Will Rex Heuermann Admit Guilt After Talking With 'Happy Face Killer'?

Dec 08, 2023, 06:00 PM

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In the perplexing case of Rex Heuermann, the alleged Long Island serial killer, a chilling development has surfaced: a pen pal relationship with Keith Jesperson, the notorious Happy Face Killer. This unlikely correspondence, revealed in the latest episode of "Hidden Killers" with Tony Brueski, featuring psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott, adds a macabre twist to an already dark narrative.
 
 In prison, solitude can be overwhelming, and receiving letters might offer a glimpse of connection to the outside world. But the choice of Heuermann to correspond with another serial killer is peculiar and raises serious questions about his psyche. Jesperson, infamous for craving attention and sending letters adorned with happy faces to media outlets, now appears to be assuming a mentor-like role for Heuermann. This interaction, as Scott points out, seems to be a display of serial killer narcissism, where Jesperson enjoys the limelight as a self-perceived figure of importance and authority.
 
 The letters exchanged between Jesperson and Heuermann, however, are not just idle banter. Jesperson provides advice on prison life and handling legal matters, with a particular focus on advising Heuermann to confess if guilty. Intriguingly, Heuermann's response to Jesperson is marked by gratitude and a lack of denial of his alleged crimes. "Thank you for your letters and advice. They have been a help and a comfort to me. I do understand what you have said and I have taken it to heart," Heuermann writes, notably omitting any assertion of innocence. This response, as Scott notes, is unsettling and may carry deeper implications than the words convey.
 
 The handwriting in Heuermann's letter, replete with spelling errors, only adds to the eerie nature of this communication. The fact that Heuermann has chosen Jesperson as his sole pen pal from among many who have written to him is telling. The specificity of this choice suggests a bond or a shared understanding with Jesperson, a convicted serial killer, which could be seen as damning for Heuermann, who maintains his innocence.
 
 The relationship between Jesperson and Heuermann seems to have been facilitated by Jesperson's daughter, who initially set up a GoFundMe for Asa Ellerup, Heuermann’s wife. This connection raises questions about the motives behind the correspondence. Was it an orchestrated attempt by Jesperson’s daughter, an advocate for victims, to persuade Heuermann towards a confession, or was it a mere ploy for Jesperson to gain attention?
 
 Scott’s analysis of the letters reveals a potential use of coded language, further deepening the mystery of this bizarre interaction. This detail, if true, could signify a level of complicity or a shared secret understanding between the two men, veiled from public comprehension.
 
 The case of Rex Heuermann, already shrouded in darkness and complexity, is now further complicated by this peculiar pen pal relationship. As details continue to emerge, the public and legal communities are left to ponder the implications of Heuermann’s interactions with Jesperson. What does this unusual alliance reveal about Heuermann’s character and his role in the alleged crimes? As Scott aptly puts it, this is "just another layer that's going to go into the annals of history about strange things about serial killers."
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