 years, Bonnie and Darlene have literally saved everything related to their mother's case.

For more than 25 years, Bonnie and Darlene have literally saved everything related to their mother's case.

Their mother, Laverne, told police a series of stories that implicated not only herself, but her boyfriend, John Sosnoski, in the murder of Tanya Bennett. She confessed to not only putting a rope around Tanya's neck, she pointed out the exact spot where they found Tanya's body.

Their mother, Laverne, told police a series of stories that implicated not only herself, but her boyfriend, John Sosnoski, in the murder of Tanya Bennett. She confessed to not only putting a rope around Tanya's neck, she pointed out the exact spot where they found Tanya's body.

Stanford's a journalist, so he decides to go back and take another look at Tanya Bennett's police file.

Stanford's a journalist, so he decides to go back and take another look at Tanya Bennett's police file.

Nothing ever really came of the happy face letter. Think about it. Detectives in Multnomah County weren't about to reopen a murder case just because of anonymous letter, especially because they already had two people in prison serving time for the murder of Tanya Bennett.

Nothing ever really came of the happy face letter. Think about it. Detectives in Multnomah County weren't about to reopen a murder case just because of anonymous letter, especially because they already had two people in prison serving time for the murder of Tanya Bennett.

Then in March of 1995, another dead body in the Columbia Gorge, but this time on the other side of the river in Skamania County, Washington.

Then in March of 1995, another dead body in the Columbia Gorge, but this time on the other side of the river in Skamania County, Washington.

It's Tanya Bennett all over again. Another woman found dead with no ID. A naked body found in the Columbia River Gorge. Death by strangulation. And another phone call to police confessing.

It's Tanya Bennett all over again. Another woman found dead with no ID. A naked body found in the Columbia River Gorge. Death by strangulation. And another phone call to police confessing.

It's been a year since the Happy Face articles appeared in the Oregonian. Laverne's daughters are trying in vain to clear their mother's name in the murder of Tanya Bennett. But the news cycle has already moved on.

It's been a year since the Happy Face articles appeared in the Oregonian. Laverne's daughters are trying in vain to clear their mother's name in the murder of Tanya Bennett. But the news cycle has already moved on.

april 6 1955. i got introduced to truck with my father in jesperson contracting in 1972 when i was still in school how did you get the nickname the happy face killer i had the opportunity to speak with keith jesperson back in 2010 and i found him to be polite and yet he spent a lot of time talking about himself what was your uh childhood like well i considered it

april 6 1955. i got introduced to truck with my father in jesperson contracting in 1972 when i was still in school how did you get the nickname the happy face killer i had the opportunity to speak with keith jesperson back in 2010 and i found him to be polite and yet he spent a lot of time talking about himself what was your uh childhood like well i considered it

These photos and videos, licensed from his daughter, Melissa Moore, provide a glimpse into Keith Jesperson's life.

These photos and videos, licensed from his daughter, Melissa Moore, provide a glimpse into Keith Jesperson's life.

Dr. Robert Shug is a forensic psychologist, and he evaluated Jesperson by speaking with him multiple times.

Dr. Robert Shug is a forensic psychologist, and he evaluated Jesperson by speaking with him multiple times.

What the detectives don't know is that Jesperson is desperate to cover his own tracks.

What the detectives don't know is that Jesperson is desperate to cover his own tracks.

Michelle White's younger sister hadn't been home for a week. No one knew where she was. And then one night, a neighbor told her to watch the news.

Michelle White's younger sister hadn't been home for a week. No one knew where she was. And then one night, a neighbor told her to watch the news.

You have to remember, Jesperson was in jail for only one murder. And he did not want police to find out about the other seven murders he confessed to his brother in that letter. So he told him to flush the letter down the toilet.

You have to remember, Jesperson was in jail for only one murder. And he did not want police to find out about the other seven murders he confessed to his brother in that letter. So he told him to flush the letter down the toilet.

reporters covering jesperson's arrest remember the happy face letters and they start putting two and two together when they start seeing the similarities between the bennett case and the winningham case when we compared the two letters you can easily see the similarities in the handwriting and that matched the dna the fingerprints the saliva on that letter also matched the happy face anonymous happy face letters so clearly they now had

reporters covering jesperson's arrest remember the happy face letters and they start putting two and two together when they start seeing the similarities between the bennett case and the winningham case when we compared the two letters you can easily see the similarities in the handwriting and that matched the dna the fingerprints the saliva on that letter also matched the happy face anonymous happy face letters so clearly they now had

Meanwhile, Jesperson is still behind bars, seemingly enjoying his notoriety. He'd tell anybody who'd listen, I'm the happy-faced killer.

Meanwhile, Jesperson is still behind bars, seemingly enjoying his notoriety. He'd tell anybody who'd listen, I'm the happy-faced killer.

When I interviewed Jesperson, he told me step by step what led him to murder.

When I interviewed Jesperson, he told me step by step what led him to murder.

How do you reconcile those two personalities?

How do you reconcile those two personalities?

Jesperson says a month later, he killed another woman. Her body was found behind a local cafe in Turlock, California. What about Lorianne Pentland?

Jesperson says a month later, he killed another woman. Her body was found behind a local cafe in Turlock, California. What about Lorianne Pentland?

In April of 2022, victim number five is finally identified as 45-year-old Patricia Schipel of Colton, Oregon, thanks to cutting-edge DNA research. Victim number six is still unidentified.

In April of 2022, victim number five is finally identified as 45-year-old Patricia Schipel of Colton, Oregon, thanks to cutting-edge DNA research. Victim number six is still unidentified.

It was shocking to hear him describe these victims so callously with no regard for their lives, for their humanity.

It was shocking to hear him describe these victims so callously with no regard for their lives, for their humanity.

It is nothing like shoplifting. You're killing somebody.

It is nothing like shoplifting. You're killing somebody.

Remember victim number one, Tanya Bennett? Jesperson finally revealed, after all these years, her final moments.

Remember victim number one, Tanya Bennett? Jesperson finally revealed, after all these years, her final moments.

Jesperson's not able to point out the right spot for the location of the body. He couldn't remember where the body was, but Laverne Pavlenik did.

Jesperson's not able to point out the right spot for the location of the body. He couldn't remember where the body was, but Laverne Pavlenik did.

In the fall of 1995, Keith Jesperson finally pleads guilty to killing Julie Winningham and Tonya Bennett.

In the fall of 1995, Keith Jesperson finally pleads guilty to killing Julie Winningham and Tonya Bennett.

The number one question on everyone's mind is how in the world did Laverne Pavlinak manage to dupe the authorities? It was easy. So did you just remember what they said?

The number one question on everyone's mind is how in the world did Laverne Pavlinak manage to dupe the authorities? It was easy. So did you just remember what they said?

I just did it from the papers and a search warrant. Oh, so you got to read the search. I read it when they were busy doing something else.

I just did it from the papers and a search warrant. Oh, so you got to read the search. I read it when they were busy doing something else.

I use the term disturbed. I was a very disturbed person back then. I didn't think of it as lying, even. It was just a way to get him out of my home.

I use the term disturbed. I was a very disturbed person back then. I didn't think of it as lying, even. It was just a way to get him out of my home.

Just real happy. Go ahead and hit the door.

Just real happy. Go ahead and hit the door.

As for Keith Jesperson, I had to ask him the ultimate question. Does he have any remorse? What, if anything, are your biggest regrets?

As for Keith Jesperson, I had to ask him the ultimate question. Does he have any remorse? What, if anything, are your biggest regrets?

She was carrying her Soul to Soul cassette tape. Listening to her favorite song, Back to Life.

She was carrying her Soul to Soul cassette tape. Listening to her favorite song, Back to Life.

The two men she was last seen playing pool with at the bar were eliminated as suspects. So it was back to the drawing board for the detectives.

The two men she was last seen playing pool with at the bar were eliminated as suspects. So it was back to the drawing board for the detectives.

The anonymous tip line starts blowing up, and it was one caller who provided the break in the case they were looking for.

The anonymous tip line starts blowing up, and it was one caller who provided the break in the case they were looking for.

By day, John worked at a lumberyard, but at night, he drank. John was an alcoholic.

By day, John worked at a lumberyard, but at night, he drank. John was an alcoholic.

Laverne Pavlenak says she heard her boyfriend talking about killing a woman.

Laverne Pavlenak says she heard her boyfriend talking about killing a woman.

A decade-long relationship that can only be described as dysfunctional, to put it mildly.

A decade-long relationship that can only be described as dysfunctional, to put it mildly.

They begin a decade-long relationship that can only be described as dysfunctional, to put it mildly.

They begin a decade-long relationship that can only be described as dysfunctional, to put it mildly.