Revisiting the Hansen murders - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Todd Mueller · 03-15-2008, 08:14 PM

Okay... Let's talk about the Hansen murders. This is the case where the twin girls, Julie and Jill Hansen, were shot and the mobile home they were in with their parents and step-brother was set on fire. One of the twins died that night, the other died later in the hospital. The step-brother was suspected and tried, but was found not guilty.

I realize this has been discussed here a lot, but with many new members joining us, I figured I would bring it up again.

First off, I feel Donnie Hansen is guilty as sin. He is, in my opinion, quite possibly the most guilty person ever featured on UM who never went to prison.

Here are the points I want to make:

- Donnie obtained the gun that was used, bought the gas that was used that week, bought the ammunition that was used the day before

- Donnie came back in the middle of the night "to feed his dog" and then later admitted it was to move the gun

- Donnie slept through multiple shotgun blasts going off in the middle of the night (shots that would be right next to his head)

- Donnie failed two polygraph tests

- Donnie's story changed multiple times

- Donnie's defense is that unknown intruders did it. The intruders who, as Robert Stack said, came with NO materials to commit the crime (they got the gas, gun, and ammo from the scene) and entered with "motive and intent unknown" (there was nothing stolen and they shot the girls and set the place on fire but didn't touch Donnie who was sleeping on the couch).

Need I say more?

Here's the part that really bugs me though. One of the twins survived the shotgun blast and the fire only to die in a "freak medical accident" where an air bubble got into her I.V. tube. She was doing very well in her recovery and then drops dead out of the blue.

I say, "WTF?" Isn't it a little odd that someone survives a shotgun blast and a fire only to die from an air bubble? I have to wonder if someone else didn't stick her tube with an empty syringe to try and finish off the job. If she could identify Donnie (or he thought she could) wouldn't that be "worth" murdering her? What if Donnie had accomplices?

I think of everything in that story, that bothered me the most. I think there is definitely a connection between the original act and the other twin dying in the hospital.

To me, this case is like the O.J. case. No point in looking for the "real killers" because the real killer was found not guilty.

What do you guys think?

angelina26 · 03-15-2008, 08:21 PM

I gotta rewatch this one...because I think that dweeb brother, or was it stepbrother did it....what a geek...

charmedsignora · 03-16-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Mueller

Okay... Let's talk about the Hansen murders. This is the case where the twin girls, Julie and Jill Hansen, were shot and the mobile home they were in with their parents and step-brother was set on fire. One of the twins died that night, the other died later in the hospital. The step-brother was suspected and tried, but was found not guilty.

I realize this has been discussed here a lot, but with many new members joining us, I figured I would bring it up again.

First off, I feel Donnie Hansen is guilty as sin. He is, in my opinion, quite possibly the most guilty person ever featured on UM who never went to prison.

Here are the points I want to make:

- Donnie obtained the gun that was used, bought the gas that was used that week, bought the ammunition that was used the day before

- Donnie came back in the middle of the night "to feed his dog" and then later admitted it was to move the gun

- Donnie slept through multiple shotgun blasts going off in the middle of the night (shots that would be right next to his head)

- Donnie failed two polygraph tests

- Donnie's story changed multiple times

- Donnie's defense is that unknown intruders did it. The intruders who, as Robert Stack said, came with NO materials to commit the crime (they got the gas, gun, and ammo from the scene) and entered with "motive and intent unknown" (there was nothing stolen and they shot the girls and set the place on fire but didn't touch Donnie who was sleeping on the couch).

Need I say more?

Here's the part that really bugs me though. One of the twins survived the shotgun blast and the fire only to die in a "freak medical accident" where an air bubble got into her I.V. tube. She was doing very well in her recovery and then drops dead out of the blue.

I say, "WTF?" Isn't it a little odd that someone survives a shotgun blast and a fire only to die from an air bubble? I have to wonder if someone else didn't stick her tube with an empty syringe to try and finish off the job. If she could identify Donnie (or he thought she could) wouldn't that be "worth" murdering her? What if Donnie had accomplices?

I think of everything in that story, that bothered me the most. I think there is definitely a connection between the original act and the other twin dying in the hospital.

To me, this case is like the O.J. case. No point in looking for the "real killers" because the real killer was found not guilty.

What do you guys think?

You know, I never really thought about that before.

I know that the first time the other twin was interviewed, she said that she had seen Donnie in the flash as the gun was fired at her. But the second time she was interviewed, she changed her story. She claimed she couldn't remember, or hadn't seen, anybody in the flash as the gun was fired.

What if Donnie had gotten to her to prevent her from testifying against him in court or something? Like I said, I never thought about this before, but it's a distinct possibility.

SP4CE INV4DERZ · 03-16-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Mueller

- Donnie came back in the middle of the night "to feed his dog" and then later admitted it was to move the gun

Well my thoughts a many others have already been talked about on here many times before. In short I'll say to the above quote; this was before anyone knew it was the murder weapon. This fact alone is enough to go beyond that reasonable doubt thing and send him to prison. Even my bestie Kadrmas thought this guy should be behind bars, so that's saying something! It's "ludicrous".

Todd Mueller · 03-16-2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space Invaderz

Even my bestie Kadrmas thought this guy should be behind bars, so that's saying something!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space Invaderz

It's "ludicrous".

Thinman · 03-17-2008, 08:44 AM

[QUOTE=Space Invaderz] Even my bestie Kadrmas thought this guy should be behind bars, so that's saying something! [QUOTE]

Now, if Awsi Dooger came over and said he was guilty, we would have the guiltiest, most gas chamber worthy criminal in history.

mozartpc27 · 03-17-2008, 10:24 AM

I can't believe some of the people on this board. Just because he owned the murder weapon, tried to hide the murder weapon before anyone else knew that it was the murder weapon, bought the gasoline and gas can that was used to start the fire, bought the ammunition, failed two polygrpahs, and changed his story once or twice, you people are ready to ignore a jury's legally rendered verdict.

Well, let me be the one to say that DONNIE HANSEN IS AS INNOCENT AS A NEWBORN PUP. I myself have often gone back to properties abandoned by my parents in the dead of night to feed pets I forgot to bring with me to my new location. What's so odd about that? And failing a polygraph? From what I hear, Donnie Hansen barely passed algebra! What do you expect?

And so on and so forth.

Really, it's been awhile since I saw this segment --- how DID the jury fail to convict Donnie Hansen of these murders?

Drakken · 03-18-2008, 11:52 AM

Well, juries are composed of people. So if one people can be a dumbass, imagine 12 dumbasses sitting together in a room.

kadrmas15 · 04-08-2008, 12:30 AM

Well, I wouldnt say the jury was a bunch of "dumbasses" because they acquitted Hansen. It was the wrong verdict. However it is what it is. Had Donny been tried by a northern California jury he would have been convicted. I believe Donny's trial was moved over 200 miles south down to Alameda County, California (Oakland). So the trial was moved from a more rural area to a large urban area that is probably much more skeptical of law enforcement. It does surprise me though that Donny was acquitted in Alameda county at the same time though because that county has the largest number of death penalty case convictions in California.

Now I am pro-defense but Donny Hansen makes Jule Caylor look innocent. It is sad. Honestly, I am sort of at a loss for how the jury couldnt convict Donny. The only real reason I can think of for why the jury acquitted was that Julie Hansen had said to her doctor that she hadnt seen the person who shot at her. Also, the neighbors who saw the two unidentified people running from the Hansen trailer while it was on fire but allegedly before law enforcement and fire fighting personell arrived.

The prosecutor, while arrogant, did have a strong case. I have a feeling if this case were tried today instead of 1988, a different verdict would have resulted. Until recently, eyewitness testimony was a huge factor in cases. So when there were no eyewitnesses that saw Donny shooting the gun and when the neighbors saw two unidentified men running from the Hansen trailer they took this heavily into account. I believe the neighbors were either mistaken or they might have seen Donny's accomplices. Even if they were correct it doesnt prove Donny didnt do it, it just proves that there were other people involved. Julie changed her story and said she saw Donny's face in the flash but she died in the mysterious medical accident three weeks after the fire. Donny didnt kill her. At least not him personally as he was already in police custody when Julie passed away.

The gun, the ammunition, the gasoline, all of this stuff had either been purchased by or was in the possession of Donny Hansen on the night of the murders. I have believed some far fetched defenses but this one was just too far fetched. Donny Hansen claimed that for some unknown reason he was trying to break into his shed to "feed his dog" when in fact he knew the dog was not at the home and that he was in fact going into the shed to get the gun. Now, why be moving the gun? The cops might have never even found the gun had Donny been careful. But he panicked. Now why move the gun? Donny lying about why he was at the shed in the first place didnt help his case.

Then Donny claims that he left the jug full of gas, the shotgun and the ammo all in his car and that mysterious intruders for unknown reasons somehow stumbled upon this stuff, broke into the Hansen trailer, walked past a sleeping Donny Hansen on his living room sofa, while they doused the trailer with gasoline and then shot the twin sisters. It is possible that Donny did have accomplices. However it makes me wonder if he had accomplices, why didnt he rat them out when he was arrested? Donny wasnt an experienced criminal. He was a 21 year old kid that did this thing incredibly sloppy yet still walked.

Whether or not he had accomplices, I feel that Donny intended on murdering his entire family and staging it as a home invasion by random intruders. However for what ever reason things went sour. Donny's parents woke up unexpectedly. The parents slept through the gun shots but woke up when the trailer was on fire. Donny admitted to being awakened by the shot but then after his acquittal changed his story and claims he never heard it. Yet another lie by Hansen that he was caught in.

Donny screaming "get out of here" could have been one of three possibilities. Either he was yelling at the unknown intruders "get out of here". Or he was yelling to his accomplices when things started going sour to "get out of here" thinking his parents would burn up in the fire. Or he was yelling "get out of here" to no one at all but rather as part of a pre-planned alabi so that he could then claim he was yelling at the made-up unknown intruders.

03-15-2008, 08:14 PM	#1
Todd Mueller Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 1,626	Revisiting the Hansen murders Okay... Let's talk about the Hansen murders. This is the case where the twin girls, Julie and Jill Hansen, were shot and the mobile home they were in with their parents and step-brother was set on fire. One of the twins died that night, the other died later in the hospital. The step-brother was suspected and tried, but was found not guilty. I realize this has been discussed here a lot, but with many new members joining us, I figured I would bring it up again. First off, I feel Donnie Hansen is guilty as sin. He is, in my opinion, quite possibly the most guilty person ever featured on UM who never went to prison. Here are the points I want to make: - Donnie obtained the gun that was used, bought the gas that was used that week, bought the ammunition that was used the day before - Donnie came back in the middle of the night "to feed his dog" and then later admitted it was to move the gun - Donnie slept through multiple shotgun blasts going off in the middle of the night (shots that would be right next to his head) - Donnie failed two polygraph tests - Donnie's story changed multiple times - Donnie's defense is that unknown intruders did it. The intruders who, as Robert Stack said, came with NO materials to commit the crime (they got the gas, gun, and ammo from the scene) and entered with "motive and intent unknown" (there was nothing stolen and they shot the girls and set the place on fire but didn't touch Donnie who was sleeping on the couch). Need I say more? Here's the part that *really* bugs me though. One of the twins survived the shotgun blast and the fire only to die in a "freak medical accident" where an air bubble got into her I.V. tube. She was doing very well in her recovery and then drops dead out of the blue. I say, "WTF?" Isn't it a little odd that someone survives a shotgun blast and a fire only to die from an air bubble? I have to wonder if someone else didn't stick her tube with an empty syringe to try and finish off the job. If she could identify Donnie (or he thought she could) wouldn't that be "worth" murdering her? What if Donnie had accomplices? I think of everything in that story, that bothered me the most. I think there is definitely a connection between the original act and the other twin dying in the hospital. To me, this case is like the O.J. case. No point in looking for the "real killers" because the real killer was found not guilty. What do you guys think?

03-17-2008, 10:24 AM	#7
mozartpc27 Vigilante Logician Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 926	I can't believe some of the people on this board. Just because he owned the murder weapon, tried to hide the murder weapon before anyone else knew that it was the murder weapon, bought the gasoline and gas can that was used to start the fire, bought the ammunition, failed two polygrpahs, and changed his story once or twice, you people are ready to ignore a jury's legally rendered verdict. Well, let me be the one to say that DONNIE HANSEN IS AS INNOCENT AS A NEWBORN PUP. I myself have often gone back to properties abandoned by my parents in the dead of night to feed pets I forgot to bring with me to my new location. What's so odd about that? And failing a polygraph? From what I hear, Donnie Hansen barely passed algebra! What do you expect? And so on and so forth. Really, it's been awhile since I saw this segment --- how DID the jury fail to convict Donnie Hansen of these murders?
	__________________ "You can't say the words that the rock makes you feel like." - Patty Johnson

03-15-2008, 08:21 PM	#2
angelina26 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: rochester Posts: 29	I gotta rewatch this one...because I think that dweeb brother, or was it stepbrother did it....what a geek...

03-17-2008, 08:44 AM	#6
Thinman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 08, 2005 Posts: 182	[QUOTE=Space Invaderz] Even my bestie Kadrmas thought this guy should be behind bars, so that's saying something! [QUOTE] Now, if Awsi Dooger came over and said he was guilty, we would have the guiltiest, most gas chamber worthy criminal in history.

03-18-2008, 11:52 AM	#8
Drakken Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 21, 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 364	Well, juries are composed of people. So if one people can be a dumbass, imagine 12 dumbasses sitting together in a room.

04-08-2008, 12:30 AM	#9
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Well, I wouldnt say the jury was a bunch of "dumbasses" because they acquitted Hansen. It was the wrong verdict. However it is what it is. Had Donny been tried by a northern California jury he would have been convicted. I believe Donny's trial was moved over 200 miles south down to Alameda County, California (Oakland). So the trial was moved from a more rural area to a large urban area that is probably much more skeptical of law enforcement. It does surprise me though that Donny was acquitted in Alameda county at the same time though because that county has the largest number of death penalty case convictions in California. Now I am pro-defense but Donny Hansen makes Jule Caylor look innocent. It is sad. Honestly, I am sort of at a loss for how the jury couldnt convict Donny. The only real reason I can think of for why the jury acquitted was that Julie Hansen had said to her doctor that she hadnt seen the person who shot at her. Also, the neighbors who saw the two unidentified people running from the Hansen trailer while it was on fire but allegedly before law enforcement and fire fighting personell arrived. The prosecutor, while arrogant, did have a strong case. I have a feeling if this case were tried today instead of 1988, a different verdict would have resulted. Until recently, eyewitness testimony was a huge factor in cases. So when there were no eyewitnesses that saw Donny shooting the gun and when the neighbors saw two unidentified men running from the Hansen trailer they took this heavily into account. I believe the neighbors were either mistaken or they might have seen Donny's accomplices. Even if they were correct it doesnt prove Donny didnt do it, it just proves that there were other people involved. Julie changed her story and said she saw Donny's face in the flash but she died in the mysterious medical accident three weeks after the fire. Donny didnt kill her. At least not him personally as he was already in police custody when Julie passed away. The gun, the ammunition, the gasoline, all of this stuff had either been purchased by or was in the possession of Donny Hansen on the night of the murders. I have believed some far fetched defenses but this one was just too far fetched. Donny Hansen claimed that for some unknown reason he was trying to break into his shed to "feed his dog" when in fact he knew the dog was not at the home and that he was in fact going into the shed to get the gun. Now, why be moving the gun? The cops might have never even found the gun had Donny been careful. But he panicked. Now why move the gun? Donny lying about why he was at the shed in the first place didnt help his case. Then Donny claims that he left the jug full of gas, the shotgun and the ammo all in his car and that mysterious intruders for unknown reasons somehow stumbled upon this stuff, broke into the Hansen trailer, walked past a sleeping Donny Hansen on his living room sofa, while they doused the trailer with gasoline and then shot the twin sisters. It is possible that Donny did have accomplices. However it makes me wonder if he had accomplices, why didnt he rat them out when he was arrested? Donny wasnt an experienced criminal. He was a 21 year old kid that did this thing incredibly sloppy yet still walked. Whether or not he had accomplices, I feel that Donny intended on murdering his entire family and staging it as a home invasion by random intruders. However for what ever reason things went sour. Donny's parents woke up unexpectedly. The parents slept through the gun shots but woke up when the trailer was on fire. Donny admitted to being awakened by the shot but then after his acquittal changed his story and claims he never heard it. Yet another lie by Hansen that he was caught in. Donny screaming "get out of here" could have been one of three possibilities. Either he was yelling at the unknown intruders "get out of here". Or he was yelling to his accomplices when things started going sour to "get out of here" thinking his parents would burn up in the fire. Or he was yelling "get out of here" to no one at all but rather as part of a pre-planned alabi so that he could then claim he was yelling at the made-up unknown intruders.