True Crime

Case #4: Murdered, Jill & Julie Hansen

In 1971 Hans and Betty Hansen moved into Willow Creek, California, 250 miles north of San Francisco. Hans operated a logging supply business in the warehouse next to the couple's trailer. The Hansens would later have four children Donny, Becky, and twins Jill and Julie. The couple had a perfect life together, until the night of November 14, 1986. At around 11 pm the two 16-year-old twins were preparing for bed in their room. 21-year-old Donny visiting from Fortuna was preparing for bed on the living room couch. At around 3:30 am Betty awoke to the smell of smoke she then woke up her husband who tried to put out the fire as Betty went to warn the children. The first person she came across was Donny "...he was standing at the end of the couch, where I think he slept that night and he didn't see me. And he's screaming in a horrible voice, he's screaming get out of here, real loud and running, chasing. And so right away I was afraid for him, what was happening, who he was chasing out." Betty ran out to the warehouse where several fire extinguishers were stored along with a ladder. Betty then jammed the latter right into the twin's room but it was completely covered in flames and she spotted no one in there. 15 minutes later the fire department would arrive. The twins were still unaccounted for. A few minutes later a neighbor noticed a crumpled figure in a lot across the street. It was Julie, she was nearly dead bleeding from a gaping wound in her stomach. Donny then claimed he was the one to pull Julie from the fire this discrepancy was overshadowed by the concern for Julie. She was immediately rushed with the wound being thought to be caused by a fire-related explosion. However, during her surgery doctors soon discovered that this was not the case instead Julie was shot at point-blank range. Daylight soon brought more unbearable news to the family as Jill's body would be discovered in the rubble also having been shot by a shotgun. Unable to escaped Jill perished in the fire. Authorities soon recovered three shotgun shells and a five-gallon gas can from the ashes of what used to be the Hansen's trailer. Immediately the entire Hansen property was blocked off and kept under 24/7 observation. When searching the untouched warehouse authorities would find the shotgun that ballistics would reveal was used to shoot Jill and Julie. Two days after the fire Donny was caught trying to break into the warehouse. When questioned he claimed he came to feed the family dog however the family dog had been with a neighbor since the fire. When looking further into Donny it was revealed that Donny had borrowed the shotgun from a friend just three days before the fire. He bought the ammunition on the very night Jill and Julie were shot. After a deep search into his credit card history a purchase for five gallons of gas that witnesses claimed the container matched the one found in the ashes. The only person who could prove or disprove this theory is Julie. After two weeks she recovered enough to recall not seeing anyone before being shot. However, a later flashback would bring the memory of seeing Donny's face before the deafening shot rang out. Donny would then voluntarily go in for questioning only to leave the station in handcuffs facing arson and murder charges. Sadly the Hansen's nightmare was far from over as on December 19th, 1987 Julie would die in a freak medical accident. An air bubble entered her bloodstream through an intravenous tube stopping her heart. In April of 1988, Donny would go on trial for the murders of his half-sisters. Despite the evidence against him that was deemed circumstantial Donny maintained his innocence and was acquitted of all crimes. To this day the mystery of who wanted these two beautiful teens dead and why has yet to be answered. "You go on but life is never the same. And you can build a new house or buy a new car, but you can't... bring back the girls. And all we have left is memories. And it's really rough." Betty Hansen.