Robert Hansen Hunted 17 Women in the Alaska Woods, but Police Didn’t Even Know Most Were Missing. Here’s How the Serial Killer Was Finally Caught

Robert Hansen, an Anchorage serial killer infamous for hunting women in the Alaskan wilderness, was recently in the headlines. Known for his chilling 12-year killing spree between 1972 and 1983, Hansen was eventually captured and convicted for the murders of at least 17 women. Hansen, nick-named the “Butcher Baker”, was particularly adept at luring vulnerable victims, predominantly sex workers and teenagers, into remote locations where he would hunt, rape and kill them, often in the woods surrounding Anchorage. Despite his capture in 1983 and his subsequent confession to the murders, it took authorities over a decade to identify him as the perpetrator responsible for the disappearances of numerous local women. Critics argue that the delay in apprehending Hansen was partly due to the victims’ marginalized backgrounds and lack of familial support.

Born in 1939 and raised in Iowa, Hansen faced challenges growing up, including a stutter and acne, which led to feelings of frustration and isolation. Before his arrest in 1983, Hansen had a history of criminal activity, having been arrested multiple times for offences ranging from arson to kidnapping and rape. His murderous tendencies reportedly began in 1972, coinciding with criminal charges and arrests for various crimes. Despite being sentenced to prison time on several occasions, Hansen continued his violent activities, with his most heinous acts taking place during periods when he was supposed to be incarcerated. This pattern of criminal behaviour, coupled with his interest in hunting, flying small planes, and running a local bakery, allowed him to avoid suspicion for an extensive period.

Hansen’s modus operandi involved stalking, abducting, and murdering his victims, often leaving their bodies in remote locations. His first known victim, Celia van Zanten, was just 18 years old when she was abducted while walking to a supermarket. Hansen’s brutal killing spree went unchecked for years due to a lack of empathy towards the victims, many of whom were young runaways with troubled pasts. Additionally, Anchorage’s bustling environment during the 1970s, attributed to the development of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, provided a conducive setting for Hansen’s predatory activities. His manipulation of the community, police, and even his own family, contributed to a facade of normalcy that shielded his dark deeds from suspicion.

In 1983, Hansen’s reign of terror came to an end when he abducted 17-year-old Cindy Paulson, who managed to escape his clutches and provide critical evidence to authorities. This breakthrough led to a concentrated effort by law enforcement to investigate Hansen and eventually uncover incriminating evidence, including jewelry belonging to his victims. Despite initially denying his crimes, Hansen eventually confessed to the murders in a plea deal that saw him cooperating with investigators to locate the burial sites of his victims. Officially charged in 1983 for the murders of four women, Hansen’s body count later rose to a staggering 17 confirmed killings.

Following his guilty plea in 1984, Hansen was sentenced to 461 years in prison without the possibility of parole. His final years were spent behind bars, away from the wilderness he once roamed freely. Hansen’s death in 2014 marked the end of a dark chapter in Alaskan history, with many of his victims and their families finally receiving some semblance of closure. Despite his demise, the legacy of Robert Hansen, the “Butcher Baker”, continues to serve as a stark reminder of the evil that lurks beneath seemingly ordinary facades.