The Butcher Baker of Alaska
By: Josie Klakström
Tags: Sex Work, True Crime, Alaska, Murder, History

Flothe knew Robert Hansen was the man they were looking for. He had a plane, so he had access to the sites where the bodies were found. He had easy access to the victims because they were sex workers. He was a hunter, so he could track these women once they were let go and shoot them down. Finally, he had a criminal record of sexual assault and kidnapping. All the parts of the puzzle were there, and the State Troopers had all but to put it together.

Search warrants were requested for Hansen’s property, but the District Attorney denied the application, twice. Instead, Flothe contacted the FBI, in the hope of some assistance in the case.

The FBI

Flothe’s call was sent to the Behavioural Science Unit, and John Douglas was assigned to the case. Douglas is best known for his work depicted in the series Mindhunter with criminal profiling.

Douglas wasn’t told anything about the man they suspected but was given the information about the three recovered bodies. From here he created a criminal psychological profile of the man he believed was responsible for the murders.

He thought the killer would be around 40 years old and have low self-esteem due to a history of rejection. He would be an intelligent and well-respected member of the community he lived in. He would have been involved in shoplifting and arson at some point during his life. He would be an experienced hunter and would keep trophies from his victims.

Douglas’ profile described Robert Hansen perfectly, and along with Cindy’s testimony against Hansen, Flothe was able to secure a search warrant for his property, plane and car.

The search

On the 27th of October 1983, Flothe and his team searched Hansen’s property. His wife, Darla, his children and his mother were at the house when the cars and forensic units turned up. The family had no idea why the police were at the house and were shocked when they were told the reason.

Darla had stood by her husband when he was arrested for theft, and when he was imprisoned on rape charges. She believed she could save him with her faith and together they went to church. She had no idea that he had continued on his path of destruction, which had now amplified to murder.

However, their incomes were separate, with his money from his bakery on “his own needs” and hers from tutoring children going towards supporting their children and looking after the home. In reality, they led very independent lives and Darla had no idea what her husband was capable of.

The family left the home to let officers begin the search and it wasn’t long before they found the evidence they needed.

Behind the headboard of Robert and Darla’s bed, they found an aviation map that had been written on. The map of Anchorage had 24 crosses scribbled on it, and police quickly realised that four of the crosses were where bodies had been discovered.

Hansen’s kill map via lelandhale.com

Another officer headed into the attic, to see if he could find any more evidence. He pulled out insulation and Christmas decorations and looked in every corner of the dark space. He spent hours in the small area, but he eventually found what he thought he would.

There were multiple firearms hidden in the back of the attic, including the gun that Cindy described, and the same type used in the other murders. There was also a bag of jewellery.

Arrest

44-year-old Robert Hansen was arrested and charged with kidnapping, assault, theft, insurance fraud and weapon offences, bringing his nightmare reign to an end.

When questioned about the assaults, he didn’t deny being with the women, but he told police that it was all consensual and he didn’t rape them. He stated that the women were just enacting revenge, because they altered their prices after sex, and he wouldn’t pay. Flothe didn’t buy his story.

Once he was arrested, the friends who gave Hansen an alibi also came forward, to tell police that they had lied about seeing him that night. The evidence against Hansen was mounting and now he didn’t have an alibi for the night Cindy Paulson was abducted and attacked.

Forensics returned with a match between the crime scene bullets and Hansen’s rifle found at the blue house. Hansen and his lawyer began bargaining his plea deal. He agreed to plead guilty to the four murders of “Eklutna Annie”, Joanna Messina, Paula Goulding and Sherry Morrow and agreed to give investigators further information about the other victims, who were crosses on his aviation map.

Trial

On the 27th of February 1984, Robert Hansen was sentenced to 461 years plus life in prison, with no chance of parole, by a jury of his peers. He was transferred to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania but four years later he was returned to Alaska to the Spring Creek Correctional Center, where he remained.

Hansen died in Alaska Regional Hospital on the 21st of August 2014, due to natural causes. He was 75 years old.

The victims

Megan Emerick, aged 17, went missing on the 7th of July 1973. Hansen denied killing her but there was an “X” on his map where her body was eventually found.

Mary Thill, aged 22, went missing on the 5th July 1975. Again, Hansen denied killing her but there was an “X” on his map where her body was eventually found.

“Horseshoe Harriet”, aged 19–20, was found in April 1984. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

“Eklutna Annie”, aged 16–25, was found on the 21st July 1980.

Roxanne Eastland, aged 24, went missing on the 28th July 1980. Hansen confessed to killing her but her body wasn’t located.

Joanna Messina, aged 24, was found in July 1980.

Lisa Futrell, aged 41, went missing on the 6th September 1980. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

Sherry Morrow, aged 23, was found on the 12th September 1982.

Andrea Altiery, aged 22, went missing on the 2nd December 1981. Hansen confessed to killing her but her body wasn’t located.

Sue Luna, aged 23, went missing on the 26th May 1982. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

DeLynn Frey, aged 20, was found on the 20th August 1985, near the Knik River.

Paula Goulding, aged 17, was found on the 2nd September 1983.

Malai Larsen, aged 28, was found on the 24th April 1984. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

Teresa Watson was found on the 26th April 1984. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

Angela Feddern, aged 24, was found on the 26th April 1984. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

Tamera Pederson, aged 20, was found on the 29th April 1984. Hansen helped with the location of her body.

Celia Van Zanten, aged 17, was found on Christmas Day 1971. Hansen denied killing her.

Cindy Paulson, aged 17, went missing on 13th June 1983. She was found alive.

What happened to Cindy?

According to TheCinemaholic, Cindy Paulson and her friend were put in a safe house while Robert Hansen was still at large. When he was charged and sent to prison, Glenn Flothe and his wife took Cindy out for dinner to celebrate.

Cindy left Anchorage shortly after and went back to sex work. Although her whereabouts are now unknown, it’s believed that she still lives in Alaska with her husband and children.