- Robert Hansen
Infobox Serial Killer
name=Robert Hansen
caption=
birthname=Robert Christian Hansen
alias=
birth=February 15 ,1939
location=Estherville, Iowa
death=
cause=
victims=15
country=U.S.
states=Alaska
beginyear=1980
endyear=1983
apprehended=June 13 ,1983
penaltyLifeRobert Christian Hansen (born
February 15 ,1939 , in Estherville,Iowa ) is an Americanserial killer .Early life
Throughout childhood and adolescence, Hansen was described as a "loner" with perpetual acne and a severe
stutter ; growing up, he was often bullied, and had a difficult relationship with his domineering father. [ [http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/weird/robert_hansen/5.html The Crime Library - Robert Hansen] ]He married in 1960. On December 7 of that year, he was arrested for burning down a local school bus garage, for which he served 20 months in prison. His wife
divorce d him while he was incarcerated. Over the next few years, he was jailed several times forpetty theft . In 1967, he moved toAnchorage, Alaska , with his second wife, whom he had married in 1963. There, he was well liked by his neighbors and was famed as a local hunting champion. He even broke several records, documented in the Pope & Young's book of world hunting records. However, these were vacated after Hansen's conviction.In 1977, he was imprisoned for theft of a chainsaw, diagnosed with bipolar-affective disorder, and prescribed lithium to control his
mood swings . He was never officially ordered to take the medication, however, [ [http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-48136-1 iUniverse - Online Book Store - New Books, Back-In-Print Books, Self-Published Books ] ] and was released from prison after serving a year. By now the father of two children, Hansen opened a bakery after his release.Murders
He began killing
prostitute s around 1980. After paying for their services, he would kidnap andrape them; he would then fly them out to his cabin in theKnik River Valley in his private plane, and stalk and kill them with a hunting knife and a.223 -caliberRuger Mini-14 rifle.On
June 13 ,1983 , prostitute Cindy Paulson went to the police and identified Hansen as the man who had raped and kidnapped her. [ [http://www.explorenorth.com/library/weekly/aa021100a.htm ExploreNorth - Robert Hansen, A Serial Killer in Alaska] ] Hansen denied the accusations and was not initially considered a serious suspect. Detective Glenn Flothe of the Alaska State Troopers police contacted theFBI and requested help after another body was found, and Roy Hazelwood was brought in to assist the investigation. Hazelwood theorized that the killer would be an experienced hunter with lowself-esteem and a history of being rejected by women, and would feel compelled to keep "souvenirs" of his murders, such as a victim's jewelry or even body parts.Fact|date=April 2008 Hazelwood also made a very precise mention that the killer would most likely have a stutter.Fact|date=April 2008Caught
Flothe and the police secured a warrant and searched Hansen's house on
October 27 ,1983 , uncovering jewelry belonging to the victims, newspaper clippings about the murders and an array of firearms — including a .223-caliber Mini-14 rifle. [ [http://www.serialkillers.nl/robert-hansen/robert-hansen.htm Portraits of Serial Killers - Robert Hansen] ] He was arrested and charged withassault , kidnapping, weapons offenses, theft andinsurance fraud . When ballistics tests returned a match between bullets found at the crime scenes to Hansen's rifle, he entered into aplea bargain in which he pleaded guilty to the four homicides the police knew about and provided details about his other victims in return for serving his sentence in a federal prison along with no publicity in the press. He then showed investigators 17 gravesites in the Knik River Valley, 12 of which police were unaware. 11 remains of a probable 21 victims were exhumed by the police, and returned to their families. He was then sentenced to 461 years in prison plus life.Upon conviction, Hansen was first sent to the maximum security prison in
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania . In 1988, still in custody, he was returned to Alaska. He was one of the first to be incarcerated at theSpring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, where he remains to this day.References
* Bernard Du Clos "Fair Game" ISBN 978-0312929053
* Walter Gilmour, Leland E. Hale "Butcher, Baker: A True Account of a Serial Murder" ISBN 978-0451402769
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.