How Did Robert Hans Became A Serial Killer

Aubry Henkes Kerry Neuberger Comp II March 5, 2024 Robert Hansen: The Story of Alaska’s Serial Killer There’s one thing that haunts the public all the time: serial killers. Not a lot of them become famous well-known names like John Wayne Gacy or Jeffrey Dahmer, but they’re still there. They’re still important to be aware of. Nobody ever thinks it’ll be something they deal with in their lifetime, but the people of Anchorage have something different coming for them. Robert Hansen - also known as the Butcher Baker - made Alaska his target throughout the seventies and eighties. How He Became a Serial Killer Born on February 15, 1939, Hansen was destined for a rough life. He was originally from Estherville, IA, where his father ran a bakery. His

Although on the outside, it looked like Hansen had it made, his mind was still filled with revenge from his childhood. While living in Pocahontas, he burned down a bus barn. He tried to convince his accomplice to deny it was them, but he caved, and Hansen was arrested. He was sentenced to three years, but he was released after only twenty months (Serena). While in jail, his wife filed for divorce. Since he got both divorced and fired — fired because the cops didn’t want a criminal working with them — Hansen reverted to stealing and was arrested multiple more times for minor offenses (SC 13). After a few years, Hansen decided to move to Alaska and start over. By this time, he already had a second wife. After moving to Alaska, he started his bakery, just like his father had. Immediately, he became a well-respected man throughout his city. He was known for giving free food to people who couldn’t afford anything, and would give some to the cops of Anchorage to protect the city. He later had two kids with his second wife and was known as “the perfect family man” (JW). He continued to hunt in his free time, specifically loving hunting both wolves and

The Murders of Anchorage Throughout about ten to twelve years, Robert Hansen went on a killing spree. He murdered between seventeen and twenty-one with an additional thirty or so rapes (Blanco). He knew exactly what he was doing, and the best way to do it. It took ten whole years worth of missing women for cops to begin to suspect that it was Hansen. Troubled and disliked, Hansen took up hunting at an early age (BE 2). He always got the thrill out of watching an animal’s life leave its eyes and knowing he did it. When hunting, his main target was wolves and caribou (“Serial Killer”). Eventually, he was tired of that and wanted a bigger challenge. He had read and loved the short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” so he decided to try something like that (Serena). Since so many women rejected him during his high school career, he chose them as his main target. In late December 1971, Hansen had his first victim. Ceilia “Beth” Van Zanten was the first to be killed in his brutal ways. His main target was sexual workers because they were easier to get and it’d take longer for people to notice if they went missing. He would act like he was hiring them so they’d go to his cabin. While there, he’d handcuff and tie them up before raping them. Afterward, he’d act like he was about to kill them. Soon after, he’d let them escape, running through the woods, still handcuffed and naked. They thought they had a chance to