Danielle Houchins

Danielle Adeline Houchins ,Danni, was a 15-year-old girl from Belgrade, Montana, who was initially reported missing from the Cameron Bridge Fishing Access on September 21, 1996. Later that evening, family friends discovered her body in a marshy area near the parking area. In 2021 KBZK released a documentary about Danielle's murder, which included information not previously released to the public. As of 2022, Danielle's murder remains unsolved.
==Background==
Born in Alexandria, Minnesota., on November 11, 1980, Danielle's family moved to Belgrade, Montana, in 1994. The eldest of Sheryl and Rex Houchins' three children, along with younger brothers Jake and Stephanie. Danielle was involved in outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, river rafting, and skiing. Danielle was known for her verbal acuity and her sense of humor. In addition, she was involved in the Belgrade High School community and student ministry. An excellent student, Danielle wanted to become a biological engineer.
==Disappearance==
On September 21, 1996, at around 11:30 am, Danielle left her home in Belgrade, Montana, to make a short trip to Cameron Bridge Fishing Access area after a fight with her parents to clear her head. Her mother expected her to return home around 2:00 pm to attend the Belgrade Fall Festival. She gave Danielle her watch to ensure she would be back on time. When she didn't return, her mother and a friend went to Cameron Bridge Fish Access to search for her. They discovered an unlocked truck in the parking lot, and close by, on a trail, they found her water bottle and keys. Concerned, the family searched the area for some time before engaging the Gallatin county sheriff's office. Search and Rescue began operations quickly. Their search started at Cameron Bridge Road and proceeded south towards the last known location, the parking area.
In the meantime, friends and family searched in and around Belgrade - the Belgrade Fall Festival, the Belgrade High School, and neighborhood businesses. Search and Rescue operations at Cameron Bridge Fishing Access were put on hold for the evening at around 8:00 pm because of concerns for searcher safety in the dark as dusk fell.
After Search and Rescue had left, family friends continued the search in the dark. At around 10:00 pm, about 200 yards from the parking lot, in a marshy area, they found her dead. Danielle's father was making a final check-in at the Cameron Bridge Fish Access on his way home from the Bozeman Hot Springs. When he arrived, he was told that Danielle's body had been discovered. 
==Investigation==
Initially, based on the location, the absence of any injuries like cuts or bruises, and the lack of any apparent criminal activity at the time, police concluded that Danielle had most likely accidentally drowned. Police requested that anyone who may have interacted with Danielle between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm make contact with investigators.
On September 23, 1996, an autopsy (examination number 96-09-13) was performed at the state crime lab in Missoula, Montana. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was drowning, the manner of death was undetermined. No drugs or alcohol were present in the toxicology report. 
According to a story published in the Bozeman Chronicle on October 5, 1996, police had interviewed 100 persons and assigned four full-time detectives to the investigation. Police stated that it was unclear from the evidence whether the death was an accidental drowning or murder. Due to a knee injury, Danielle was wearing a flexible knee brace investigator at the time speculated she may have fallen face-down and been unable to get up. However, detectives were treating the drowning as a homicide.
==Subsequent developments==
In 2020 investigators informed the family of details that had been withheld since the beginning of the investigation. Danielle's sandal had been discovered close to her body in the marshy area, which provides more evidence that she may have fled from an assailant. Danielle had been dragged to the scene where her body was eventually found. There had been indications of sexual assault, and the killer had forced her head underwater until she drowned. There were scratches on her face, possibly from attempts to remove the murders hands from her head. High on her outstretched wrist was the watch her mother had lent her to make sure she would be back home on time. Danielle's shirt and bra were pulled up to her neck, and she was covered in mud. Hairs found on her underwear were inconsistent with her hair and likely shed from the killer. Police have submitted the hair to a 3rd party lab for analysis. 
==Media==
Danielle's murder was the subject of a KBZK documentary in 2021 that featured information that had not previously been made available to the public. The family and police hope the ongoing media coverage may provide fresh clues for their inquiry. If you have ANY information about Danielle’s case, contact the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.
Category:1980 births
Category:Murder in 1996
Category:1996 murders in the United States