Sketch of what law enforcement believes ‘Claudia’ may have looked

Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Artist approximation of ‘Claudia’s’ shirt she was last seen in

Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Sketch of what ‘Claudia’ may have looked like with brown hair

Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Artist approximation of what ‘Claudia’s’ face may have looked like with blonde hair

Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Artist approximation of what ‘Claudia’s’ may have looked like with blonde hair, wearing an oversize t-shirt 

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock, Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Artist approximation of what ‘Claudia’ may have looked like with brown hair, wearing an oversize t-shirt 

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock, Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office Scene of where ‘Claudia’s’ body was foundProvided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Scene of where ‘Claudia’s’ body was found

Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

Aerial view of the scene of where ‘Claudia’s’ body was found

Provided by the Riverside County District attorney’s Office

California law enforcement is asking for help identifying the last unidentified victim of the Happy Face Killer, who they think may have ties to Southeast Texas.

The Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team is looking for anyone who might have known her, including any possible relatives in the Southeast Texas or Louisiana area, according to a news release from the Riverside County District attorney‘s Office.

On Jan. 8, 2010, Keith Hunter Jesperson, the Happy Face Killer, pleaded guilty to the murder in Riverside County and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He is also serving multiple life sentences for the murder of eight women.

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Recent advances in DNA technology have helped the cold case uncover more clues about the identity of the remaining victim, who Jesperson referred to as “Claudia.” identifying the only remaining victim who is believed to be from the Southeast Texas, Louisiana area, according to the release.

According to a Cold Case file episode, police believe “Claudia,” on a morning in August 1992, got a ride from a grocery store truck driver traveling from Las Vegas on Interstate 15 near the Cajon Pass to Los Angeles. Around 9 a.m., she was dropped off at a Break Stop near Victorville.

“Claudia” then walked over to Jesperson, who was working on his tractor-trailer, and asked if she could get a ride to Los Angeles. He told her he was going to Arizona and the closest he could drop her off was Cabazon, California.

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They drove on Interstate 10 East to the Burns Brothers near Indio, California. After stopping for a meal around 1 p.m., they had a “heated” argument in Jesperson’s truck before he ultimately killed her. He then continued east on Interstate 10, turning onto State Highway 35 towards Blythe, California, where he dumped her body on the side of the road, according to the episode 

On Aug. 30, 1992, the woman’s body was found along U.S. 95 about 7 miles north of Blythe. After being arrested for another case, Jesperson confessed to killing “Claudia” and seven other women, according to the episode.

Due to improvements in forensic science, investigators and genealogists have identified some of “Claudia’s” relatives, including her biological father, who is now dead. The woman’s father was from Cameron County, Texas but traveled all over the country. Several half-siblings have been identified, but the living relatives are not related to “Claudia’s” mother. So, they did not know her, according to the release.

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However, genetic mapping has shown that the maternal side of “Claudia’s” family has ties to the Louisiana and/or Southeast Texas area, according to the release.

“Our goal is to identify this victim and provide closure to her family, wherever they may be,” Riverside County District attorney Mike Hestrin said in the release. “We are hopeful someone hearing any of these details may remember anything that could help us reunite this woman with the family who may have been looking for her for over three decades.” 

‘Claudia’ is believed to have been a frequent hitchhiker from the Southern California region, possibly Los Angeles, San Bernadino or Riverside County, according to the release.

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The Riverside County District attorney‘s Office is calling on the community to contact investigators with any additional leads that will help in identifying “Claudia.” Any leads, no matter how insignificant they may seem, can be reported to the Cold Case Hotline at 951-955-5567 or sent by email to coldcaseunit@rivcoda.org. 

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