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Biography[]
Early life[]
Robert Christian Hansen was born on February 15, 1939, in Estherville, Iowa. Growing up with a stutter and a difficult relationship with his domineering father, Hansen faced challenges that would later contribute to his troubled adulthood.
Criminal Beginnings[]
Hansen's criminal record began in the early 1960s when he was convicted of burning down a Pocahontas, Iowa, school bus garage. This incident marked the beginning of a criminal history that would later escalate to violent and sadistic acts.
Marriage and Family Life[]
Hansen married in 1960 and moved to Alaska with his wife and children. On the surface, he appeared to lead a normal life as a family man and baker. However, beneath this façade, darker tendencies were developing.
The Butcher Baker's Crimes[]
Between 1971 and 1983, Hansen embarked on a spree of abductions, assaults, and murders in and around Anchorage, Alaska. He targeted young women and prostitutes, luring them with the promise of money or employment before subjecting them to horrific acts of violence.
Modus Operandi[]
Hansen's modus operandi involved kidnapping his victims, transporting them to his remote cabin in the Knik River area, and releasing them into the wilderness to hunt them like animals. He would then track and kill them. Hansen's hunting escapades earned him the moniker "The Butcher Baker."
Capture and Conviction[]
Hansen's crimes went undetected for years, but in 1983, one of his intended victims managed to escape, leading to his identification and arrest. In 1984, Hansen was convicted of multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, and rape.
Cooperation and Sentencing[]
To avoid the death penalty, Hansen cooperated with authorities, leading them to the gravesites of his victims. In return, he received a 461-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole.
Death[]
Robert Hansen died on August 21, 2014, while serving his life sentence at the Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska.
Victims[]
Confirmed victims[]
Of these 17 women, Hansen was only formally charged with the murders of four: Sherry Morrow, Joanna Messina, "Eklutna Annie", and Paula Goulding. He was also charged with the kidnapping and rape of Cindy Paulson.
| Name | Age | Disappeared | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Van Zanten | 17 | December 22, 1971 | December 25, 1971 | Stabbing |
| Megan Emerick[1] | 17 | July 7, 1973 | N/A | ? |
| Mary Thill[2] | 22 | July 5, 1975 | N/A | ? |
| Joanna Messina | 24 | May 19, 1980 | July 8, 1980 | Shooting |
| "Eklutna Annie" | 16-25 | July 21, 1980 | Stabbing | |
| Roxane Easland[3] | 24 | June 28, 1980 | N/A | ? |
| Lisa Futrell | 41 | September 6, 1980 | May 9, 1984 | |
| Malai Larsen | 25 | June 1981 | April 24, 1984 | |
| Sherry Morrow | 23 | November 17, 1981 | September 12, 1982 | Shooting |
| Andrea "Fish" Altiery[4] | 22 | December 2, 1981 | N/A | ? |
| Sue Luna[note 1] | 23 | May 26, 1982 | April 24, 1984 | Shooting |
| Tamera "Tami" Pederson | 20 | August 1982 | April 29, 1984 | |
| Robin Pelkey[5] | 19 | January 1983 | April 25, 1984 | |
| Angela Feddern | 24 | February 1983 | April 26, 1984 | |
| DeLynn "Sugar" Frey | 19 | April 1983 | August 20, 1985 | |
| Paula Goulding | 31 | April 25, 1983 | September 2, 1983 | Shooting |
| Teresa Watson | 22 | April 29, 1983 | April 26, 1984 |
Survivors[]
| Name | Age | Date of Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Cindy Paulson | 17 | June 13, 1983 |
Timeline[]
Bibliography[]
Literature[]
- Gilmour, Walter; Leland E. Hale (2018). Butcher, Baker: The True Account of an Alaskan Serial Killer, Open Road Media. ISBN 978-1504049481
Articles[]
- Katie Serena (November 24, 2021). Robert Hansen: The Alaskan Serial Killer Who Hunted His Victims Like Animals. All That's Interesting.
Documentaries[]
Television[]
- The Mark of a Killer S2E6: Hunted to Death (May 16, 2020) on IMDb
- Mind of a Monster S1E5: The Butcher Baker (September 2, 2020) on IMDb
- World's Most Evil Killers S7E2: Robert Hansen (November 2022) on IMDb
YouTube Documentaries[]
- A Hunter's Game, Real Crime - The FBI Files S2 EP6 on YouTube
- 1 Serial Killer From Every State, Pixels After Dark on YouTube
Podcasts[]
- Robert Hansen - Part 1. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson.
- Robert Hansen - Part 2. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson.
In popular culture[]
Film adaptations[]
- Naked Fear (2007) on IMDb
- The Frozen Ground (2013) on IMDb (Trailer on YouTube)
Related Articles[]
See also[]
Links[]
- Robert Hansen at Wikipedia
- Robert Hansen on IMDb
- Robert Hansen. Radford University.
Notes[]
- ↑ She was stripped nude and forced to run through the forest while Hansen hunted her like an animal.
References[]
- ↑ Megan Siobhan Emerick. Charleyproject.org.
- ↑ Mary Kathleen Thill. Charleyproject.org.
- ↑ Roxane Easland. Charleyproject.org.
- ↑ Andrea "Fish" Altiery. Charleyproject.org.
- ↑ Casey Grove (October 22, 2021). "Alaska troopers ID serial killer’s victim 40 years after murder". Alaska Public Media. “She’d been known as “Horseshoe Harriet” after her body was found 37 years ago near Horseshoe Lake north of Anchorage. Troopers announced Friday the woman’s real name was Robin Pelkey, a 19-year-old originally from Colorado. Investigators identified her through extensive genealogy research.”