Brother found innocent but family didn't believe him - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Matt Brock · 01-13-2011, 04:25 PM

What was the name of the man who was thought to have perhaps set his family's trailer on fire killing his two sisters (or perhaps step sisters)?

He was found not guilty at trial but his parents did not believe him.

I remember him mom saying on the UM segment that they actually lost all of their children in the fire because they believed he did it. He denies having involvement in the fire.

Kane · 01-13-2011, 04:41 PM

Donald Hansen. He was the half-brother of the deceased twins.

RobinW · 01-13-2011, 05:26 PM

Yes, this is a case where the real unsolved mystery is not who committed the murders, but what the hell the jury was thinking when they found this guy innocent!

Of course, Donny Hansen can never be tried again for the murders, no matter how guilty he looks, but neighbours do claim they saw two unidentified men hanging around the trailer the night of the fire who may have been involved, so it's possible there is someone out there who could still be punished for what happened.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 01-14-2011, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinW

Yes, this is a case where the real unsolved mystery is not who committed the murders, but what the hell the jury was thinking when they found this guy innocent!

Of course, Donny Hansen can never be tried again for the murders, no matter how guilty he looks, but neighbours do claim they saw two unidentified men hanging around the trailer the night of the fire who may have been involved, so it's possible there is someone out there who could still be punished for what happened.

True on all counts, he should have been convicted and wasn't, and his father said "we lost three of our four children" from this, as Donny was certainly involved even if he didn't pull it off 100% by himself.

cocytus · 01-14-2011, 08:25 AM

Yes, the unsolved mystery in this case is why Donny Hansen isn't on death row. His story is so implausible that it makes you wonder if the jury actually considered the evidence presented against him. The prosecution should have definitely severed the trials against him as their "all or nothing" strategy seems to have cost them the case.

Kane · 01-14-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocytus

Yes, the unsolved mystery in this case is why Donny Hansen isn't on death row. His story is so implausible that it makes you wonder if the jury actually considered the evidence presented against him. The prosecution should have definitely severed the trials against him as their "all or nothing" strategy seems to have cost them the case.

Donny's story was so implausible and so filled with inconsistencies that I made the judgment that if Donny didn't kill his half-sisters then he knows who did. I just can't think of any genuinely innocent person who would tell a story like that.

Also, I don't believe Donny acted alone. Someone had to have helped him in the crime. The eyewitness account of two people fleeing the area doesn't automatically prove that theory, but it certainly gives some weight to it.

Matt Brock · 01-14-2011, 10:44 AM

Was there ever a theory on a motive? Do people theorize he was actually trying to kill them or was perhaps insurance involved? (This may have been covered in the UM segment but I can't remember.)

cocytus · 01-14-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Brock

Was there ever a theory on a motive? Do people theorize he was actually trying to kill them or was perhaps insurance involved? (This may have been covered in the UM segment but I can't remember.)

From watching the segment, they seem to dance around the problems that Donny had growing up and the the problems that the family had as a whole. From reading things and watching the segment, I get the impression that the Donny was a 'black sheep" and that he felt put down or left out of the family circle. You'll notice that he was sleeping on a couch rather than in a bedroom.

There may have also been an inheritance angle. Clearly Donny didn't intend for DONNY to die in the fire and he did intend for the twins to die as he shot them BEFORE setting the house on fire. Had the fire being set in a more efficient manner, no one but Donny would have survived, although the shotgun wounds would have been apparent to the medical examiner. This would have, at least initially, made Donny the sole heir to the estate.

Clearly Donny Hansen is a very disturbed man who got away w/ the murders of his sisters. He should be wise enough to keep a low profile for the rest of his life.

Matt Brock · 01-14-2011, 11:00 AM

That's right. I remember they were shot now. What a terrible tragedy.

SageSlowdive · 01-14-2011, 04:33 PM

He was so obviously guilty, it was mind bending. The jury must have went on there was no hard circumstantial evidence or something...who knows...

Clockworkhigh · 01-14-2011, 05:12 PM

The fact that his parents found things suspicious even during the frantic moments of putting out the fire tells you something. His father nearly tripping over the gas can, his mother witnessing him yelling at some people while the fire was going.

Parents are supposed to have unconditional love for their kids. Hence, you have to be a real dirtbag for your own parents to disown you, especially your mother.

TheCars1986 · 01-14-2011, 05:34 PM

I haven't watched the segment in awhile, but the last time I watched it I got the impression that he knew more than he was leading on. The fact that he was seen yelling out the door lead me to believe he was innocent of the actual murders, but he knew exactly who did it. I'll have to re-watch it again though.

Kane · 01-14-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocytus

Clearly Donny Hansen is a very disturbed man who got away w/ the murders of his sisters. He should be wise enough to keep a low profile for the rest of his life.

Unless, of course, he wants to commit a new crime, get convicted, and be sent to prison for sure, a la OJ Simpson.

XCalibur · 01-14-2011, 10:32 PM

Always thought this was one of the most tragic cases ever featured on Unsolved Mysteries. To not only lose two children but to believe a third killed them? You wonder how people bear this kind of hurt. The Hansen parents have to be extremely strong to not be total nut jobs now.

I've always wondered if there was any way despite the implausible story if Donnie was indeed innocent. I guess though you see it everyday its still inconceivable to me someone could burn their own family to death for money. It sounds like he just about has to know more about the murders than what he is telling but the fact that others witnessed two unidentified men at the scene has always been difficult to explain and was probably a lot of what led to his acquittal.

sharonite · 01-14-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XCalibur

Always thought this was one of the most tragic cases ever featured on Unsolved Mysteries. To not only lose two children but to believe a third killed them? You wonder how people bear this kind of hurt. The Hansen parents have to be extremely strong to not be total nut jobs now.

Agreed. This one is just gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking in every aspect imaginable. What makes it even worse is that one of the twins was actually expected to SURVIVE her gunshot injury, but died in the hospital from an extremely rare IV air embolism. The odds just seem so astounding that it makes me wonder if there's any way that "medical accident" could have been something other than an accident.

I don't like to play judge, jury, or hangman, but I feel strongly that if Donny Hansen didn't actually shoot his sisters and start the fire, then he knows who did...and he knows why.

01-13-2011, 04:25 PM	#1
Matt Brock Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 47	Brother found innocent but family didn't believe him What was the name of the man who was thought to have perhaps set his family's trailer on fire killing his two sisters (or perhaps step sisters)? He was found not guilty at trial but his parents did not believe him. I remember him mom saying on the UM segment that they actually lost all of their children in the fire because they believed he did it. He denies having involvement in the fire.

01-13-2011, 04:41 PM	#2
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	Donald Hansen. He was the half-brother of the deceased twins.

01-13-2011, 05:26 PM	#3
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	Yes, this is a case where the real unsolved mystery is not who committed the murders, but what the hell the jury was thinking when they found this guy innocent! Of course, Donny Hansen can never be tried again for the murders, no matter how guilty he looks, but neighbours do claim they saw two unidentified men hanging around the trailer the night of the fire who may have been involved, so it's possible there is someone out there who could still be punished for what happened.

01-14-2011, 08:25 AM	#5
cocytus Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 15, 2010 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 781	Yes, the unsolved mystery in this case is why Donny Hansen isn't on death row. His story is so implausible that it makes you wonder if the jury actually considered the evidence presented against him. The prosecution should have definitely severed the trials against him as their "all or nothing" strategy seems to have cost them the case.

01-14-2011, 10:44 AM	#7
Matt Brock Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 47	Was there ever a theory on a motive? Do people theorize he was actually trying to kill them or was perhaps insurance involved? (This may have been covered in the UM segment but I can't remember.)

01-14-2011, 11:00 AM	#9
Matt Brock Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 47	That's right. I remember they were shot now. What a terrible tragedy.

01-14-2011, 04:33 PM	#10
SageSlowdive the real hank queen Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2010 Posts: 659	He was so obviously guilty, it was mind bending. The jury must have went on there was no hard circumstantial evidence or something...who knows...

01-14-2011, 05:12 PM	#11
Clockworkhigh Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 29, 2009 Posts: 604	The fact that his parents found things suspicious even during the frantic moments of putting out the fire tells you something. His father nearly tripping over the gas can, his mother witnessing him yelling at some people while the fire was going. Parents are supposed to have unconditional love for their kids. Hence, you have to be a real dirtbag for your own parents to disown you, especially your mother.

01-14-2011, 05:34 PM	#12
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	I haven't watched the segment in awhile, but the last time I watched it I got the impression that he knew more than he was leading on. The fact that he was seen yelling out the door lead me to believe he was innocent of the actual murders, but he knew exactly who did it. I'll have to re-watch it again though.

01-14-2011, 10:32 PM	#14
XCalibur Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 16, 2010 Location: Belfast, Va Posts: 980	Always thought this was one of the most tragic cases ever featured on Unsolved Mysteries. To not only lose two children but to believe a third killed them? You wonder how people bear this kind of hurt. The Hansen parents have to be extremely strong to not be total nut jobs now. I've always wondered if there was any way despite the implausible story if Donnie was indeed innocent. I guess though you see it everyday its still inconceivable to me someone could burn their own family to death for money. It sounds like he just about has to know more about the murders than what he is telling but the fact that others witnessed two unidentified men at the scene has always been difficult to explain and was probably a lot of what led to his acquittal.