Dick Hansen / David Merrifield - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MissKitka731 · 08-13-2007, 09:00 AM

Hansen was killed allegedly over his license plate that read '49rHugs' and Merrifield was the murdered lawyer. These cases always stuck with me. Any speculations on them? Have either ever been solved?

crystaldawn · 08-13-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissKitka731

Hansen was killed allegedly over his license plate that read '49rHugs' and Merrifield was the murdered lawyer. These cases always stuck with me. Any speculations on them? Have either ever been solved?

Yes I would love to know if those cases were ever resolved but I haven't been able to find out anything about them online.

As far as speculation I think the guy that killed Dick Hansen was just some psycho. I mean he'd have to be to kill someone for something like a license plate he didn't like.

I can't help but think Merrifield was killed by someone that thought the lawyer had wronged probably in some sort of a business deal. That has some similarities between this case and the Annie Laurie Hearin case imo. The guy was trying to get back at Robert Hearin because of some business problems and a lawsuit and killed his wife as revenge.

ididn'tdoit · 08-13-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

As far as speculation I think the guy that killed Dick Hansen was just some psycho. I mean he'd have to be to kill someone for something like a license plate he didn't like.

Yes, I mean look at "Carol". She was shot in the head by a complete stranger without any apparent motive at all, the guy just was going to shoot someone. Motiveless crimes are extremely rare, but you still have to bare in mind they could happen.

UMfan0682 · 08-13-2007, 05:57 PM

The Dick Hansen case was very sad. I had searched a few other threads and another poster had pointed out maybe the shooter was upset that the "49er Hugs" license plate was taken. The theory the police came up with that Hansen had the build of a football player and the killer assumed he was a member of the team makes the most sense. I was also thinking that maybe the two had met before, at a football game. They could have had an altercation at the game, then Dick could have just forgotten about it, not remembering the guy when he approached the car. It was nighttime, so perhaps he did not get a good look at his killer. Although, the way he confronted the guy right before he shot him leans me toward him not knowing his killer.

ZanzibarBlue · 08-13-2007, 08:08 PM

I had occasion to think of the Dick Hansen case this weekend. I finished playing golf at a public course w/ a friend. As we were talking by our cars, I noticed a black sedan pull into the lot and begin circling our parking aisle, w/ the driver looking directly at us w/ a blank stare each time he passed. After my friend got in his car, I noticed the sedan pull quickly around so it was directly behind my car. The car proceeded to follow me about 90% of the way home (w/ scores of intersections it was difficult to believe it was just a coincidence). I eventually lost him at a traffic light that was turning red. Although I'll never know if he was following me, it was an unsettling experience.

It's cases like Dick Hansen's that make me wonder how many disturbed persons are out there simply riding around looking for opportunities to select random people to go after.

idol · 07-10-2008, 08:54 AM

It was 1:30 AM and IMO the killer was randomly riding around looking for someone regardless of the license plate. I'm sure the coward was intimated by Dick and was pointing out the license plate as a way of saying "I hate the Niners thats why I followed you" and than shot after Dick told him to get the blank out and rightfully so. One thing about this is the actor that played the killer looked just like the sketch of the killer.

synthisislab · 07-10-2008, 12:57 PM

Maybe he is a Raiders fan that was envious of the 49ers success. The Raiders are known for having mentally unstable fans. I doubt if he were a random thrill killer because he hasn't been linked to other murders through ballistics. Or maybe he tossed that gun and used another one, possible but I think highly unlikely.

The David Merrifield case reminds me of another case where a real estate guy was meeting another guy to look at a house in a wealthy isolated neighborhood so the unidentified suspect could kill him. I don't think either will be solved since there are no solid clues or leads to go on in either case, unless the killers strike again and screw up.

DP1 · 07-10-2008, 09:48 PM

It's a shame cell phones were uncommon back then. She might have been able to call the police and have them chase that psycho off.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 07-11-2008, 12:20 AM

Yes, how many of these cases would never have happened in the cell phone era? Obviously the telephone booth abduction for starters.

DP1 · 07-11-2008, 11:22 PM

Right. Whenever I watch TV shows from the eighties or earlier that revolve around a car breaking down on the road, I have to remind myself that they didn't have cell phones back then.

TracyLynnS · 01-08-2009, 07:07 PM

When watching this one today, for the first time I thought, "What if this has nothing to do with Jane's 49er's plate? What if the killer is pointing in Jane's general direction, not just the back of her car?"

The show said that Dick was recently divorced and he called "Jane" (not her real name) up to go out for drinks with him. Later, they were both followed by the crazy killer guy. When they pulled over to the side of the road, Dick walked back to the guy, to ask why he was following them or what he wanted or something like that.

Then, the guy gestured toward Jane's vanity plate on her car, according to her. And she's the only one talking. What if the guy was pointing not at her car, but at Jane herself? What if he was saying, "WTF are you doing at the bar with my wife?"

Or what if he said, "You want to know what I'm doing? Your ex-wife sent me because of her!" And then he points to Jane, and a few seconds later, bang bang bang.

IMO, "Jane" wasn't shielding her identity from just the killer by going incogneto onscreen. She doesn't want to be connected to this case because she IS connected to this case.

MegtheEgg86 · 01-08-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

When watching this one today, for the first time I thought, "What if this has nothing to do with Jane's 49er's plate? What if the killer is pointing in Jane's general direction, not just the back of her car?"

The show said that Dick was recently divorced and he called "Jane" (not her real name) up to go out for drinks with him. Later, they were both followed by the crazy killer guy. When they pulled over to the side of the road, Dick walked back to the guy, to ask why he was following them or what he wanted or something like that.

Then, the guy gestured toward Jane's vanity plate on her car, according to her. And she's the only one talking. What if the guy was pointing not at her car, but at Jane herself? What if he was saying, "WTF are you doing at the bar with my wife?"

Or what if he said, "You want to know what I'm doing? Your ex-wife sent me because of her!" And then he points to Jane, and a few seconds later, bang bang bang.

IMO, "Jane" wasn't shielding her identity from just the killer by going incogneto onscreen. She doesn't want to be connected to this case because she IS connected to this case.

I'm of that opinion myself---that is, that the license plate had absolutely nothing to do with Dick's murder at all. As in many UM segments, I think there was a lot of critical information left out---the precise nature of the relationship between Dick and his date, and anything else she may have noticed about the exchange between Dick and the killer besides his gesturing towards the back of her car---which could've meant any infinite number of things. I just don't find it at all plausible that a vanity plate could have incited such a cold killing (certainly nothing's impossible, but if that were the case, why did the killer not shoot her as well?). I personally don't think she's telling the full story, and I think Dick either knew his killer or knew someone who knew his killer. There was some discussion in another thread about Dick being possibly involved in drug dealing, which makes far more sense to me than a vendetta against the San Francisco 49ers.

And the actor does look very much like the composite sketch. It's eerie.

VikingsGal · 01-09-2009, 12:44 AM

I saw this one as well and I remember it from the first time around. I want to say that in no way WHATSOEVER am I blaming the victim but why oh why do poeple feel the need to confront others? Lord knows who has a gun or pipe or whatever. Just ignore them!!

"I'm going to teach him a lesson!" is what the woman in the segment said. Whatever lady, now your friend is dead.

Just drive to a police station or something similar. Don't go home - they'll follow you there.

wiseguy182 · 01-09-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VikingsGal

I saw this one as well and I remember it from the first time around. I want to say that in no way WHATSOEVER am I blaming the victim but why oh why do poeple feel the need to confront others? Lord knows who has a gun or pipe or whatever. Just ignore them!!

"I'm going to teach him a lesson!" is what the woman in the segment said. Whatever lady, now your friend is dead.

Just drive to a police station or something similar. Don't go home - they'll follow you there.

I agree. there was another UM segment that was devoted to road rage cases. Some people are much more apt to doing something nefarious when they're behind the wheel - they feel more in control when they're driving.

Fletch · 01-12-2009, 07:01 PM

Ok, I just saw this case for the first time the other day and seriously - how f'ing scary does it look the first time they show the guy sitting in the car behind them, just looking at the couple in their car? It's vintage scary as hell UM! The guy's face didn't look real - it almost looked like a paper mask or something....so creepy. If someone could get me a screen cap of that, that would be great.

08-13-2007, 09:00 AM	#1
MissKitka731 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 24, 2006 Location: N Posts: 19	Dick Hansen / David Merrifield Hansen was killed allegedly over his license plate that read '49rHugs' and Merrifield was the murdered lawyer. These cases always stuck with me. Any speculations on them? Have either ever been solved?

08-13-2007, 08:08 PM	#5
ZanzibarBlue ZanzibarBlue Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 03, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 95	Dick Hansen I had occasion to think of the Dick Hansen case this weekend. I finished playing golf at a public course w/ a friend. As we were talking by our cars, I noticed a black sedan pull into the lot and begin circling our parking aisle, w/ the driver looking directly at us w/ a blank stare each time he passed. After my friend got in his car, I noticed the sedan pull quickly around so it was directly behind my car. The car proceeded to follow me about 90% of the way home (w/ scores of intersections it was difficult to believe it was just a coincidence). I eventually lost him at a traffic light that was turning red. Although I'll never know if he was following me, it was an unsettling experience. It's cases like Dick Hansen's that make me wonder how many disturbed persons are out there simply riding around looking for opportunities to select random people to go after.

08-13-2007, 05:57 PM	#4
UMfan0682 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 11, 2004 Posts: 124	The Dick Hansen case was very sad. I had searched a few other threads and another poster had pointed out maybe the shooter was upset that the "49er Hugs" license plate was taken. The theory the police came up with that Hansen had the build of a football player and the killer assumed he was a member of the team makes the most sense. I was also thinking that maybe the two had met before, at a football game. They could have had an altercation at the game, then Dick could have just forgotten about it, not remembering the guy when he approached the car. It was nighttime, so perhaps he did not get a good look at his killer. Although, the way he confronted the guy right before he shot him leans me toward him not knowing his killer.

07-10-2008, 08:54 AM	#6
idol Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 280	It was 1:30 AM and IMO the killer was randomly riding around looking for someone regardless of the license plate. I'm sure the coward was intimated by Dick and was pointing out the license plate as a way of saying "I hate the Niners thats why I followed you" and than shot after Dick told him to get the blank out and rightfully so. One thing about this is the actor that played the killer looked just like the sketch of the killer.

07-10-2008, 12:57 PM	#7
synthisislab Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 552	Maybe he is a Raiders fan that was envious of the 49ers success. The Raiders are known for having mentally unstable fans. I doubt if he were a random thrill killer because he hasn't been linked to other murders through ballistics. Or maybe he tossed that gun and used another one, possible but I think highly unlikely. The David Merrifield case reminds me of another case where a real estate guy was meeting another guy to look at a house in a wealthy isolated neighborhood so the unidentified suspect could kill him. I don't think either will be solved since there are no solid clues or leads to go on in either case, unless the killers strike again and screw up.

07-10-2008, 09:48 PM	#8
DP1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 394	It's a shame cell phones were uncommon back then. She might have been able to call the police and have them chase that psycho off.

07-11-2008, 12:20 AM	#9
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,071	Yes, how many of these cases would never have happened in the cell phone era? Obviously the telephone booth abduction for starters.

07-11-2008, 11:22 PM	#10
DP1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 394	Right. Whenever I watch TV shows from the eighties or earlier that revolve around a car breaking down on the road, I have to remind myself that they didn't have cell phones back then.

01-08-2009, 07:07 PM	#11
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	When watching this one today, for the first time I thought, "What if this has nothing to do with Jane's 49er's plate? What if the killer is pointing in Jane's general direction, not just the back of her car?" The show said that Dick was recently divorced and he called "Jane" (not her real name) up to go out for drinks with him. Later, they were both followed by the crazy killer guy. When they pulled over to the side of the road, Dick walked back to the guy, to ask why he was following them or what he wanted or something like that. Then, the guy gestured toward Jane's vanity plate on her car, according to her. And she's the only one talking. What if the guy was pointing not at her car, but at Jane herself? What if he was saying, "WTF are you doing at the bar with my wife?" Or what if he said, "You want to know what I'm doing? Your ex-wife sent me because of her!" And then he points to Jane, and a few seconds later, bang bang bang. IMO, "Jane" wasn't shielding her identity from just the killer by going incogneto onscreen. She doesn't want to be connected to this case because she IS connected to this case.

01-09-2009, 12:44 AM	#13
VikingsGal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 202	I saw this one as well and I remember it from the first time around. I want to say that in no way WHATSOEVER am I blaming the victim but why oh why do poeple feel the need to confront others? Lord knows who has a gun or pipe or whatever. Just ignore them!! "I'm going to teach him a lesson!" is what the woman in the segment said. Whatever lady, now your friend is dead. Just drive to a police station or something similar. Don't go home - they'll follow you there.

01-12-2009, 07:01 PM	#15
Fletch Cabin fever Frequent Poster Join Date: May 10, 2002 Posts: 485	Ok, I just saw this case for the first time the other day and seriously - how f'ing scary does it look the first time they show the guy sitting in the car behind them, just looking at the couple in their car? It's vintage scary as hell UM! The guy's face didn't look real - it almost looked like a paper mask or something....so creepy. If someone could get me a screen cap of that, that would be great.