The Theory Of The Smiley Face Killer
Does the mysterious murderer really exist?
Between 1997 and 2017, authorities discovered over 40 deceased young men in rivers and lakes across 11 states and 25 cities. Most victims were college-aged, outgoing, and athletic, often last seen leaving parties or bars while intoxicated.
Initially, authorities attributed the deaths to accidental drownings, presuming the victims fell into the water while drunk and couldn’t escape. However, in 2008, retired New York City police officers turned private investigators uncovered a disturbing pattern: graffiti depicting a smiley face near where several bodies were found.
Based on this evidence and the similarities among the victims, the investigators proposed the existence of a serial killer or killers dubbed the Smiley Face Killer.
The First Smiley Face Killer Murder
In 2008, Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte, former New York City police officers, gained attention for their Smiley Face Killer theory. They focused on the case of Patrick McNeill, a Fordham University student who disappeared on Feb. 16, 1997, after leaving a bar in Manhattan.
McNeill’s body was discovered floating near a Brooklyn pier on April 7. Despite initial assumptions of accidental drowning, Gannon…
