Dick Hansen - saw this on Websleuths

[unsolvedmysteriesfan]

I'm quoting part of a thread I found at Websleuths.

RE: Dick Hansen Murder- A Little Help
Body:
Yes you can post what I told you. I just ask that if you hear anything interesting if you can let me know. It is an extremely interesting case because the facts surrounding the incident are so vague and seem almost "random." I saw the idea that maybe he was a Raider fan was floated on the website, I do not put any faith in that conclusion. I think in reality either that was a sick and crazy man or the murder had something to do with Dick's drug problem. Dick's parents are wealthy but I have never heard any illegal business dealings that would lead to a revenge killing.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ♥Lisa♥
Date: Nov 12, 2008 4:46 PM


hi. thank you for sharing this information with me! I am assuming you found my page through my post about this case on Websleuths. This case has always bothered me.... I understand your desire to stay anonymous. Would you mind if I copied your message to share with the Websleuths members to discuss. If you don't will understand. Let me know!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Jon
Date: Nov 12, 2008 12:25 AM


Hello,
I realize this sounds random but I do have some knowledge about the Dick Hansen murder. He was one of my Dad's best friends at Santa Clara so I know bits and pieces of the real story. First of all, the episode did not point out that Dick had in fact had a recurring drug problem (I was surprised the Detective did not mention it) and although some posts on the thread said he was mild tempered he had been a "hothead" in the past. My Dad told me a story in college where he had made fun of Dick and Dick got so mad that he threw a shotput ball right by my Dad's head. Not meaning to hit him but to scare him (obviously getting hit in the head with a shotput could be deadly). So the idea that this man could have had something to do with Dick and his drug problem is pretty likely. In addition, it seems odd the way the girlfriend handled the situation. She was actually not that cooperative to the detectives right after the crime and changed her story a few times. It is obviously a tragic story and I am sorry I cannot be much help to what you already know.
I would ask one thing of you, if you post any of the information I have mention can you please not include my name. Obviously I share the same name as my father and I would rather not drag him into this.
Hopefully I have been a little help.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sho....php?p=2933938

[MegtheEgg86]

Whoa! I'm surprised UM never mentioned the drug theory in either the segment or an update. Given that, the Hansen case makes much, much more sense than that "49R HUGS" deal (I never really bought that myself, even though UM was dead-set on presenting it that way).

I can see Dick Hansen being a "hothead", as it were. I clearly remember that piece of the interview where his date was describing the confrontation between Dick and the mysterious driver: "Get the blankety-blank outta here!" If some guy were driving like an absolute maniac and following me on the road, there's no freaking way I would've pulled over and then walked up to his door to cuss him out.

Interesting info! I still wonder why UM never mentioned any of this, though. That's one of my favorite segments.

[Necco]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

Interesting info! I still wonder why UM never mentioned any of this, though. That's one of my favorite segments.

Probably because 'crazy guy shoots dude over personalized license plate' is more dramatic than 'guy with drug and temper problem shot possibly by someone he knew'.

That is, assuming what showed up on websleuths is accurate.
-Necco

[crystaldawn]

If Dick was killed because of some sort of drug related conflict it would explain why his friend is so hesitant to be involved. If it were just random the chances would be slim this man (that she could of course identify) would be able to find her but if it was someone Dick knew and he possibly knew who she was also he would have a better chance of finding her and silencing her.

[kadrmas15]

Yeah, the way he was being chased tells me it was more than just some lunatic with anger over thinking he played for a football team he (the killer) did not like. Obviously Dick Hansen certainly didnt deserve to be murdered regardless of what he was into, but if drugs were in fact involved than this murder would make a lot more sense. Of course UM did do this on other occassions leaving out 'little' details like this to make the victim to seem more sympathetic.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

Yeah, the way he was being chased tells me it was more than just some lunatic with anger over thinking he played for a football team he (the killer) did not like. Obviously Dick Hansen certainly didnt deserve to be murdered regardless of what he was into, but if drugs were in fact involved than this murder would make a lot more sense. Of course UM did do this on other occassions leaving out 'little' details like this to make the victim to seem more sympathetic.

I think the fact that Hansen's company that evening (I believe UM referred to her as "Joan") wasn't harmed is pretty significant. If the killer was a deranged football fan, why did he not kill her as well? It was her license plate, after all. And by murdering Dick and just staring at her before driving away, the killer may have been sending her a very pointed message to keep quiet, lest she suffer a similar fate. If that's the case, it apparently worked.

[UMfan77]

I too think that Dick being involved with drugs caused his murder. Bad drug deals get people killed all the time, it's not an uncommon thing. I'm kind of peeved that UM didn't bother to mention Dick's drug habit. It's really unfortunate that his two young daughter's had to loose their father.

[LaToyaBoy]

This make SO much more sense that the stupid license plate theme that UM ran with.
The guy was a bit strange...like Meg has stated...who jumps out of their car to comfornt someone that was just chasing them on the highway?

Ummm....no thanks. The guy obviously has a couple of cups of crazy with extra powder.

And the girlfriend was a bit strange during the interview, I felt she held something back. She was obviously scared crapless...which it totally understandable.

[TheCars1986]

While I don't find it highly unlikely that someone would confront someone who was following them when they're pulled over (especially if that someone just left a bar), I do find it unlikely that the guy killed her because of a license plate. Kind of think the woman was grasping at straws for a motive and when the guy motioned to her car that's the only plausible thing that popped in her mind. The guy very well could have said, "Get back in your car and go buy some more drugs" or something that hit a nerve with Dick...it makes much more sense that this guy was hired to kill Dick because of some sort of drug situation.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Kind of think the woman was grasping at straws for a motive and when the guy motioned to her car that's the only plausible thing that popped in her mind.

I tend to think she's holding something back. The "deranged fan" theory was concocted by the investigating authorities, if my memory serves me correctly. If Hansen were in fact involved in drugs, she would've either known before she became involved with him or quickly figured it out during their apparent courtship; users/dealers are typically pretty bad at hiding what they do. I believe she may have been threatened (or, more likely, had at least a vague idea of who Dick's killer was), and chose to "play dumb" to preserve her own safety.

[TheCars1986]

But if it indeed were someone who was from Dick's dark past involving drugs, why on Earth would he have singled out Dick's lady friend? If he were deadset on killing Dick why did he not just do it when the two switched cars, and why didn't the guy follow Dick's pickup truck and not the lady? That's probably where the disgruntled sports fan theory came from...because it seems like Dick's friend "Jean" was the one whom the murderer had a problem with, not Dick.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

But if it indeed were someone who was from Dick's dark past involving drugs, why on Earth would he have singled out Dick's lady friend?

Intimidation, an element central to most drug-related crimes. Scare her to hell, kill Dick, shut her up. If she wasn't able to see what the criminal party was capable of, she may have been more receptive to speaking to police. I'm of the opinion Dick's killer wanted "Jean" to know exactly who he was, or who he worked for.

[TheCars1986]

But all of this involving Dick's past with drugs, and "Jean's" uncooperativnesss with authorities is pure speculation based off of an internet post of someone who claims his father went to school with Dick. Now I doubt the guy would have a reason to lie, but the part about "Jean" not cooperating with authorities and changing her story is most likely pure speculation around the community that Dick lived in. Also I just rewatched this segment and the police said that a murder is usually either over sex, drugs, or money, and they investigated every single lead and couldn't connect anything to the Dick Hansen murder. So perhaps Dick did have a past with drugs, but the police investigated that angle and ruled out that connection. It amazes me how so many people find law enforcement incompetent or insensitive to evidence in almost every single case that aired on UM that was a questionnable death...I know that didn't happen in this instance, but it still seems like a hell of a lot of police departments were involved in covering up murders of unsuspecting people who led unsuspecting lives.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Also I just rewatched this segment and the police said that a murder is usually either over sex, drugs, or money, and they investigated every single lead and couldn't connect anything to the Dick Hansen murder. So perhaps Dick did have a past with drugs, but the police investigated that angle and ruled out that connection. It amazes me how so many people find law enforcement incompetent or insensitive to evidence in almost every single case that aired on UM that was a questionnable death...I know that didn't happen in this instance, but it still seems like a hell of a lot of police departments were involved in covering up murders of unsuspecting people who led unsuspecting lives.

I simply don't buy the license plate theory and find the drugs explanation far more plausible. Certainly it's speculation, but that's about all I can do: speculate.

I greatly respect law enforcement and find that far more often than not, they do outstanding investigative work. But they do falter occasionally; they're human beings and fall prey to every vice "average" citizenry is susceptible to. For this reason, I do not take everything an agency representative may say as "law" merely because they are an agency representative. I can't accept the license plate theory. Didn't when I first saw the segment years ago, and still don't today.

[TheCars1986]

It is highly unlikely that the guy was after her because of her license plate, I agree with you on that. I think the guy was after "Jean" originally though and Dick said something to set him off. The only other thing I can think of was the guy was either on drugs or drunk which is why after he shot Dick he kind of coldly lingered around on the scene. Or he was a cold hearted son of a bitch and was taunting "Jean". I would like to know what elements of her story were allegedly changed when she was talking to authorities. If "Jean" did know Dick's attacker and feared she would be harmed or killed why would she come forward with a composite drawing of the man? If the man was hired to kill Dick he found him easy enough what's not to say that he would find "Jean" and kill her as well for talking?