He was handsome, mobile, and easy to underestimate. But behind the charm was one of the most chaotic and far-ranging killing sprees in America. In this episode of Interstate: Highly Deadly, Becca traces how Paul John Knowles used highways, stolen cars, false identities, and jurisdiction gaps to move across state lines and leave devastation behind him. This is the story of a predator who turned the open road into a weapon.

Call to action
Follow Deadly Truths with Becca on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share this episode with someone who loves true crime history.

Disclaimer
This episode discusses real murders, violence, and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

Resources

• FBI records and historical case materials

• Contemporary newspaper archives

• Court and law enforcement reporting on Paul John Knowles

• Verified victim reporting and historical crime databases

Keith Hunter Jesperson looked ordinary enough to keep moving. But behind that ordinary surface was a man who used America’s highways, roadside corridors, and transient spaces as cover for murder.

In this episode of Interstate: Highly Deadly, we examine the known victims of the man later labeled the Happy Face Killer, starting with Taunja Bennett and moving through the women whose lives were taken across multiple states: Cynthia Lyn Rose, Laurie Ann Pentland, Patricia Skiple, Suzanne Kjellenberg, and Julie Winningham.

This is not a story about mythology, headlines, or serial killer branding. It is a story about vulnerability, distance, jurisdictional blind spots, and how movement itself can become part of a predator’s method.

We break down Jesperson’s pattern, the wrongful convictions tied to Taunja Bennett’s murder, the women who remained unidentified for years, and the murder that finally ended his known spree.

If you are interested in true crime history, serial killer cases, highway murder cases, forensic investigation, and victim-centered storytelling, this episode is for you.

Call to Action
If this episode stayed with you, follow Deadly Truths with Becca on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share it with someone who follows true crime history and unsolved case analysis. Ratings, reviews, and shares help more people find the show.

Disclaimer
This episode discusses murder, violence against women, sexual violence, and traumatic death. Listener discretion is advised. This content is presented for historical, educational, and documentary purposes with a victim-centered approach.

Resources / References
Oregon Department of Corrections
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
The Spokesman-Review / Associated Press archives
The National Registry of Exonerations
NamUs
Othram

In this sound-improved re-release bonus episode of Interstate: Highly Deadly, we examine the disturbing case of Joe Naso, often called the Alphabet Killer — a man who lived a double life as a traveling salesman and photographer while investigators later tied him to a series of murders.

This episode explores the road-based nature of his movements, the unsettling overlap between mobility, anonymity, and predation, and the chilling question at the center of so many highway crime stories: how does someone move across states, blend into ordinary life, and keep going unnoticed?

With updated audio and renewed focus, this bonus episode revisits Naso’s story through the lens of interstate violence, transience, and the false safety of familiar faces.

This is a re-release with improved sound quality.

Call to Action
If you follow historical true crime, highway killers, and the darker side of American mobility, follow Deadly Truths with Becca on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Share this episode with someone who likes long-form true crime that goes deeper than headlines.

Disclaimer
This episode discusses murder, violence against women, predatory behavior, and disturbing criminal conduct. Listener discretion is advised.

Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, sexual violence, or abuse, these resources may help:

National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services.