https://angelcrestinc.com/obituaries/donald-donny-leroy-stewart/

this is his obit. and he is using his biological last name. I hope this is ok to post here , It is also on crime junkie pod cast to.

59 years old 7 great grandchildren. Wow.

59 years old 7 great grandchildren. Wow.

Yeah…the math is not mathing. He married his wife at age 37 and then had 7 great grandchildren by age 59? Unless they had kids first and didn’t get married until 17 years later.

No mention of his sister Becky, who should be one of his family survivors.

Yeah…the math is not mathing. He married his wife at age 37 and then had 7 great grandchildren by age 59? Unless they had kids first and didn’t get married until 17 years later.

No mention of his sister Becky, who should be one of his family survivors.

It could mean that she was married and had kids before she met him, and they are his adopted grandchildren. Also, I am certain he does not want any of his immediate family mentioned, for obvious reasons.

Thats very sad...

Any you listen to crime watch they read what was said in news papers at the time. and so much was left out of unsoplved mysteries segment. Cops really screwed up the case. The cops found out donny was going to look expensive car lots looking at sports car saying ot seller he was coming into a lot of money soon. This is after Hans his step father told him and the other kids a bout oeny they all inherrit. Donny was in town to help Hans with his buisness which he did for time to time. He had moved in with his grandma cause he was arging wit hhis mom a lot. Donny had dropped out of college anbd was did not like the car his bought by hisd mother and step father he traded it in for second sports car that was falling apart and seemed to be shopping for new one whuile telling sellers he was coming into a lot of money. The two guys seen by neighbors happend to be to local teens who wer high and had ash on there shoulder and were standing watching the fire and then were seen buy another set of neighrs running away. well one of the kids had uncle work for police force that questioned them. sounds like a conflict of entrest to me. the cops also failed to test for extra fingers prints on Donnys gun or the gun or gas tank. Seems like the only on Donny and not also on who helped him. Tunnel vision maybe? Jill the one who didnt get out of the fire was found in the kitchen and Hans said when he was getting hose he heard some yell help from the kitchen. Hans also said when he woke up he npise like gun and shot and then few minutes later more noise like more gun shots. I thnk donny got the local kids to break in start the fire and shoot who awoke. Who was Julie shot firat and donny dropped her out side the door and she crawled across the street. why donny dropped the gun in his car and gas can out side the doot. at then they shot jill who ended up crawling int othe kitchen and then got caught yelling at the kids to leve. apparently dod not have time to get jill out. whch the kids dumblt watched fire a liottle and then drove away. i think cops did a over up cause some of the kids wer close to cop. hans confronted donny about the gun when he and betty wer living in the motor home in the hospital parking lotl. and donny ran away screaming he did nt do it. unsolved muysteried left a lot out. no9w donny is gone and will cops ever go after his accomplises?

Cops often me$$ stuff up dont they :mad:

Assuming this is the same guy, it is..... interesting to read the obituary & comments and how they spin it to make him look like a saint. No mention of certain other deceased family members and how he broke what I assume a certain Commandment while going on about he pious he was.

It's the same guy. Betty Hansen's maiden name is Valentin(e), and that is the name on Donny's birth record. Here I thought he was using a completely different name all these years, only to find out he reverted to his birth name. Hopefully he made his peace with God and asked for forgiveness for the events that happened nearly 40 years ago.

Assuming this is the same guy, it is..... interesting to read the obituary & comments and how they spin it to make him look like a saint. No mention of certain other deceased family members and how he broke what I assume a certain Commandment while going on about he pious he was.

That’s the beauty of an obituary. They’re written by a close relative who can say whatever they want about you. You can murder a nun, rape your wife’s best friend or poison a preschooler and your obituary could say you’re the most loving, honest and hardworking soul who is always thinking of others.

"His burning passion for his faith in Christ impacted anyone he encountered."

Burning passion aye? He sure did like burning things...

"His burning passion for his faith in Christ impacted anyone he encountered."

Burning passion aye? He sure did like burning things...

Seeing as how obituaries are usually written like coded messages, I can't help but think they are secretly referring to a certain incident from 1986. His family had to be well aware of the incident and how there is no way he could possibly convince any rational person he has not at minimum the set up guy.

They can still get Donnys acomplises. Which is thought to be two local boys covered in ash at the seen before the were seen running away. apparently one is related to local polica officer. ugh!

Donny at the time of incident

Donny at the time of incident

Wow. That's an incredible find. He was/is guilty as guilty gets. That poor family.

Wow. That's an incredible find. He was/is guilty as guilty gets. That poor family.


Thank you. Sence he died pics are popping up. The one you cant see is Becky Donnies full sister She was at college and was away at the time at a friends house. She has nothing to do with it so she was covered. I was glad to find the pic. I was wondering what he looked like too at that time.

Thank you. Sence he died pics are popping up. The one you can ntio see is Becky Donnies full sistelr She wqas ay college and was away at the tinem as friends housel. She has nothing to do with it so she was covered. I was glad to fuind the pic. I wqas wonder what he lokedl ike too at that time.I just got a headache trying to read your post. Spellcheck can be your best friend. :rolleyes:

I am watching this segment again now. The guy was guilty. I don't think it means anything that Julie told her doctor at the hospital that she didn't see anyone in the flash when she was shot. She could have blocked out the memory because it was too painful, but then it broke through when she was recovered. Or it could have been too chaotic a scene for her to remember right then when she was shot. She was in pain. Donny Hansen was guilty.

Donny at the time of incident

The blurred-out one is sister Becky Hansen. She's not interviewed in the UM segment, but an actress plays her in the reenactment where Betty and Becky are at the police station when Donny is thrown in handcuffs.

I often wonder how she's been all these years, basically losing all three siblings. I assume she cut Donny off like her parents did.

manners can be your best friend tvspcript 124

yep i posted that dynoguy88

manners can be your best friend tvspcript 124

If you're using speech to text just give it a once over

Donny at the time of incident

Good find. The guy in the reenactment did at least resemble him somewhat. Wonder how long before the incident that was taken?

The blurred-out one is sister Becky Hansen. She's not interviewed in the UM segment, but an actress plays her in the reenactment where Betty and Becky are at the police station when Donny is thrown in handcuffs.

I often wonder how she's been all these years, basically losing all three siblings. I assume she cut Donny off like her parents did.

You never know, she might have been like Debbie Race's parents unable to accept her brother's guilt like they couldn't accept their son in law's guilt. She might have stayed in touch with him.

Donnie's natural father supported him apparently not believing he was guilty. Possible she did too. In fact I'm guessing she and Donnie had the same natural father since she was older.

I am watching this segment again now. The guy was guilty. I don't think it means anything that Julie told her doctor at the hospital that she didn't see anyone in the flash when she was shot. She could have blocked out the memory because it was too painful, but then it broke through when she was recovered. Or it could have been too chaotic a scene for her to remember right then when she was shot. She was in pain. Donny Hansen was guilty.

I think at the very least, he knew what happened. He was somehow involved. But I'm not sure what the intention was that night, if it was really to wipe out the family in a fire. There is a few holes in that theory, but something nefarious happened that night and he was involved.

If you're using speech to text just give it a once over

well ilm sorry had a disabiltiy.geez

Good find. The guy in the reenactment did at least resemble him somewhat. Wonder how long before the incident that was taken?

Not to far back apparently. There was pod cast wer Donnys family shared that pic jad obituary I posted up thread. Leanred there was more to the case , then unsolved mysteries told.

Not to far back apparently. There was pod cast wer Donnys family shared that pic jad obituary I posted up thread. Leanred there was more to the case , then unsolved mysteries told.

Would love to see that, be interesting to know more about Donnie and what he may have been involved in leading up to this incident. Or if any of his close friends perceived any resentment or animosity towards his family. I've racked my brain over the years trying to think of a scenario he was not involved in this at least to some degree and it just refuses to come together.

I've racked my brain over the years trying to think of a scenario he was not involved in this at least to some degree and it just refuses to come together.

If it were just the murder weapon that he borrowed 3 days prior to the murders, I could maybe see how it was remotely possible that he wasn't involved, but he bought 5 gallons of gasoline 2 days prior to the murders. If I had to guess, I would say that Donny conspired with the two men seen lingering outside of the trailer on the night of the murders to kill his parents and make it look like an accident (fire) for life insurance purposes. Betty Hansen remembers coming out and seeing Donny yelling at someone and then started "chasing" them, and there was also a doctor who was in the ambulance with Julie when they were taking her to the hospital and she told him that Donny had helped her get out of the house.

IMO, these intruders came into the house with the intent of starting a fire, with Donny's full knowledge of what was going to happen. Julie wakes up, one of them shoots her with the shotgun, and that's when everything picks up around the time that Betty and Hans wake up. Donny probably did help Julie out of the house and started assisting in trying to put out the fire. At some point during the confusion, Jill wakes up and tries to escape and she's shot too. It's the only scenario, IMO, where Donny's actions during the fire make sense within his suspicious activities in the days leading up to the murders. I don't think he intended on having his sisters murdered.

If it were just the murder weapon that he borrowed 3 days prior to the murders, I could maybe see how it was remotely possible that he wasn't involved, but he bought 5 gallons of gasoline 2 days prior to the murders. If I had to guess, I would say that Donny conspired with the two men seen lingering outside of the trailer on the night of the murders to kill his parents and make it look like an accident (fire) for life insurance purposes. Betty Hansen remembers coming out and seeing Donny yelling at someone and then started "chasing" them, and there was also a doctor who was in the ambulance with Julie when they were taking her to the hospital and she told him that Donny had helped her get out of the house.

IMO, these intruders came into the house with the intent of starting a fire, with Donny's full knowledge of what was going to happen. Julie wakes up, one of them shoots her with the shotgun, and that's when everything picks up around the time that Betty and Hans wake up. Donny probably did help Julie out of the house and started assisting in trying to put out the fire. At some point during the confusion, Jill wakes up and tries to escape and she's shot too. It's the only scenario, IMO, where Donny's actions during the fire make sense within his suspicious activities in the days leading up to the murders. I don't think he intended on having his sisters murdered.

I honestly think that the extraordinarily tragic nature of this case overshadows the fact that it is also exceedingly bizarre. The more I think about it in fact the less it makes sense.

It has to start with Donnie, I mean if this guy was TRYING to get himself implicated in a crime, he could not have done a much better job. Not only because of his actions leading up to murders but because of the absurd story he came up with for his version of what happened.

Something I haven't even seen discussed, some people forget Donnie wasn't even living there at the time.

So lets say for a moment that his detractors are right, that this was about collecting insurance money and wiping the rest of his family out. Several things don't make sense:

1. If Donnie used these two accomplices seen at the trailer to do this, then why did he even need to be there at all? Why not just have them do it from afar? Then he instantly has an alibi. I suppose its possible he just wanted to be there either to make sure it got done or because he was just a sick puppy and wanted to take part in it himself. But its still odd.

2. Its already been mentioned that Donnie would have to have shared his part with his older sister, and if he didn't intend for his younger sisters to die then he has to share it with them too.

3. One thing not mentioned either is, if Donnie had two accomplices you have to assume that he had to pay them off as well. There is nothing to indicate that Donnie had a lot of money himself so you have to assume he offered them payment out of the insurance money Unless these two unknown accomplices were doing this for some other reason and if so why?

But my point is, between him, his older sister, and the hitmen that would cut down his share of the insurance money considerably making it a less strong motive. Now I don't know how much it was but from what I can gather Hans and Betty were pretty well off so I guess it was pretty substantial, but having to share it with this many others weakens the motive. And if he didn't intend to kill his younger sisters that weakens it even more.

And from the timeline of events and Donnie's actions, it seems likely the two men seen at the trailer really were there and took part cause it sounds like Donnie couldn't have shot Jill as she was shot after the others had gone to get fire extinguishers.

Also the story Donnie gave and the defense's scenario was exceedingly absurd. You would think Donnie could have made up a more believable story, in their scenario he sees that Julie was shot and goes to her, but apparently he denied even seeing the perps and they didn't bother to shoot him. Donnie could have just as easily said he saw the perps and even if he wanted to conceal their identity he could have said it was dark and he didn't see their faces or even could have claimed they were wearing masks. At least that would have been plausible. And we know Betty saw him telling someone to get out.

I mean its pretty obvious Donnie did not get away with this because he was smart, but because he was just incredibly lucky.

I just think if Donnie's true intention was wiping out the whole family, he could have done it before anyone knew what was happening instead of helping Julie out and trying to put the fire out.

The scenario I am leaning towards now is that Donnie was just involved in something whether it was drugs or gambling, owed someone money perhaps the people who helped carry out the murders, and he initially agreed to do something nefarious there maybe kill somebody and had a last minute attack of conscience or else chickened out and just decided not to go through with it pissing his accomplices off and things got out of hand. But he was in to deep to tell the truth. I think he could have been tricked into buying the shotgun shells, borrowing the shotgun, and buying the gasoline. He showed he wasn't that smart.

I don't know obviously, we may never know the full truth. That is kind of where I'm leaning.

Even though apparently Betty and Hans disowned him, Betty in particular because he was her son even though she disowned him in public, in private I wonder if she still thought of him and wondered just what happened and how deeply involved he was. Or did she just adopt the view he was an irredeemable killer and a lost soul? Maybe she had a little bit of hope his intention was not to wipe out the family and he was just involved in something that got out of control in which case she might could have forgiven him. But I guess we will never know.

Sad and tragic case all around.

I honestly think that the extraordinarily tragic nature of this case overshadows the fact that it is also exceedingly bizarre. The more I think about it in fact the less it makes sense.

It has to start with Donnie, I mean if this guy was TRYING to get himself implicated in a crime, he could not have done a much better job. Not only because of his actions leading up to murders but because of the absurd story he came up with for his version of what happened.

Something I haven't even seen discussed, some people forget Donnie wasn't even living there at the time.

So lets say for a moment that his detractors are right, that this was about collecting insurance money and wiping the rest of his family out. Several things don't make sense:

1. If Donnie used these two accomplices seen at the trailer to do this, then why did he even need to be there at all? Why not just have them do it from afar? Then he instantly has an alibi. I suppose its possible he just wanted to be there either to make sure it got done or because he was just a sick puppy and wanted to take part in it himself. But its still odd.

2. Its already been mentioned that Donnie would have to have shared his part with his older sister, and if he didn't intend for his younger sisters to die then he has to share it with them too.

3. One thing not mentioned either is, if Donnie had two accomplices you have to assume that he had to pay them off as well. There is nothing to indicate that Donnie had a lot of money himself so you have to assume he offered them payment out of the insurance money Unless these two unknown accomplices were doing this for some other reason and if so why?

But my point is, between him, his older sister, and the hitmen that would cut down his share of the insurance money considerably making it a less strong motive. Now I don't know how much it was but from what I can gather Hans and Betty were pretty well off so I guess it was pretty substantial, but having to share it with this many others weakens the motive. And if he didn't intend to kill his younger sisters that weakens it even more.

And from the timeline of events and Donnie's actions, it seems likely the two men seen at the trailer really were there and took part cause it sounds like Donnie couldn't have shot Jill as she was shot after the others had gone to get fire extinguishers.

Also the story Donnie gave and the defense's scenario was exceedingly absurd. You would think Donnie could have made up a more believable story, in their scenario he sees that Julie was shot and goes to her, but apparently he denied even seeing the perps and they didn't bother to shoot him. Donnie could have just as easily said he saw the perps and even if he wanted to conceal their identity he could have said it was dark and he didn't see their faces or even could have claimed they were wearing masks. At least that would have been plausible. And we know Betty saw him telling someone to get out.

I mean its pretty obvious Donnie did not get away with this because he was smart, but because he was just incredibly lucky.

I just think if Donnie's true intention was wiping out the whole family, he could have done it before anyone knew what was happening instead of helping Julie out and trying to put the fire out.

The scenario I am leaning towards now is that Donnie was just involved in something whether it was drugs or gambling, owed someone money perhaps the people who helped carry out the murders, and he initially agreed to do something nefarious there maybe kill somebody and had a last minute attack of conscience or else chickened out and just decided not to go through with it pissing his accomplices off and things got out of hand. But he was in to deep to tell the truth. I think he could have been tricked into buying the shotgun shells, borrowing the shotgun, and buying the gasoline. He showed he wasn't that smart.

I don't know obviously, we may never know the full truth. That is kind of where I'm leaning.

Even though apparently Betty and Hans disowned him, Betty in particular because he was her son even though she disowned him in public, in private I wonder if she still thought of him and wondered just what happened and how deeply involved he was. Or did she just adopt the view he was an irredeemable killer and a lost soul? Maybe she had a little bit of hope his intention was not to wipe out the family and he was just involved in something that got out of control in which case she might could have forgiven him. But I guess we will never know.

Sad and tragic case all around.

Interesting analysis. Very thought provoking. I definitely think he did it, but I can appreciate the points you made that weaken the insurance motive.

Enjoy hell Donnie

Wow, haven’t logged in for a year and first thing I read is the good news ��