Coffee, Murder, & Mystery · Dark and Ominous Entertainment

The Butcher Baker AKA Robert Hansen

September 16, 2025·33 min·2 clips

Six months out of five years for rape and kidnapping—the system's catastrophic failure.

This episode details the crimes of serial killer Robert Hansen, who operated in Alaska during the 1970s and 80s. Hosts Melissa, Mandy, and Kelly of "Coffee, Murder, & Mystery" examine his life and the systemic failures that allowed his violence to continue. The hosts are true crime podcasters recently recognized by Feedspot in their top 15 crime history podcasts. Robert Hansen grew up in Iowa with a domineering father, a stutter, and severe acne that scarred his face. His criminal history began with arson in 1960, for which he served 20 months and received diagnoses of manic depression and schizophrenia. After moving to Anchorage, he became a respected baker and skilled hunter while secretly attacking women. He was arrested in 1971 for the abduction and attempted rape of a housewife and the rape of a sex worker, but served only six months of a five-year sentence. Law enforcement believes he began killing women in 1971, with his first suspected murder victim being 18-year-old Celia Van Zanten. Hansen would abduct women, often sex workers, by offering money for sex or rides before raping and murdering them. He sometimes released victims into the wilderness to hunt them with firearms or knives. In 1976, he received a five-year sentence for stealing a chainsaw, but the Alaska Supreme Court released him early. His capture began in June 1983 when 17-year-old Cindy Paulson escaped his custody, providing police with detailed descriptions of his home and leaving her sneakers in his car as evidence. Despite her account, a friend provided Hansen an alibi and he was initially released. A break came when hunters found a body in the Knik River Valley in 1982, leading Sergeant Raleigh Port to discover a .223 caliber shell casing. Detective Glenn Floth later connected multiple murders and worked with FBI Agent John E. Douglas, who created a profile describing the killer as an experienced hunter with a stutter and low self-esteem. A search of Hansen's property in October 1983 revealed victim's jewelry, guns matching bullet evidence, and an aeronautical chart marked with 37 X's corresponding to body dump sites. Hansen eventually confessed to raping over 30 women and killing at least 17, with victims ranging from 16 to 41 years old. One surprising insight is that FBI profiler John Douglas correctly deduced the killer had a stutter, a detail Hansen had struggled with since childhood. The hosts express shock that Hansen's wife, Darla, knew he paid for sex workers but lived separately from him, staying until his sentencing before divorcing him. The episode highlights the tragic failure of the justice system, noting Hansen's repeated early releases despite a violent history. It reveals that some victims, like "Horseshoe Harriet," identified in 2021 as Robin Pelkey, were never reported missing. The tone is conversational and critical, blending factual narration with the hosts' reactions of disbelief and frustration at institutional failures. The style is educational but informal, featuring direct commentary on the case's details and broader systemic issues. True crime listeners interested in serial killer psychology and historical investigative methods will find this episode compelling. Those sensitive to descriptions of violence against women or frustrated by stories of judicial incompetence may want to skip it.

As heard by us

A grim Alaska case told with enough care to make the pressure and chaos land.

Robert Hansen's Alaska crimes land in a 1970s and 80s Anchorage shaped by oil money, rapid growth, and a harder edge than the postcard version suggests.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want an Alaska Robert Hansen case told with plenty of local texture.

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