Jill and Julie Hansen

[Janel "Jaycee" Miller]

They're saying Julie died 13 months later. I checked a few other websites and they all say she died on December 19, 1986, one month after she was shot. Is there a way to ask them to correct the mistake? Also, I cast another "guilty" vote![/QUOTE]

Perhaps, just perhaps, through their Facebook page or Twitter account? I've viewed a lot of company's Facebook & Twitter pages over the years and seen customers ask about products the company sells, when its stores are open, and yes, correct them when they're wrong.

I wouldn't use the Tips link though -- that might be the equivalent of calling 911 to ask for directions to a local pizza shop.

[danmanx]

Originally Posted by TheResearcher

I tend to like taking the devil's advocate position, but in this case, Donnie is guilty. The single fact of taking the gun out of the car in the middle of the blaze convinced me.

Exactly! Your house is on fire. You grab your gun?!!
Not likely....

You say you helped your sister and then you change your story?
Huh?

You BOUGHT the bullets and fuel that killed your half sisters!
OMG!!

You RETURN to the scene of the crime to grab your stashed gun later???
WHAT?

His theory: TWO PEOPLE DID THIS WITH THE TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION *YOU* BOUGHT AND *YOU* ARE NOT GUILTY?!!?!?!
WHAT?!?!?!

I believe in justice and I do agree with double jeopardy as well. I also believe it was a brilliant ruse to cover up his face and voice. He's really "selling" the 'it wasn't me' by claiming the killers are still out there and he's scared!

Donny Hansen, [or whatever your new name is], please understand that even though you were declared NOT GUILTY that doesn't mean the world will judge you the same.

HOW DID HIS PARENTS NOT HEAR SHOTGUN BLASTS?!?!

[wiseguy182]

I just re-watched this segment, and there were brief shots of various clips of newspaper articles on this case. I wasn't able to make out much, but did happen to notice one of the articles said the jury believed Donnie was probably guilty, but couldn't get past the "reasonable doubt" part. Also, a big factor in that was the fingerprint testing (or lack thereof) on the gun, which was apparently bungled by authorities. Thought that was interesting.

[TheCars1986]

I've been thinking about this case recently and a thought popped into my head: what exactly was Donnie planning to do? Was he planning on setting the house on fire, hoping that everyone would inside would die? Not very smart considering the investigators found the gas can inside the ruins, and he would presumably be the only survivor.

Did he intend to kill only his parents and "save" his sisters? Why didn't he just off the parents with the shotgun too? If Donnie wanted to kill everyone, why did he help try to put out the fire? Why not kill his parents during their attempts to put out the fire? Nothing makes sense about what happened that night. But I don't think Donnie was the actual triggerman. No one noticed him ditch the gun that night, which tells me he had at least one accomplice who ditched it (in the family warehouse of all places). That would also explain why Betty and Hans were not killed...the accomplice/s took off with the shotgun prior to them waking up.

[RobinW]

I've always believed there was suspicion from the start that Donny had accomplices who were involved in the murders. I mean, by the time this aired on UM, Donny had already been acquitted and couldn't be prosecuted for the same crime again. If he acted alone, then technically there's nothing to "solve" any more, but airing the story on UM opens up the possibility of information coming in which might lead authorities to accomplices who could be charged.

Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if Donny's confused reaction was because he had arranged for his accomplices to murder the family and burn down the place at a different time, but they screwed up and showed up on the WRONG NIGHT when he was actually there! Since Donny lived an entirely different town and was just visiting, why not arrange for the murder when you're 70 miles away and can establish an alibi?

[TCB(SC)]

Originally Posted by RobinW

Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if Donny's confused reaction was because he had arranged for his accomplices to murder the family and burn down the place at a different time, but they screwed up and showed up on the WRONG NIGHT when he was actually there! Since Donny lived an entirely different town and was just visiting, why not arrange for the murder when you're 70 miles away and can establish an alibi?

Never thought of that theory and can't recall hearing of that one before. Have to admit it does make sense yet sadly we will never know.

[wiseguy182]

Originally Posted by RobinW

I've always believed there was suspicion from the start that Donny had accomplices who were involved in the murders. I mean, by the time this aired on UM, Donny had already been acquitted and couldn't be prosecuted for the same crime again. If he acted alone, then technically there's nothing to "solve" any more, but airing the story on UM opens up the possibility of information coming in which might lead authorities to accomplices who could be charged.

Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if Donny's confused reaction was because he had arranged for his accomplices to murder the family and burn down the place at a different time, but they screwed up and showed up on the WRONG NIGHT when he was actually there! Since Donny lived an entirely different town and was just visiting, why not arrange for the murder when you're 70 miles away and can establish an alibi?

I would think Donnie would have had to have the accomplices. I mean, taking out 4 people and burning the place down would have required a lot of work and runs the risk of somebody waking up and foiling the plan. I get the impression Donnie let them in. If Donnie wasn't there, they would have to break in and considering that was a small trailer, the odds are that one of the four would have heard something.

I really wonder who the accomplices were. Donnie didn't live in the immediate area at the time, so did he bring people with him and they just hung out in the woods or something until the time came? Possible, but unlikely. Did Donnie grow up there and still have high school friends in the area?

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by RobinW

I've always believed there was suspicion from the start that Donny had accomplices who were involved in the murders. I mean, by the time this aired on UM, Donny had already been acquitted and couldn't be prosecuted for the same crime again. If he acted alone, then technically there's nothing to "solve" any more, but airing the story on UM opens up the possibility of information coming in which might lead authorities to accomplices who could be charged.

Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if Donny's confused reaction was because he had arranged for his accomplices to murder the family and burn down the place at a different time, but they screwed up and showed up on the WRONG NIGHT when he was actually there! Since Donny lived an entirely different town and was just visiting, why not arrange for the murder when you're 70 miles away and can establish an alibi?

This is a great theory.

I'd like to think the police questioned the friend that loaned Donnie the shotgun.

[RobinW]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I'd like to think the police questioned the friend that loaned Donnie the shotgun.

I'd hope so. If this friend was completely innocent, I just can't figure out how Donny thought his plan was going to work. If the plan had gone off without a hitch, was Donny just planning to return the gun to his friend? Borrowing a shotgun three days before your entire family is murdered with shotgun blasts (with Donny being the only survivor) is certainly going to raise quite a few eyebrows!

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

I really wonder who the accomplices were. Donnie didn't live in the immediate area at the time, so did he bring people with him and they just hung out in the woods or something until the time came? Possible, but unlikely. Did Donnie grow up there and still have high school friends in the area?

Yes, I've always been quite curious to know if Donny borrowed the shotgun from a friend in Willow Creek, where his family lived, or if it was someone from his hometown of Fortuna. If it was someone in Willow Creek, I'd find it more likely that Donny was in collusion with old friends from the area.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by RobinW

I'd hope so. If this friend was completely innocent, I just can't figure out how Donny thought his plan was going to work. If the plan had gone off without a hitch, was Donny just planning to return the gun to his friend? Borrowing a shotgun three days before your entire family is murdered with shotgun blasts (with Donny being the only survivor) is certainly going to raise quite a few eyebrows!

Unless the shotgun wasn't part of the original plan, I just can't see any reason why it would have been used in the first place. It implicates Donny in just about every single way.

[Hambone2421]

Originally Posted by littlebit

...actually, his daughters are younger than i am, and i was born over a year after this case. the last i knew of him, he still had his girls and took them with him to oregon.
i have no idea what his name is now, or if he still resides in happy camp. he could never be convicted anyway thanks to double jeopardy...though i would like to see some of my family members held responsible for their hand in these murders.
during the trial, it was stated under oath that the first person that donny called after the incident was his friend, my father, which actually was a lie. as i stated previously, it was my grandmother who called and alerted my father...donny called her first. to me that's strange, to call the mother (whom you're not close to) of your friend first thing and then lie about it in court?
also: my whole family knew the location of the murder weapon before the police did...actually the morning that donny tried to retrieve it from the workshop, it was my aunt (who he was staying with before he got arrested) who set the alarm clock for him. there was also a huge fight within my family regarding the gun, it's location and donny's desire to retrieve it.
this was all lied about in court, as well as the fact that my dad's family more or less hid my mom from the trial so she wouldn't testify (because it would create discrepancies in my father's family's testimonies).
AND i think it's also interesting that the night that donny stayed with his parents was right before a planned trip to set up drug connections in redding, ca.
although donny can no longer be held accountable for his actions in this case, i think that the other's involved should be. namely:
Jeffery Cyphers
and
Helen Cyphers.
i want to see them brought to justice.
i just wish i knew the extent of the hand that they played.

I searched the name of Jeffery and Helen Cyphers and came across this obituary for Helen from two months ago..... http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tim...?pid=180337236 It mentions that she is survived by her son, Jeff.

If the poster above is correct, then I bet this is the mother/son combo they were alluding to that were involved in this.

[Cooker3]

Originally Posted by danmanx

HOW DID HIS PARENTS NOT HEAR SHOTGUN BLASTS?!?!

On the unsolved mysteries page someone claiming to be the mother said the shotgun blast is what woke them up.

This maybe the easiest he done it on any UM case. He may have had help and i think the theory that everyone was supposed to die for insurance money seems the most obvious explanation.

I am kind of surprised the parents think he did it. Families on UM tend to be so delusional no matter how overwhelming the evidence is to the opposite so respect for that.
Such a heartbreaking quote "“That was a pretty low point in my life to see my son arrested for the murder of my daughter." Yeah that definitely counts.

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by Cooker3

I am kind of surprised the parents think he did it. Families on UM tend to be so delusional no matter how overwhelming the evidence is to the opposite so respect for that.

Such a heartbreaking quote "“That was a pretty low point in my life to see my son arrested for the murder of my daughter." Yeah that definitely counts.

It's definitely a rare case where the parents do NOT believe their child. The father's quote was, "We have lost three of our four children over this."

[macbeth06]

Donnie killed the twins and wanted to collect the insurance money policy.

[thinwhiteduke74]

Which Season Five episode is it?