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| Jeff the Killer | |
|---|---|
 The original Jeff the Killer image commonly referred to as JTK2 | |
| First appearance | 2011 on WikiFandom[citation needed] |
| Created by | GameFuelTV[citation needed] |
| Based on | Concept by Sesseur (Jeff Case)[citation needed] |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Jeffrey Woods[citation needed] |
| Alias | Jeff The Killer |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Serial killer |
| Family |
|
Jeff the Killer is aweb horrorcharacter andcreepypastameme. While the initial concept of the character was created byDeviantArt andNewgrounds user "Sesseur", the character gained widespread popularity following a publication of a fan-made creepypasta story in 2011. He is depicted as a sadisticserial killer with ghastly pale skin, no eyelids, long black hair and a permanentsmile-shaped scar. Jeff the Killer quickly became one of the most popular creepypasta characters, inspiring a multitude offan works.
Jeff the Killer's concept was created by Jeff Case fromAuburndale, Florida. Case began posting in 2008 onDeviantArt under the username "Sesseur" and onNewgrounds under the username "killerjeff", where they described aBloody Mary-like ritual that supposedly summoned Jeff. In his own story, Jeff, initially named Jeffrey C. Hodek, "accidentally spilled a bucket of acid on his face while trying to clean his bathtub."[1]
The most notable version of the Jeff the Killer character and story, emerged in 2011 published byCreepypasta Wiki user "GamefuelTV" and written by his brother Travis, follows a teenager named Jeff, who is attacked by a group of bullies. The altercation ends with Jeff being nearly arrested for assault, but his brother Liu takes the blame, resulting in his placement injuvenile hall. This event causes Jeff to become depressed and introverted. His concerned parents force him to attend a party, where he encounters the same bullies from the earlier fight. In a violent confrontation, Jeff kills the bullies but is doused withalcohol and set on fire, suffering severe burns over much of his body. After being discharged from the hospital and having his bandages removed, Jeff is entranced by his disfigurement and begins to lose his sanity.[citation needed]
He carves asmile-shaped scar into his face, removes his eyelids, and ultimatelykills his family. He becomes aserial killer, targeting victims by sneaking into their homes at night. He is known for whispering the phrase "Go to sleep" before killing his victims.[2][3]
Jeff the Killer gained popularity primarily through the story published on the Creepypasta Wiki in 2011 by the user “GameFuelTv” (Josh Jordan). This version of the story and its associated imagery are widely recognized as the definitive portrayal of the character. Earlier posts by DeviantArt user “Sesseur” (Jeff Case) are often cited as precursors, but the version by GameFuelTv was the one that truly popularized the character across online horror communities.[citation needed]
The story increased in popularity over time as users expanded and contributed to its lore through online forums and fan fiction. One notable addition was Jane the Killer, who was introduced as a female counterpart to Jeff the Killer. In the most widely accepted version of her backstory, Jane was Jeff's neighbor before his transformation into a serial killer, and her family became his victims. She is depicted as a burn victim wearing a black wig and a white mask.[citation needed]
In contrast to Jeff's infamous catchphrase, "Go to sleep," Jane's signature line is, "Don't go to sleep. You won't wake up." While Jane is often portrayed as a sympathetic character seeking vengeance, many versions of the story depict her as killing innocent people as well. Some fans envision a confrontation between Jeff and Jane similar toFreddy vs. Jason.[4]
"Homicidal Liu" is another side story, made by a Tumblr user of the same name, where Jeff's brother Liu survived the stabbing and became a killer himself. The story is what coined Jeff and his family's popular surname Woods, as the GameFuelTv story has no surnames. After the original story faced criticism over its writing, it was removed from the Creepypasta Wiki website. A writing contest was held to replace the original story with a new version.[5] The winner was K. Banning Kellum and his version is the version of the story on the website currently.[5] In 2015, Podolyak started anIndiegogo campaign for a film adaptation of Jeff the Killer.[6][7]
| Jeff the Killer stabbing and shooting | |
|---|---|
  Urbana Urbana (Ohio) Location of Urbana in Champaign County, Ohio | |
| Location | Urbana, Ohio |
| Date | April 6, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-04-06) |
| Target | Heidi Taylor |
Attack type | Murder bystabbing andshooting |
| Weapons | |
| Deaths | 1 (Heidi Taylor; over 60 stab wounds and a gunshot in the forehead) |
| Perpetrators | Donovan Nicholas |
| Motive | Alleged that an alternate personality named "Jeff" was responsible for the attack |
| Charges | Nicholas: Aggravated murder |
| Criminal information | |
| Criminal status | Nicholas: Released in 2023 after 6 years[8] |
| Criminal penalty | Nicholas: Life in prison |
| Verdict | Guilty byaggravated murder |
On April 6, 2017, 14-year-old Donovan Nicholas fatally stabbed and shot Heidi Taylor, his father's longtime girlfriend, in their home inUrbana, Ohio. According to an autopsy, Taylor sustained approximately 60 stab wounds before being shot in the forehead.[9]
During a911 call made from the scene, Nicholas, speaking in an unsteady voice, claimed that an alternate personality named "Jeff", inspired by Jeff the Killer, had taken control and carried out the attack. Investigators later determined that Nicholas had dressed as Jeff during the murder, wearing black clothing and even slashing his mouth to mimic the character's signature grin. Prosecutors stated that he had ambushed Taylor near the front staircase, calling her downstairs before launching the attack. Despite Taylor's attempts to flee and plead for help, Nicholas ultimately retrieved his father's 9mmhandgun from a nightstand and delivered the fatal shot.[9]
In June 2019, shortly after his 16th birthday, Nicholas was convicted as an adult ofaggravated murder and sentenced tolife in prison, with eligibility for parole after 28 years. Prosecutors argued that Nicholas, motivated by resentment and preoccupied with violent fantasies, carried out the killing after Taylor confiscated his phone upon discovering he had beensexting an out-of-state girlfriend.[9]
While Nicholas's attorney, Darrell Heckman, claimed that his client suffered fromdissociative identity disorder and required treatment in the juvenile system, Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi dismissed the alternate personality claim as an excuse, noting that multiple psychological evaluations found Nicholas legally sane. However, two psychologists did acknowledge that he struggled with mental health issues, including depression and self-harm, though the exact diagnosis remained uncertain.[9]
At his sentencing in July 2019, Nicholas expressed remorse and stated that he wanted treatment. In conversations with family from prison, he reportedly apologized repeatedly for his actions.[10][11]
On July 9, 2023, theSupreme Court of Ohio ruled to vacate Donovan Nicholas's adult court conviction, citing a faulty discretionary decision by the juvenile court that had bound his case over to adult court. This ruling resulted in Nicholas's release.[8]
A 2013 article claimed that the original image of Jeff the Killer was anedited photograph of a girl who reportedly committed suicide in the fall of 2008 due to online ridicule about her appearance.[12] Despite this claim, the original unedited image has still not been found.[1]
