What was the name of the man who was thought to have perhaps set his family's trailer on fire killing his two sisters (or perhaps step sisters)?

He was found not guilty at trial but his parents did not believe him.

I remember him mom saying on the UM segment that they actually lost all of their children in the fire because they believed he did it. He denies having involvement in the fire.

Donald Hansen. He was the half-brother of the deceased twins.

Yes, this is a case where the real unsolved mystery is not who committed the murders, but what the hell the jury was thinking when they found this guy innocent!

Of course, Donny Hansen can never be tried again for the murders, no matter how guilty he looks, but neighbours do claim they saw two unidentified men hanging around the trailer the night of the fire who may have been involved, so it's possible there is someone out there who could still be punished for what happened.

Yes, this is a case where the real unsolved mystery is not who committed the murders, but what the hell the jury was thinking when they found this guy innocent!

Of course, Donny Hansen can never be tried again for the murders, no matter how guilty he looks, but neighbours do claim they saw two unidentified men hanging around the trailer the night of the fire who may have been involved, so it's possible there is someone out there who could still be punished for what happened.

True on all counts, he should have been convicted and wasn't, and his father said "we lost three of our four children" from this, as Donny was certainly involved even if he didn't pull it off 100% by himself.

Yes, the unsolved mystery in this case is why Donny Hansen isn't on death row. His story is so implausible that it makes you wonder if the jury actually considered the evidence presented against him. The prosecution should have definitely severed the trials against him as their "all or nothing" strategy seems to have cost them the case.

Yes, the unsolved mystery in this case is why Donny Hansen isn't on death row. His story is so implausible that it makes you wonder if the jury actually considered the evidence presented against him. The prosecution should have definitely severed the trials against him as their "all or nothing" strategy seems to have cost them the case.

Donny's story was so implausible and so filled with inconsistencies that I made the judgment that if Donny didn't kill his half-sisters then he knows who did. I just can't think of any genuinely innocent person who would tell a story like that.

Also, I don't believe Donny acted alone. Someone had to have helped him in the crime. The eyewitness account of two people fleeing the area doesn't automatically prove that theory, but it certainly gives some weight to it.

Was there ever a theory on a motive? Do people theorize he was actually trying to kill them or was perhaps insurance involved? (This may have been covered in the UM segment but I can't remember.)

Was there ever a theory on a motive? Do people theorize he was actually trying to kill them or was perhaps insurance involved? (This may have been covered in the UM segment but I can't remember.)

From watching the segment, they seem to dance around the problems that Donny had growing up and the the problems that the family had as a whole. From reading things and watching the segment, I get the impression that the Donny was a 'black sheep" and that he felt put down or left out of the family circle. You'll notice that he was sleeping on a couch rather than in a bedroom.

There may have also been an inheritance angle. Clearly Donny didn't intend for DONNY to die in the fire and he did intend for the twins to die as he shot them BEFORE setting the house on fire. Had the fire being set in a more efficient manner, no one but Donny would have survived, although the shotgun wounds would have been apparent to the medical examiner. This would have, at least initially, made Donny the sole heir to the estate.

Clearly Donny Hansen is a very disturbed man who got away w/ the murders of his sisters. He should be wise enough to keep a low profile for the rest of his life.

That's right. I remember they were shot now. What a terrible tragedy.

He was so obviously guilty, it was mind bending. The jury must have went on there was no hard circumstantial evidence or something...who knows...

The fact that his parents found things suspicious even during the frantic moments of putting out the fire tells you something. His father nearly tripping over the gas can, his mother witnessing him yelling at some people while the fire was going.

Parents are supposed to have unconditional love for their kids. Hence, you have to be a real dirtbag for your own parents to disown you, especially your mother.

I haven't watched the segment in awhile, but the last time I watched it I got the impression that he knew more than he was leading on. The fact that he was seen yelling out the door lead me to believe he was innocent of the actual murders, but he knew exactly who did it. I'll have to re-watch it again though.

Clearly Donny Hansen is a very disturbed man who got away w/ the murders of his sisters. He should be wise enough to keep a low profile for the rest of his life.

Unless, of course, he wants to commit a new crime, get convicted, and be sent to prison for sure, a la OJ Simpson. :lol:

Always thought this was one of the most tragic cases ever featured on Unsolved Mysteries. To not only lose two children but to believe a third killed them? You wonder how people bear this kind of hurt. The Hansen parents have to be extremely strong to not be total nut jobs now.

I've always wondered if there was any way despite the implausible story if Donnie was indeed innocent. I guess though you see it everyday its still inconceivable to me someone could burn their own family to death for money. It sounds like he just about has to know more about the murders than what he is telling but the fact that others witnessed two unidentified men at the scene has always been difficult to explain and was probably a lot of what led to his acquittal.

Always thought this was one of the most tragic cases ever featured on Unsolved Mysteries. To not only lose two children but to believe a third killed them? You wonder how people bear this kind of hurt. The Hansen parents have to be extremely strong to not be total nut jobs now.

Agreed. This one is just gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking in every aspect imaginable. What makes it even worse is that one of the twins was actually expected to SURVIVE her gunshot injury, but died in the hospital from an extremely rare IV air embolism. The odds just seem so astounding that it makes me wonder if there's any way that "medical accident" could have been something other than an accident.

I don't like to play judge, jury, or hangman, but I feel strongly that if Donny Hansen didn't actually shoot his sisters and start the fire, then he knows who did...and he knows why.

I always thought the prosecutor interviewed during this segment seemed pretty arrogant and I have no doubt that he thought the case would be a cakewalk, got complacent, and didn't do near as strong a job at convincing the jury about Donny's guilt as he should have.

It's funny how halfway plausible defenses have recently been built on this board for the likes of Paul Pollis, Steve Page and Don Sherman, but I think it would be awfully tough to build one for Donny. Yet he's the one who actually got acquitted in a court of law!

I have NEVER bought into the theory that Donny Hansen was innocent. I believe he is 100% guilty. I think he did it purely for monetary gain. He should consider himself lucky that he got away with it. He burned his last bridge by betraying his family. The father,Hans Hansen said something to the effect of "Our daughters are dead and Donny is dead to me". I would like to believe that Donny feels some kind of remorse for his actions, but sadly, I dont think so.

The fact that his parents found things suspicious even during the frantic moments of putting out the fire tells you something. His father nearly tripping over the gas can, his mother witnessing him yelling at some people while the fire was going.

Parents are supposed to have unconditional love for their kids. Hence, you have to be a real dirtbag for your own parents to disown you, especially your mother.

Exactly what I was thinking - most parents will forgive their kids of anything.

Agreed. This one is just gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking in every aspect imaginable. What makes it even worse is that one of the twins was actually expected to SURVIVE her gunshot injury, but died in the hospital from an extremely rare IV air embolism. The odds just seem so astounding that it makes me wonder if there's any way that "medical accident" could have been something other than an accident.

I don't like to play judge, jury, or hangman, but I feel strongly that if Donny Hansen didn't actually shoot his sisters and start the fire, then he knows who did...and he knows why.

No reason was found for anybody that wasn't in the Hansen home to shoot the two sisters and set the fire. What would be their motivation? And again, why wouldn't the killers also kill Donny Hansen while they were there?

The two guys seen near the scene could have been anybody and probably had nothing to do w/ the case. If they did, where are they now? Most criminals are pretty stupid, so if they haven't run their yaps about being involved in this, it probably didn't happen.

This case was bungled by the prosecutors and a killer was set free. It doesn't usually happen but when it does, it's very obvious.

No reason was found for anybody that wasn't in the Hansen home to shoot the two sisters and set the fire. What would be their motivation? And again, why wouldn't the killers also kill Donny Hansen while they were there?

The two guys seen near the scene could have been anybody and probably had nothing to do w/ the case. If they did, where are they now? Most criminals are pretty stupid, so if they haven't run their yaps about being involved in this, it probably didn't happen.

This case was bungled by the prosecutors and a killer was set free. It doesn't usually happen but when it does, it's very obvious.

I've also wondered why the parents were never targeted. Also never understood how three people slept through shotgun blasts either.

I've also wondered why the parents were never targeted. Also never understood how three people slept through shotgun blasts either.

I have always thought (although evidence was never presented for this) that Donny Hansen hated his half-sisters. Perhaps he felt slighted by his stepfather and his mother in favor of them. This would explain shooting the girls before setting the fire.

It may have also been possible that Hansen wanted to come out of this looking like a "hero" by pretending that someone killed his sisters and then setting fire to the trailer house to potentially "save" his parents.

I think that Hansen was/is a very disturbed person who meant to kill his entire family (that was at home) out of anger, jealousy or hate. That he was unsuccessful is the only reason that we even know what really happened.

No reason was found for anybody that wasn't in the Hansen home to shoot the two sisters and set the fire. What would be their motivation? And again, why wouldn't the killers also kill Donny Hansen while they were there?

The two guys seen near the scene could have been anybody and probably had nothing to do w/ the case. If they did, where are they now? Most criminals are pretty stupid, so if they haven't run their yaps about being involved in this, it probably didn't happen.

This case was bungled by the prosecutors and a killer was set free. It doesn't usually happen but when it does, it's very obvious.

What I meant was that Donny Hansen either acted alone or with one or more accomplices. That's why I said that if he didn't actually pull the trigger on his sisters, he knows who did.

I have always thought (although evidence was never presented for this) that Donny Hansen hated his half-sisters. Perhaps he felt slighted by his stepfather and his mother in favor of them. This would explain shooting the girls before setting the fire.

I agree that definitely could have been a factor. A lot of blended families are not exactly the Brady Bunch...plus we really don't know what happened to Donny's biological father and how his relationship with Donny's mother may have ended.

It may have also been possible that Hansen wanted to come out of this looking like a "hero" by pretending that someone killed his sisters and then setting fire to the trailer house to potentially "save" his parents.

Also definitely possible...it wouldn't be the first time that a perp tried to make him/herself out as a hero either for the attention or because they think it will prevent them from being viewed as a suspect.

I think that Hansen was/is a very disturbed person who meant to kill his entire family (that was at home) out of anger, jealousy or hate. That he was unsuccessful is the only reason that we even know what really happened.

This also makes me wonder, frankly, if the "freak medical accident" that ultimately took Julie's life when it appeared she would survive the shooting was something other than an accident. The UM segment gave very little detail regarding this. Was her IV line found to have been tampered with? Did the Hansens file suit against the hospital? Had Donny or a stranger been at her bedside right before she died?

I, too, always had a very bad feeling about this "freak medical accident". It could have been, but in such a case, I would hope there had been extreme investigation done to discover the source. I always assumed it was an accident when younger, but my suspicious side makes me wonder.

I posted this in the Jill and Julie Hanson thread, but I'd like to put it on this one as well:

It's amazing that everyone slept through two twelve gauge shotgun blasts in a trailer. I think Donny Hansen was involved with the plot to kill his whole family to collect the insurance money that was out on Hans Hansen. I also think Donny had some accomplices (which may have been the two men spotted by the Hansen's neighbors). Here's what I think the plan was going to be, Donny gets the supplies that were going to be used in this crime (the gasoline, the shotgun, and the ammunition). I think Donny's plan was to let these "intruders" in to set the house on fire, and also supply them with the shotgun as a back up plan in case anyone awoke or attempted to flee the trailer. I also think that in Donny's mind he figured everyone would have died in the fire. So in the middle of the gas being set, Julie wakes up and stumbles in on the "intruders" and they in turn panic and shoot her. Shortly after that the house is set on fire (by Donny or one of his accomplices), and at this point Donny is also in a panic because he didn't expect anyone to be shot. Jill may have also awakened at this point, and she was shot as well. This is probably about the same time Betty and Hans wake up and realize there is a fire. Donny is in a real panic mode at this point, especially if he didn't intend on anyone being shot, and starts to yell at his accomplices to get out of there (which is what Betty witnessed). I think these "intruders" waited around (eyewitnesses places two men outside the trailer during the fire) to see if anyone else stumbled out of the trailer so they could "off" them as well, but their patience was overwhelmed by the need to get the hell out of Dodge. The fact that Donny assisted Hans and Betty in attempting to put out the fire was a ruse because his plan went awry. He never once mentioned helping Julie out of the trailer until she is found. And when it was determined that a shotgun had been used, that's when Donny decided to dispose of it (because his accomplices placed it right back in his car) which is why he was found snooping around the Hansen's warehouse after the murders. I think Donny was confident in the fact that he really wasn't the actual trigger man, nor was he the actual person that set fire to the house and there really wasn't anything other than circumstantial evidence suggesting otherwise which is why he was ultimately acquitted. But I think Donny was the mastermind of everything, and that he intended on splitting the money he inherited with his accomplices.

I have always thought (although evidence was never presented for this) that Donny Hansen hated his half-sisters. Perhaps he felt slighted by his stepfather and his mother in favor of them. This would explain shooting the girls before setting the fire.

It may have also been possible that Hansen wanted to come out of this looking like a "hero" by pretending that someone killed his sisters and then setting fire to the trailer house to potentially "save" his parents.

I think that Hansen was/is a very disturbed person who meant to kill his entire family (that was at home) out of anger, jealousy or hate. That he was unsuccessful is the only reason that we even know what really happened.

That's an excellent theory. I wish there had been more talk about the family relationship in the interviews. Perhaps the half-sister would have had something to say about it? But even if there were no outward signs of such hostility, it could have been kept deep within.

It's funny how halfway plausible defenses have recently been built on this board for the likes of Paul Pollis, Steve Page and Don Sherman, but I think it would be awfully tough to build one for Donny. Yet he's the one who actually got acquitted in a court of law!
honestly, i dont know Don Sherman's case, i really think Paul Pollis did kill his wife, need to re-watch Steve Page, BUT i think ROB Page killed Pam Page (his wife), BUT we can NOT charge him with the crime. As for this case. I dont know if Hanson killed his sisters, i dont think he meant to kill them, i think he meant to start a fire, one sister woke up and he shot her or a friend who helped him did the shootings.

I've also wondered why the parents were never targeted. Also never understood how three people slept through shotgun blasts either.

Looks pretty clear to me that they are innocent. Donnie probably didn't sleep through the blast because he orchestrated this whole thing. The parents probably didn't sleep through the blast either. That could have been what woke them up. Think about it, how many times are you startled in the middle of the night and don't know what woke you? Happens to me all the time. Then all of the sudden the mother is awake and sees the fire and smoke beneath the door. Even so, I know a shotgun blast would be loud, but the fire would muffle a lot of that noise too I would think

The fact that his parents found things suspicious even during the frantic moments of putting out the fire tells you something. His father nearly tripping over the gas can, his mother witnessing him yelling at some people while the fire was going.

Parents are supposed to have unconditional love for their kids. Hence, you have to be a real dirtbag for your own parents to disown you, especially your mother.

I would definitely say that murdering your two sisters, and burning the family house down is one of the worst crimes a person could ahve committed. If there as any reason to disown a child, this is it.

This story always haunted me. Two lovely twin sisters killed. The intention I assume is that the whole family but Donny is killed. My question here is when Jill or Julie was still alive and claimed that Donny was the one they saw in the blast of the shotgun, did the police interview her about this? I get that her testimony is null and void because she is dead and she can't be cross examined, but could they not build more on that even after she died?

This reminds me of the movie "Fracture" with Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins admits right at the scene of the crime that he shot his wife. Gosling, a hot shot prosecutor feels this is nothing more than an open and shut case and he goes into it sloppy and half heartedly, only to realize they never retrieve the gun that killed Hopkins' wife, and he is let free. This happens far too often that the prosecution gets cocky and doesn't cross their "Ts". I think this is what happened here.

I've also wondered why the parents were never targeted. Also never understood how three people slept through shotgun blasts either.


Exactly what I was thinking, especially not targeting his parents.

To be the fly on the wall in that family. When I heard that Donny was half-brothers with the twins, a motive in the killings could have been jealousy or resentment. The fact that Donny was not the biological son of the father, and the twins were, I could see him being somewhat of a black sheep.

To be the fly on the wall in that family. When I heard that Donny was half-brothers with the twins, a motive in the killings could have been jealousy or resentment. The fact that Donny was not the biological son of the father, and the twins were, I could see him being somewhat of a black sheep.

I think Donnie was in on the plan to burn down the home with the thought that everyone would be dead except for him to have escaped. Whoever he had help him (eyewitnesses saw two men staring at the burning trailer) panicked when one of the sisters woke up and shot her. This is why Donnie's mother saw him angrily yelling at someone to "get out of here".

Exactly what I was thinking, especially not targeting his parents.

To be the fly on the wall in that family. When I heard that Donny was half-brothers with the twins, a motive in the killings could have been jealousy or resentment. The fact that Donny was not the biological son of the father, and the twins were, I could see him being somewhat of a black sheep.

Everything that could have gone wrong for Donny with that incident, went wrong. I suspect he wasn't wanting his sisters to wake up and get shot. Nor his parents to wake up and get out of the house in time. Nor the gun to be found. Nor his sister (was it Jill or Julie?) that managed to get out of the house.

I honestly think if there were a couple of things that were different that happened then Donny gets away with it. I know Donny still technically did get away with it, but I mean in the court of public opinion he could have been looked at as a grieving brother/son and an unfortunate survivor of all of this. He could have been the victim without a couple of things happening.

One of them was one of the twins getting out of the house. If they both burn to a crisp in that house then I doubt there is ever a close look at the fact that a gunshot actually did them in. Or even better, none of them wake up to investigate and neither get shot. The second thing is his parents dying in the house too. If both sisters and his parents died in the fire and he managed to escape by being in the living room and having easier access to get out the front door then I believe he never gets caught. The neighbors that saw two men run away from the scene would help his case as well. I doubt it gets back to him in any way that he set them up to do this unless he leaves a trail behind with something else.

I think Donnie was in on the plan to burn down the home with the thought that everyone would be dead except for him to have escaped. Whoever he had help him (eyewitnesses saw two men staring at the burning trailer) panicked when one of the sisters woke up and shot her. This is why Donnie's mother saw him angrily yelling at someone to "get out of here".
I agree 100% here!!! my guess is he was telling his accomplises to get out of the place because he didnt want them to get caught. I feel Donny planned this and intended for the whole family to die, but things went wrong. my guess is one twin woke up which made the drop of the match or lighter sooner and somehow he shot the other twin.