kelly henderson
Who is Jane Doe? Story of the Last Known Unidentified Victim of "The Happy Face Killer"
Born and raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Kelly Henderson's deep-rooted connection to her community is a testament to her lifelong commitment to public service. Her father, a Certified Public Accountant, and her mother, a teacher, instilled in her the values of community service and dedication from a young age. This foundation inspired Kelly to pursue a career dedicated to making a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Kelly began her law enforcement career in October 2005 with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, where she spent 11 years on patrol in various roles, including deputy, field training officer, and corporal. Her dedication and hard work led to her promotion to investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division in October 2016, focusing on cases involving physical and sexual abuse of children. Within a year, Kelly was honored as Investigator of the Year.
In 2019, Kelly advanced to the position of Senior Investigator in the Major Crimes Division, where she specializes in homicides, cold cases, shootings, and robberies. Her outstanding performance earned her the Investigator of the Year award for the second time in 2022.
In addition to her investigative work, Kelly serves on the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard, where she has held the rank of commander for the past seven years. She is actively involved in various community organizations, including the Northwest Florida Chapter of Concerns for Police Survivors (COPS), Emerald Coast Crimestoppers, and the Boys and Girls of the Emerald Coast Safety Committee.
PRESENTATION
Who is Jane Doe? Story of the Last Known Unidentified Victim of "The Happy Face Killer"
In 1994 a Jane Doe was discovered on the I-10 corridor within Okaloosa County. During the investigation, the suspect was identified as the notorious Serial Killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, A.K.A. “The Happy Face Killer” who plagued the nation during the early 1990s.
During this presentation, background information will be covered as well as Victimology of the Victim, who for almost 30 years was known to investigators as “Suzanne” or “Suzette” but formally listed as a Jane Doe.
The archaic, however, foundational techniques utilized by law enforcement investigators will be discussed, following the discovery of the victim which includes evidence documentation/collection along with steps taken leading up to the confession of Keith Hunter Jesperson in 1996.
Following the confession, the two presenters will cover the processes/steps taken by investigators over the years (facial reconstruction, agency cooperation, and Genetic Genealogy) to include the pitfalls and lessons learned over the years. During these processes, identification of the Victim was made, and they will close out with the current interviews with family of the Victim and Jesperson where they were ultimately able to charge the notorious killer 30 years after the fact with the assistance of multiple agencies assistance nationwide.
Additional Presenter
Aaron Pitman