Anchorage, Alaska – Robert Hansen, a notorious American serial killer, terrorized the state of Alaska from 1972 to 1983. During this time, he kidnapped, raped, and murdered at least seventeen women, leaving a trail of fear and devastation in his wake.
Born in 1939 in Estherville, Iowa, Hansen’s upbringing was marked by a domineering father and personal struggles with speech impediments and severe acne. His interest in hunting and tracking eventually turned sinister as he used these skills to aid in his criminal activities.
Hansen’s first known victim, a topless dancer or prostitute, was murdered in the 1970s. Despite the discovery of her body in 1980, her identity remains unknown, highlighting the long-lasting impact of Hansen’s crimes on his victims’ families.
The severity of Hansen’s crimes became apparent when it was revealed that he assaulted 30 women in addition to the murders. His modus operandi involved offering women money, coercing them at gunpoint, and then subjecting them to horrific acts of violence. After brutalizing his victims, he would take them to isolated areas, release them as prey, and then hunt and kill them.
Hansen’s reign of terror finally came to an end in 1983 when he abducted a teenage sex worker, triggering his arrest. Investigators uncovered a soundproof room in his home, the murder weapon, and jewelry belonging to his victims. Dubbed the “Butcher Baker,” Hansen cited a lifetime of rejection and insecurity stemming from his appearance as the justification for his heinous crimes, a chilling insight into the mind of a serial killer.
Despite initially pleading guilty to four murders, Hansen later admitted to killing 17 women. In 1984, he was sentenced to 461 years in prison plus life without parole. He also agreed to assist in the recovery of his victims’ bodies, leading to the discovery of 12. Hansen ultimately died of natural causes in prison in August 2014, leaving a legacy of fear and tragedy in his wake.
The haunting tale of Robert Hansen serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of his crimes on the lives of his victims, their families, and the community as a whole.