Navigating relationships with your parents can be a difficult process , one that’s full of baggage and trauma . This is one of those things that’s almost universally true.
But if your parent is in prison for the rest of their life, things are a bit different. And when said parent is a notorious serial killer, well, it becomes almost impossible to relate to.
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The daughter of a serial killer is giving us a glimpse into her world.
Keith Hunter Jesperson is best known as the Happy Face Killer.
Jesperson committed at least eight murders in the early ’90s, adorning his taunting letters with smiley faces. His murders came to an end with his capture in 1995. He’s currently imprisoned for life without parole at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
His daughter is sharing some insights.
Jesperson’s daughter, Melissa G. Moore, has been in the public eye for more than a decade now after appearing on Dr. Phil to talk about her father’s crimes in 2008. She later wrote a book and now operates a podcast and a TikTok account .
She shared her dad’s letters from prison.
Jesperson is still in touch with his daughter and frequently sends her stuff from prison. He also has access to social media, which he apparently used to look at some of Melissa’s wedding photos.
They weren’t adoring letters.
In the video , Melissa notes that the penmanship in the letters was aggressive — like, her father was clearly pressing down very hard as he wrote — and the message of her and her husband being fat is clearly hurtful.
He also professes his love for his daughter.
It seems that Jesperson can’t be consistent. He calls his daughter fat in an effort to hurt her feelings and then, in the very next breath, assures her that he loves her.
I would be so scared to open this.
Melissa also shared this ominous package she received from the prison last Christmas. She says she was scared to open it, but was able to gather the nerves and open it up.
I guess it could have been worse.
It’s simply a purse, which seems to be crafted with care, made by one of Jesperson’s inmate friends. It’s probably the nicest thing he could have given as a gift, but then again, most people probably don’t want a gift like this.
Commenters expressed concern.
Having a parent or other family member in prison is unfortunately a common experience, and commenters commiserated with some stories of their own. But knowing that one of your parents is a serial killer — and wants to maintain a relationship with you — is a whole different situation.
Jesperson seems angry.
Whether it’s the angrily scrawled letters or the hateful messages, Jesperson came off as a narcissist to some commenters. He seems to simultaneously want a loving relationship with his daughter while resenting her for living a life of freedom.
It’s a tough watch.
You can watch the whole video here, and if you want, you can check out all of Melissa’s stories about her complicated relationship with her father on her TikTok page . Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
