Donny Hansen passed away last year!

[tvscript124]

Originally Posted by XCalibur

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.