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Happy Face episode 7, titled My Jesperson Girls, sheds light on the emotional wounds left by Melissa Jesperson's father, Keith. As the fictionalized version of real-life serial killer Keith Jesperson continues to drive the plot of the show, this episode brings added emotion to the table.
The episode centers on Melissa's inner turmoil, her dysfunctional marriage, and the potential manipulation of a murder investigation. Happy Face episode 7 delves into Melissa's confrontation of her past and desperate pursuit of clarification.
The series introduces significant moments in a childhood trauma centered on arson, the alleged orchestration by Keith of false evidence, and Ben's drastic consideration to kill Keith.
These moments call into question how much creative license has been taken. Was Keith so involved in Melissa's life as an adult? Did he manipulate investigations while incarcerated?
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Happy Face episode 7: Real vs dramatization
Keith's attempt to kill his family: Fact or fiction?
One of the biggest revelations in Happy Face episode 7 comes when Melissa’s mother, June, claims that Keith tried to burn down their house with both of them inside. This moment is portrayed as the final proof that Keith never loved his daughter and had always been a threat.
Although Keith Jesperson, the "Happy Face Killer," was convicted of killing eight women in the 1990s, there is no public record of him trying to kill his wife or daughter during their relationship.
Melissa has written about emotional and psychological abuse by her father in real-life accounts and interviews, but an attempt at arson using his own family is not documented in any official records. Thus, it appears to be a fictional addition aimed at dramatizing Melissa's epiphany and emotional collapse.
Ben's conspiracy against Keith: Is it based on reality?
Throughout the majority of the episode, Ben, Melissa's spouse, bickers over his uselessness. Following the revelation about Keith's persistence with Hazel and discovering violent-looking artwork in her bedroom, Ben reaches out to a prison official named Chavez. Chavez suggests to Ben that he can assassinate Keith within the prison in exchange for payment made via a Bitcoin transaction.
Throughout Happy Face episode 7, Ben accepts. This storyline serves as a dramatized reaction to the emotional toll Keith’s crimes and manipulation have taken on Melissa’s family. There are no verified reports or credible sources suggesting that Melissa’s husband in real life attempted or considered such actions.
The real-life Keith Jesperson remains in prison without any confirmed assassination plots against him by Melissa’s family. This subplot seems completely fictional and is probably employed to increase the tension and show how deeply the trauma has impacted Melissa's family.
Heather's case: Did Keith make up evidence?
A pivotal aspect of Happy Face episode 7 is Melissa learning that someone impersonated Heather's daughter to steal things from the evidence locker, a bloody dress and necklace. Melissa believes Keith orchestrated this to make her get back together with him. She goes on to explain to Ivy that Keith never actually murdered Heather and faked it all to reassert control over her attention.
There is no documented report of Heather Richmond's murder being linked to Keith Jesperson in real life. On the contrary, Heather seems to be a fictional character devised for the show to play with the themes of wrongful convictions and manipulation. The notion that Keith would mastermind such a sophisticated plot from jail, including DNA evidence tampering, is dramatic flair but not based on fact.
The DNA transfer theory explained by a forensic scientist on the show is scientifically valid. It is theoretically possible to recover minute traces of DNA via indirect contact, but there is no evidence that Keith Jesperson applied this technique to frame an innocent person or get Melissa's notice in real life. These happenings, while feasible, are probably fictionalized for dramatic impact.
All major incidents in Happy Face episode 7 are staged, with minimal or no foundation on confirmed facts.
