Month: August 2026

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Investigators have identified the final unidentified victim of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the “Happy Face Killer,” 34 years after the discovery of her body near Blythe.

The woman, previously referred to by investigators as “Claudia,” was officially identified on Thursday as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter, a 26-year-old from Texas, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.

Lydia’s body was found on Aug. 30, 1992, along Highway 95, approximately seven miles north of Blythe.

Jesperson later confessed to her murder and told investigators he had met her while working as a long-haul truck driver. He referred to the woman as “Claudia,” but investigators were never able to confirm that was her real name.

In 2024, the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team publicly appealed for information that could help identify her. At that time, advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy had allowed investigators to identify relatives on Lydia’s paternal side, but a maternal connection was still needed to confirm her identity.

An investigative lead received by the DA’s team led to a direct maternal relative of Lydia’s. Following that lead, investigators identified a possible genetic connection to a member of Lydia’s maternal family.

Earlier this week, a DNA sample confirmed the connection, allowing investigators to positively identify the woman as Lydia Jane Wade McWhorter.

Lydia’s sisters that she grew up with spent decades not knowing what happened to her after she disappeared from Texas in the 1990s.

“I want to thank the public for the role you play in our investigations,” said Billy Hester, Supervising Investigator of the Cold Case Unit. “When people take the time to share information, submit a tip or simply pay attention to what is happening in their community, it can make a real difference. You may not know where a piece of information will lead, but our investigators will follow it. Most importantly, I hope this will finally bring closure to Lydia’s family.”

The District Attorney’s Office Division of Victim Services is working with Lydia’s family as they determine how they would like to honor and lay her to rest.

Jesperson pleaded guilty to Lydia’s murder in Riverside County on Jan. 8, 2010, and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He is currently serving multiple life sentences in Oregon.

With Lydia’s identification, the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team has closed the final case associated with the murders for which Jesperson was convicted.

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Questions are being raised about how Coachella Valley Unified School District handled a power outage at two Thermal schools Thursday as temperatures climbed well above 100 degrees.

The power outage affected John Kelley Elementary School and La Familia High School, leaving parts of the campuses without air conditioning.

The Imperial Irrigation District says the outage began around 10 a.m.

According to IID, the outage was caused by a vehicle hitting a pole guy wire. That caused a primary conductor to make contact with the ground, creating a permanent fault in IID’s system.

The fault also damaged equipment inside an IID substation, which the utility says slowed restoration efforts.

IID says crews eventually isolated the damaged substation equipment and a downed conductor near Higgins Drive and Lightning Street in Thermal.

Power was restored to 298 customers at 1:02 p.m., according to IID. The utility says the remaining 36 customers were expected to remain without power for approximately four to eight hours while repairs were completed.

The Coachella Valley Teachers Association says the outage created unsafe conditions for students and staff because of the extreme heat.

The union claims students remained on campus after the power went out and says staff members were directed to stay.

CVTA President Carissa Carrera said the situation highlights concerns about the district’s emergency heat response.

“Forcing educators and children to remain inside uncooled desert classrooms during a power grid failure … is not just reckless — it is a clear violation of California labor law,” Carrera said.

The union is pointing to California’s indoor heat illness prevention requirements and says CVUSD should have an emergency plan in place for situations involving extreme indoor temperatures.

However, CVUSD says the initial power disruption at John Kelley Elementary affected only part of the campus.

The district says students in the affected classrooms were moved to classrooms with working air conditioning so instruction could continue in a safe and comfortable environment.

As conditions changed and electrical service was lost at both John Kelley and La Familia High School, CVUSD says it activated its emergency dismissal and transportation procedures.

The district says La Familia students were dismissed early and transported home by bus.

At John Kelley, parents and guardians were given the option to pick up their children. CVUSD says transportation was also coordinated for students who needed bus transportation home.

CVUSD also says its Heat Advisories and Heat Illness Prevention Plan were implemented in accordance with applicable requirements.

In response to concerns about future electrical disruptions, CVUSD says it will take an additional preventative step by strategically placing generators throughout the district.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.