1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,680 This program is about unsolved mysteries. 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,280 Whenever possible, the actual family members and police 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,280 officials have participated in recreating the events. 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,280 What you are about to see is not a news broadcast. 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,520 In California, a deadly fire ravages a house trailer. 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,120 One 16-year-old girl dies at the scene. 7 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,160 Her injured twin sister succumbs four weeks later. 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,600 Then the family suffers another cruel blow, 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,600 when the girl's own half-brother becomes 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:37,000 a chief suspect in a bizarre scenario of murder and arson. 11 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:42,000 1955 was a summer of romance for Maria Bauer and Michael Sable. 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,200 While working at a resort near Chicago, 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,440 they fell passionately in love. 14 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,800 But when Maria returned to her native Germany, 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,240 she returned alone and pregnant. 16 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,080 Nearly 40 years later, her sister 17 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,160 nearly 40 years later, her son Christoph needs your help 18 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,960 to find his birth father, Michael Sable. 19 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,720 When bank executive John Grunhofer arrived at work 20 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,680 on November 19, 1990, he became the target 21 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,000 of a most bizarre kidnapping. 22 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,520 His abductor was overweight, oddly dressed, and clumsy. 23 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,200 But he wielded what appeared to be a homemade bomb 24 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,400 and demanded $3 million in cash. 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,720 In nearly three years, the son likely criminals 26 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,120 managed to elude authorities. 27 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,240 Perhaps someone watching tonight will be able to identify him. 28 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:33,200 Join me for another intriguing edition of Unsolved Mysteries. 29 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,920 In 1990, the FBI was called in to investigate one 30 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,280 of the most bizarre kidnappings they have ever encountered. 31 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,800 The perpetrator was an overweight middle-aged man 32 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,480 who wore thick glasses and a floppy rain hat, 33 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,480 hardly the profile of a dangerous criminal. 34 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,440 Yet that is exactly what he was, made more dangerous 35 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,280 by the fact that his scheme was flawed from the outset 36 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,000 and bungled at nearly every step along the way. 37 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,600 Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 19, 1990. 38 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,960 At 8.10 AM, John Grunhofer, a wealthy hard-nosed business 39 00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,840 executive, was approaching his offices. 40 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,920 Grunhofer was chairman and president of first bank 41 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:10,640 system, appointed in 1989 with a directive to trim the fat. 42 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,080 He had saved the bank millions by eliminating 43 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,280 the amount of money he had earned. 44 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,560 Grunhofer was a man used to scrutiny. 45 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,480 But as he arrived at work that morning, 46 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,860 he had no idea that his every move was being watched. 47 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,960 John, you're going to have to go with me. 48 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:38,960 Will you? 49 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:39,880 No, I won't. 50 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,000 I'll go with you. 51 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:41,920 I'll go with you. 52 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:42,800 I'll go with you. 53 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:43,600 No, I won't. 54 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:46,400 What do you mean? 55 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:47,840 Just get back in the car. 56 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:48,840 Oh, there must be some mistake. 57 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:50,360 I have no business with you. 58 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,320 I think you do. 59 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,160 Mrs. Carl, I had you are going with me. 60 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:55,160 What do you want? 61 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,000 Grunhofer kept us cool. 62 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,760 In fact, he was about to spring a surprise of his own. 63 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,200 The commotion soon drew the attention of a witness. 64 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,120 So what are you doing? 65 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,520 I heard shouting, and I looked over and saw two men rolling 66 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:17,320 on the ground. 67 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,480 And at that point, I thought there was a mugging going on. 68 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:26,200 So I started to run over there to help whoever was being mugged. 69 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,600 And I got about halfway there when the gentleman had both 70 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,960 gotten up and started to act like they knew each other. 71 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,120 And so I had slowed to a walk. 72 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:35,640 What's wrong? 73 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:36,840 Is somebody sick? 74 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:38,680 You need some help? 75 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,680 Look, you better get out of here. 76 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,920 At first, it seemed so unreal that I almost laughed 77 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,080 at the gentleman. 78 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:48,640 And then I realized it was real. 79 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,040 And I was in danger. 80 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,160 And at that point, I was terrified that I was going to be shot. 81 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:54,880 And I then ran to the elevator. 82 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,120 Just back up and get us out of this garage. 83 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,280 The gunman ordered Grunhofer into the car. 84 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:08,120 It was 8.13 AM. 85 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,560 Just three minutes had passed since Grunhofer 86 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,160 drove into the parking garage. 87 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,440 Now where do you want me to drive? 88 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:21,160 Just head east. 89 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,000 Just head towards Wisconsin. 90 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,240 Give me your arm. 91 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:29,120 What do you want with it? 92 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,440 Give me your left arm and shut up. 93 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,400 See, to avoid any further difficulties, 94 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,800 I'm going to attach this dynamite to you. 95 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,280 That way, if you give me any other problems, 96 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:40,840 all I've got to do is push a button. 97 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:49,840 I think his intention was to frighten Mr. Grunhofer 98 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:54,080 sufficiently enough that he would be very compliant 99 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,760 and do what he was told to do. 100 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,000 At virtually that same moment, a passerby in the garage 101 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,080 found what the FBI believes was a cheat sheet for the kid 102 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,760 reminding him exactly what he was going to order Grunhofer 103 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,560 to do. 104 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,520 I believe that the kidnapper is not 105 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,600 really a professional criminal. 106 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,560 It would seem to me that if you're 107 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,560 going to commit that kind of a crime, 108 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,320 that you could basically do it off the top of your head, 109 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,800 if you will. 110 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,680 At around 8.45, Grunhofer and the gunman 111 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,920 were crossing the state line into Wisconsin 35 miles 112 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:33,280 from Minneapolis. 113 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,960 It was clear that the abductor had done his homework. 114 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,040 Who takes charge when you're not around? 115 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,640 Probably be some vice president. 116 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,600 Scott Taylor takeover? 117 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:48,880 You know Scott Taylor? 118 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:49,880 Never mind. 119 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,560 At 8.57, the kidnapper ordered Grunhofer 120 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,120 to pull into a secluded rest area. 121 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,720 They were now 46 miles from Minneapolis. 122 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,000 When they arrived at the wayside, 123 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,480 the kidnapper handed Mr. Grunhofer a note. 124 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,200 Mr. Grunhofer then made a phone call 125 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:13,920 to his secretary who transcribed the ransom demands. 126 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:18,520 I am a hostage of a group called Parents Against Drugs. 127 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,040 The demand was for $3 million in various denominations, 128 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,280 $100, $500, and even $1,000 bills. 129 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,960 Once again, the kidnapper had tipped his hand 130 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,680 about his own inexperience. 131 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,120 $1 million and $500, and $1 million in our thousands. 132 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,520 A professional criminal would never ask for $1,000 bills. 133 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,520 You don't exactly take $1,000 bill 134 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,120 and go to a convenience store, buy a cup of coffee, 135 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:43,640 and ask for change. 136 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,720 There aren't too many people that carry $1,000 bills with them. 137 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:52,800 Officials at First Bank system began 138 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,800 preparing the $3 million ransom. 139 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,800 At around that same time, a gunman 140 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,640 was discovering that he had made a crucial mistake. 141 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,400 He had lost his cheat sheet. 142 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,880 Have you got the note? 143 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:08,880 What note? 144 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,520 The note from the parking garage. 145 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,200 I don't know what you're talking about. 146 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:18,160 I used a note before, written a few things down. 147 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,160 Are you sure you didn't take it? 148 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,080 I haven't seen this note. 149 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,040 The gunman became more agitated. 150 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:24,960 Shut up about it. 151 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,920 Let's just go. 152 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,440 He forced Groonhofer to hike down a steep slope 153 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:31,720 in a remote wooded area. 154 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,120 You got to rest a minute. 155 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,560 The kidnapper was apparently so out of shape 156 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:40,200 that he struggled to make the descent. 157 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:45,720 Eventually, the two men reached a spot 158 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,280 where a plastic sack containing a sleeping bag had been left. 159 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:50,080 Wait. 160 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:50,960 Wait a minute. 161 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,960 Hold. 162 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,480 Wait right there. 163 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,240 The gunman moved quickly. 164 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,480 He removed the bomb. 165 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,800 He bound Groonhofer's hands with a nylon rope, 166 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:09,120 forced him into the sleeping bag, 167 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:10,240 taped his mouth shut. 168 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,200 Groonhofer worked for 20 minutes to free himself. 169 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,880 When he realized that no one was watching, he went for help. 170 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,000 At 10.25, Groonhofer called his office 171 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:30,880 from a nearby farmhouse. 172 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,560 The ransom was never paid. 173 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:37,520 The kidnapping made headlines throughout the Midwest. 174 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,240 10 days later, the FBI set up a hotline 175 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,080 and published this composite drawing. 176 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:44,800 The response was immediate. 177 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,840 A man named John Henderson, who bore a striking resemblance 178 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,720 to the composite, was identified as the kidnapper 179 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,240 by two different callers. 180 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,120 Henderson was a maintenance worker who lived 25 miles 181 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,920 outside of Minneapolis. 182 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,000 He had never worked at first bank system 183 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,400 and had no apparent connection to Groonhofer. 184 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,280 I was stunned when they started questioning me 185 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:12,960 about a kidnapping case that had just happened. 186 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,040 They wanted to search, and I told them to go ahead. 187 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:18,960 I had nothing to hide. 188 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:26,440 And they searched my car and my garage and the house. 189 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,040 The FBI requested that Henderson participate in a lineup, 190 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,480 even though they had found no physical evidence that 191 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:33,920 connected into the crime. 192 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:35,560 Step forward and say the line again. 193 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:44,840 This is Carl, and you are coming with me. 194 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,640 Do you see the man who kidnapped you in the lineup? 195 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,040 It's number three. 196 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,880 I know worries about the lineup because I know I didn't do it. 197 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,920 And you know he identified me. 198 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,120 I know I didn't do it. 199 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,760 Despite Groonhofer's positive identification, 200 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,360 Jeff Rasmus, the eyewitness in the garage, 201 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,880 did not pick Henderson out of the lineup. 202 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:17,600 Nevertheless, the FBI continued to look for evidence. 203 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,560 A handwriting sample was taken. 204 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:21,520 It did not match the note. 205 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,040 However, the FBI felt that Henderson's alibi 206 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:25,960 was less than airtight. 207 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,560 Later, he became the target of a grand jury investigation. 208 00:11:29,560 --> 00:11:34,000 But in the end, no charges were filed. 209 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,560 So far, the FBI hasn't found anything, 210 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:40,080 and they won't find anything because I didn't do it. 211 00:11:47,600 --> 00:12:02,440 Next, the family is torn apart by accusations 212 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:03,680 of arson and murder. 213 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,160 The story you're about to see involves a brutal double 214 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,480 homicide which took place several years ago. 215 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,680 To this day, the case remains unsolved, 216 00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:21,120 and a family has been ripped apart 217 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:24,280 by accusations of arson and murder. 218 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,520 Time may never heal the wounds of this complex case, 219 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,760 but perhaps someone watching may have some small clue that 220 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,880 could help bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice. 221 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,200 Wellow Creek, California, population 1,000, 222 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,960 is situated in the heart of the state's timber country, 223 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,800 some 250 miles north of San Francisco. 224 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,680 Hans and Betty Hansen moved to this quiet community in 1971, 225 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:54,000 three years after they were married. 226 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,280 Hans operated a logging supply business in a warehouse 227 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,400 next to the couple's mobile home. 228 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,080 The Hansen family grew to include four children, 229 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,720 Donnie and Becky, from Betty's prior marriage, 230 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,640 and twin girls, Jill and Julie. 231 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,040 Jill and Julie were good, sensible kids. 232 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,360 They were a little shy, until you got to know them, 233 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,760 but they had real good sense. 234 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,000 It would kind of be more friendly to underdog people, 235 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,560 than they were real popular girls in school. 236 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:25,200 So if a new person came to school or something, 237 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,960 it wasn't taken in so much by the other people. 238 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,400 They would befriend them. 239 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:34,000 They seemed to view people from the inside. 240 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,000 It didn't matter what they looked like, 241 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,680 or how much money they had, or who they were. 242 00:13:39,680 --> 00:13:43,320 They were kind to everyone. 243 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,080 For Betty and Hans, life was close to perfect, 244 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:51,360 until the night of November 14, 1986. 245 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,320 At around 11 PM, the 16-year-old twins 246 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,160 were in their room preparing for bed. 247 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,600 Their half-brother, Donnie, aged 21, 248 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:04,320 was visiting from the town of Fortuna, 70 miles away. 249 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,400 He would sleep on a couch in the family room. 250 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,320 At around 3 AM, Betty Hansen suddenly awoke. 251 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,320 Hans, get up. 252 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,480 It's a smoke. 253 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,880 Get the kids. 254 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:22,800 Huh. 255 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:23,800 Oh, no. 256 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:30,760 Jill! 257 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:31,760 Jill! 258 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,480 Julie! 259 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,240 Today, Hans and Betty's memories 260 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,560 are a blur of fragmented images. 261 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,320 But that night, they were struck by several things 262 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:42,160 that even in the midst of the chaos, 263 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:43,960 didn't quite make sense. 264 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:44,960 Julie! 265 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:47,680 You want to get out of the house? 266 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,400 I shot that fire extinguisher down the hall. 267 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:52,400 It burnt right back up. 268 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,240 There was a strip in the middle of that hallway burning. 269 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,520 I remember that going through my mind, 270 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,240 that it's real odd that coming back in a strip like that. 271 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,800 And still, I got no response from anybody. 272 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,520 I was yelling all three of their names 273 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,960 and then exited the house. 274 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,240 Because I ran out the door, I kicked the gas can out 275 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,440 of the way, not really thinking much of it 276 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,040 until I got a few steps away. 277 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:19,520 Thinking that gas can shouldn't have been there. 278 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,600 It was empty, because I felt how it was empty when I kicked it. 279 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,320 I went up the little hallway, and the first person I saw 280 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,960 was Donnie. 281 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,240 And he was standing at the end of the couch, 282 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,240 where I think he had slept that night. 283 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:33,520 And he didn't see me. 284 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,320 Come here. 285 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:36,640 Come on here. 286 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,560 And he's screaming in a horrible voice. 287 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,360 He's screaming, get out of here. 288 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,760 Real loud and running, chasing. 289 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,560 And so right away, I was afraid for him 290 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:50,440 what was happening, who he was chasing out. 291 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,240 Betty ran to the shop where a number of fire extinguishers 292 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,280 were stored. 293 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,960 She was met first by Donnie, then by Hans. 294 00:15:58,960 --> 00:15:59,960 Hans! 295 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:00,960 Betty, call the fire department! 296 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,520 When I got to the shop, I got a ladder, 297 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,000 and came up to Jill's room. 298 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,600 You just shove that ladder right through the window. 299 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:16,040 That room was totally in flames, totally in golden flames. 300 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:21,160 And I didn't get any response or see anybody. 301 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,280 Hans, Betty, and Donnie continuously 302 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,280 returned to the warehouse for fire extinguishers. 303 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:27,080 Get the call, fire department. 304 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:27,840 Yes, I did. 305 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:28,760 Yes. 306 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,720 Jill and Julie, have you seen Jill and Julie? 307 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,360 No. 308 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,720 I remember asking Donnie as we were chasing back and forth 309 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,440 for fire extinguishers, did you see anybody? 310 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,080 And he said, no, he didn't see anything. 311 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,080 Fire trucks roger the scene within 15 minutes. 312 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,840 But for Hans and Betty, assuming that Jill and Julie 313 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,520 were still inside the trailer, it was an eternity. 314 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:03,120 Minutes later, the Hans's are both shocked and relieved, 315 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,040 and a neighbor noticed a crumpled figure 316 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:06,680 and a vacant lot across the road. 317 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:10,680 Julie? 318 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:11,600 It's Julie Hansen. 319 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:12,440 Found one of them. 320 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:13,240 Julie, what happened? 321 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,520 Julie was nearly dead, bleeding profusely 322 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,880 from a gaping wound in her stomach. 323 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:19,120 I'm going to go get some help. 324 00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:21,480 When I heard somebody yell from across the street, 325 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,120 we found one of them or something like that. 326 00:17:24,120 --> 00:17:27,400 Then the next thing, Donnie came running up on the deck, 327 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,800 and he said, we found Julie. 328 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:30,520 Julie's out. 329 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,240 I got her out. 330 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,760 And my first question to him was, how bad is she burnt? 331 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:36,960 And he didn't give me an answer. 332 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,120 Of course, I didn't stand around. 333 00:17:40,120 --> 00:17:43,080 Hans claims that it was only after Julie was discovered 334 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,720 that Donnie took credit for having pulled her from the fire. 335 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,880 But that apparent discrepancy was quickly 336 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,920 overshadowed by concern for Julie. 337 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,480 When I saw Julie, I thought there was no way she could live. 338 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:02,080 Her stomach was just open, blown open. 339 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:03,960 And so I ran back across the street, 340 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,640 and I just went from one fireman to the other one, 341 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:11,240 begging them to please go in and find Jill, where's Jill. 342 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,800 And then I'd run back across the street 343 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,080 and to see how Julie was doing. 344 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,360 And each time I went back across the street, 345 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,680 I was surprised she was still alive. 346 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,520 Emergency personnel rushed Julie to the hospital. 347 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,560 Believing her stomach injury had been caused 348 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,280 by some kind of fire-related explosion. 349 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:34,040 But in surgery, doctors made an incredible discovery. 350 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,520 Julie's traumatic wound had absolutely nothing 351 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,200 to do with the fire. 352 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,520 Julie Hansen had been shot in the abdomen, 353 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:45,280 virtually at point blank range with a 12-gauge shotgun. 354 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:46,960 Well, I about fell off my chair then, 355 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:48,760 because that was the first I'd known anything 356 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,640 about any shooting at all. 357 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,240 And I still couldn't figure out why. 358 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:57,600 Who could have hated this as much 359 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,480 to make an attack on our house like this? 360 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,400 The emerging facts seemed too shocking to be true. 361 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:08,320 Unknown and unseen, someone had apparently 362 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:11,080 torched the Hansen home and gunned down Julie. 363 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,280 Daylight brought still more unbearable news. 364 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,440 Jill's body was found in the ruins. 365 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,880 Hey, listen, go around the back, OK? 366 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,760 An autopsy would later confirm that Jill had also 367 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,040 been wounded by shotgun fire. 368 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,840 Unable to flee, she had perished in the flames. 369 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,480 Authorities recovered three shotgun shells 370 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,680 and a second five-gallon gas can from the ashes, 371 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,080 mounting evidence of arson and murder. 372 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,560 The Hansen's warehouse is untouched by the fire, 373 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,520 and investigators examined every square inch for clues. 374 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:57,760 Hey, George. 375 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:58,760 Yeah. 376 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:00,960 Over here. 377 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,680 Shove behind some boxes, they found a 12-gauge shotgun. 378 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,160 Ballistic tests would later prove it was the weapon 379 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,880 used to shoot Jill and Julie Hansen. 380 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:10,880 How do you make of that? 381 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,160 The entire Hansen property was cordoned off 382 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,280 and kept under round the clock surveillance. 383 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:26,000 Two days after the fire, in the early morning, 384 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,920 the officer on duty caught up prowler 385 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:29,000 outside the warehouse. 386 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:34,720 Hey! 387 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,320 What are you doing now? 388 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:40,320 This is my dad's place. 389 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:41,240 Who works here? 390 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:42,640 Yeah, what's your dad's name? 391 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:44,280 Hans Hansen. 392 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:45,080 You didn't see the police? 393 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,160 Was Hansen Betty's son, Donnie? 394 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:48,200 You watch the light. 395 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:49,800 You just stand right there. 396 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,000 Detective George Gatto was called to the scene. 397 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,160 Donnie told Gatto that he had come to feed the family dog. 398 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,000 I'm looking in a window. 399 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,320 Looking in the window. 400 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:01,160 What are you looking at, son? 401 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,040 I just came out to feed my dog. 402 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,400 Tell us the truth, Donnie. 403 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:09,320 No, I just wanted to feed my dog. 404 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:11,400 He knew the dog had been taken to a neighbor's. 405 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:12,280 Is he a dog around here? 406 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:13,180 OK. 407 00:21:13,180 --> 00:21:15,480 He knew the dog was not there. 408 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:17,760 And that's when we figured that the reason he was there, 409 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,200 he was there to get the shotgun. 410 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,360 Because he didn't know we had found it yet. 411 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:27,080 The case had taken an incredible turn. 412 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,560 Donnie was about to become the prime suspect 413 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,960 in the murder of his own sister. 414 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,000 Investigators soon uncovered circumstantial evidence 415 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,520 that implicated Donnie in the crime. 416 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,560 Three days before the fire, Donnie 417 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,720 had borrowed the shotgun from a friend. 418 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,600 And Donnie admitted keeping it in his car. 419 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,000 Unspent shells found in the car matched 420 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,080 those used in the attack. 421 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,960 Donnie had purchased the ammunition the very evening 422 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,480 Jill and Julie were shot. 423 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,880 This credit card statement verified 424 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:01,960 that two days before the fire, Donnie 425 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,360 had purchased five gallons of gas at a local station. 426 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:09,280 Witnesses confirmed that the container Donnie filled 427 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:13,360 was identical to one of those found at the scene. 428 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:14,680 So then what happened? 429 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,320 There was only one person who might 430 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,800 be able to confirm the growing suspicions, Julie Hanson. 431 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,920 Approximately two weeks after the fire, 432 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,800 she had recovered enough to tell her parents what had happened. 433 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,120 The girl in the head of grudge, orange oil. 434 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:31,520 At first, Julie's memories were sketchy. 435 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,520 She recalled being shot but not seeing anyone. 436 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,000 The door. 437 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,760 She said she crawled over her sister, which 438 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,800 saw her sister was still asleep in the bed beside her, 439 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,400 and stepped out of her bedroom door. 440 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,080 And bang, she saw the flash. 441 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,960 And she thought a bomb went off. 442 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,160 And she said she reached down and felt her belly. 443 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,280 It was like a bowl of jello. 444 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,320 As Hanson Betty asked more questions, 445 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,160 Julie had a chilling recollection. 446 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,040 So did you see anything else? 447 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,880 Did you see anybody? 448 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,880 I saw Donnie's face in the flash. 449 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,360 You saw your brother Donnie's face? 450 00:23:12,360 --> 00:23:15,400 However, Julie's statement contradicted what she told her 451 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:15,800 doctor. 452 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,120 I just saw. 453 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:22,320 I never found out why she said that she saw Donnie in the flash. 454 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,560 She definitely did not tell me that. 455 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,520 She told me she saw nobody, specifically. 456 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,360 When I questioned her about that situation, 457 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:34,080 I said, who did you see or did you see anything? 458 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,640 She said, I saw nobody. 459 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:37,920 Never mentioned seeing Donnie. 460 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,160 On December 2, two weeks after the fire, 461 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,600 Donnie Hanson was met by his mother and sister 462 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,360 at the county courthouse. 463 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,960 He had come in voluntarily for further questioning. 464 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:50,860 Hi, Betty. 465 00:23:50,860 --> 00:23:52,840 Thanks for coming down. 466 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,720 What are the shells? 467 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:56,520 The shells, we're outtrap shooting, 468 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,640 and I picked some more up as the store was on the way home. 469 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,880 Don't you think it's kind of funny that you bought the shells 470 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:02,840 right before the murder? 471 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:08,000 What about the gun? 472 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:12,560 Why did you try to hide the gun? 473 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:13,460 I don't know. 474 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:17,840 Look, I just got scared, you know? 475 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:19,600 I panicked. 476 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,160 Tried to hide the gun in the warehouse 477 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,280 because I figured if you found the gun in my car, 478 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,720 that you're just going to assume that I did it. 479 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,000 I don't have a right to assume that. 480 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,800 I'm having trouble believing this whole story. 481 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,840 He kept saying he was innocent. 482 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,240 He fell to polygraph twice. 483 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:40,720 And when I interviewed him, he just 484 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:41,880 I don't know why I have to leave you, Donnie. 485 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,680 I could be nine or within a month. 486 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:49,200 I could say every time was a different story with him. 487 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,840 The interrogation lasted two hours. 488 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,440 When Donnie emerged, he was in handcuffs, 489 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,520 facing trial on charges of arson and murder. 490 00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:58,600 What's going on? 491 00:24:58,600 --> 00:24:59,800 He's under arrest. 492 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:00,720 On what grounds? 493 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,120 I can't talk to him up there right now. 494 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:03,680 George, we are trying to cooperate. 495 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,400 That was a pretty low point in my life 496 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:11,120 to see my son arrested for the murder of my daughter. 497 00:25:11,120 --> 00:25:12,680 It was just unbelievable. 498 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,240 And I kept thinking, when am I going to wake up? 499 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,800 When's this going to end? 500 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,520 It was just, I can't describe it. 501 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,520 There's just no words. 502 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:26,760 The nightmare was far from over. 503 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,480 On December 19, Julie suddenly died 504 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,800 in a freak medical accident. 505 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:33,720 An air bubble and entered her bloodstream 506 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,280 through an intravenous tube and stopped her heart. 507 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:42,200 Julie's death was another devastating blow 508 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,000 to her grieving parents. 509 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,320 It was also a crippling setback to the prosecutors. 510 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,080 Julie's eyewitness statements would now 511 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,360 be inadmissible as evidence, so she could not 512 00:25:51,360 --> 00:25:54,320 be cross-examined by defense attorneys. 513 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,480 When we return, Donnie Hansen tells his story. 514 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,400 In April of 1988, Donnie Hansen went on trial for the murder 515 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,680 of his half-sister, Jill and Julie. 516 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,880 The district attorney was confident enough 517 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,800 to ask for the death penalty. 518 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:15,960 The defendant, Donald Hansen, brought the gun that was the murder 519 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:17,520 weapon to the scene. 520 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:21,360 He brought the shotgun shells that killed those two 521 00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:22,880 and then he killed them. 522 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:24,920 He was killed in the first place. 523 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,800 He brought the shotgun shells that killed those two girls. 524 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,800 He hid the murder weapon. 525 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,840 He lied about all of those things. 526 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:35,960 That was strong evidence. 527 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,720 However, the defense introduced eyewitness testimony 528 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,640 from the Hansen's neighbors across the street. 529 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,200 They claimed to have seen two unidentified men near the trailer 530 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,240 while it was on fire. 531 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:50,840 Their sighting became the cornerstone of a defense 532 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,720 attorney designed to show that Donnie Hansen was innocent. 533 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:00,560 There were a tremendous number of unanswered facts 534 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,360 and occurrences that happened that night 535 00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:05,600 that the prosecution couldn't explain 536 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:11,000 and which were not consistent with Donnie having been involved. 537 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:15,000 I was able to come up with at least a suggested scenario 538 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,720 that tied all of the unanswered or the majority 539 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,680 of the unanswered factual. 540 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,640 Questions together. 541 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,200 The defense contended that around 3 542 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,800 AM, two intruders, identity and motive unknown, 543 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,680 approached the Hansen's trailer. 544 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:38,000 The person had found Donnie's shotgun outside 545 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,520 and for whatever reason decided to bring it inside 546 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,320 with some shells. 547 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,040 Pick block came through the sliding glass door. 548 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,280 They just spread the gasoline around the living room area 549 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,960 at the front of the trailer, the kitchen. 550 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,160 He certainly didn't seem to care that people 551 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:55,280 were asleep in the trailer. 552 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,360 They went throughout the trailer and spread the gasoline. 553 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,440 At some point, the police found Donnie Hansen 554 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,680 and the perpetrator. 555 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:19,560 At some point, during the activities of the perpetrator, 556 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,400 Julie was awakened. 557 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:28,320 She comes down the hallway and walks in on the perpetrator, 558 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,920 who then, at that particular point, apparently 559 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:36,600 was to the left of Donnie as he was lying on the couch 560 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,320 and somewhat behind him. 561 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,040 And he shoots her as she's coming out the hallway. 562 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:44,320 And she goes down. 563 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:47,320 That's what wakes Donnie up. 564 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:51,720 Donnie picks Julie up, takes her out on the front porch, 565 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,440 posits her there. 566 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:54,080 Julie, OK. 567 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:54,880 You're out. 568 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,840 If you stay here, I'll go let you help. 569 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:03,880 If some unnamed, unknown, masked intruders 570 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:07,880 are in your house killing people and burning the place down 571 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:09,800 and you're standing right next to them, 572 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,120 that they'd shoot you too, wouldn't you? 573 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,320 They didn't. 574 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,720 According to the defense theory, at least one 575 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:20,640 of the assailants was still in the trailer 576 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,360 after Hans, Betty, and Donnie escaped. 577 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:27,280 It was only then that Jill was shot. 578 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:31,320 And the perpetrator then exited the trailer. 579 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,680 That person put the gun back in the car, threw it back 580 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:37,960 in the car as he was going, running by. 581 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:44,920 And those persons ran to their car and jumped in and off 582 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,440 they went. 583 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:48,520 You're going to commit a murder. 584 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,560 Don't you bring the instruments to do that job? 585 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:52,640 Don't you bring the gun? 586 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:53,960 If you're going to burn down the house, 587 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:55,800 don't you bring the gas? 588 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,440 How convenient for them that both of these items 589 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,280 just happened to be provided by Donald Hansen? 590 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:04,760 Makes no sense. 591 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,440 However, the jury believed it did make sense. 592 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:12,080 And they found Donnie Hansen not guilty. 593 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:15,920 When I first heard the verdict, my initial reaction 594 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,600 was I was really happy to think that he didn't do it. 595 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,600 But when I thought back to everything, 596 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,440 I knew that Donnie's involved, that Donnie knew what happened. 597 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,400 And he knew what went on that night. 598 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,120 And he has all the answers. 599 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:34,840 This has been a real tragedy to us, 600 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:40,600 because we have lost three of our four children out of this. 601 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,200 Two of them are dead, and Donnie's dead to me, 602 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,360 because I do feel he was 100% responsible for this, 603 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:52,080 whether he pulled it off 100% himself or not. 604 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:54,640 If I know who would have done this, 605 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:56,560 I would not have put my life on the line 606 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:59,240 through a jury trial, through a death penalty case 607 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,640 that covered them up for someone that killed my sisters 608 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:03,160 and I loved. 609 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,880 A statement like that is absolutely ludicrous. 610 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,280 Because of the notoriety surrounding the trial, 611 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,320 Donnie has changed his name. 612 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:14,320 He asked that we alter his voice and obscure his face 613 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,400 during this exclusive interview. 614 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:21,040 No, I realize that nothing has been done or has been done 615 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:25,320 since my acquittal to take steps to solve this case. 616 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,560 I think the only way this case will ever be solved 617 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:29,520 is if someone's conscience gets to them. 618 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:35,000 Donnie's account is still the subject of debate. 619 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:36,800 Although his attorney claimed Donnie was 620 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,920 awakened by the shotgun blast, Donnie now says 621 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:43,360 he never heard the shot. 622 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,760 No one that was in that trailer that night heard any blast. 623 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,240 So I don't know how I didn't hear it. 624 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:53,880 I don't know how any of us didn't hear it as a group. 625 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:55,320 But we're all fairly consistent. 626 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:56,400 None of us heard anything. 627 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:00,360 Another nagging question is why Donnie removed the shotgun 628 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,640 from his car before anyone knew that his shotgun had been 629 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,440 involved or even that a crime had been committed. 630 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,640 I don't really know why I moved it. 631 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:19,400 Other than I didn't want the gun to, someone steal it, 632 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,560 someone fire the gun and blame thinking, I did this. 633 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:24,720 If it was used in the commission of this case, 634 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,320 I don't know if it was used in the commission of this crime. 635 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,440 At that time, I didn't know if it had been or not. 636 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,560 A third incident was also difficult to reconcile. 637 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:38,040 Donnie's 5 AM visit to the warehouse 638 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:41,600 and the explanation he gave police. 639 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:43,960 It was one of those things in the whole store 640 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:46,080 where one lie leads into another and they just 641 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:47,360 start rolling in. 642 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:49,800 And I said, well, I was coming in to check on my dog, 643 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,000 which I wasn't really checking on the dog. 644 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:53,720 And I was going back there to get the gun 645 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:55,760 and that's the story that I told them. 646 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:59,200 I think that I reacted out of ignorance and out of stupidity 647 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:00,320 and that's what got me in trouble. 648 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:01,680 It's about to be my dog. 649 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:02,720 That was the truth. 650 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,160 The accusations that I know what went on that night 651 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:08,920 are absolutely ludicrous because I had absolutely everything 652 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,520 to lose and nothing to gain. 653 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:15,840 You know, and the fact that to let someone get away 654 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:20,320 with what they did to Jill and Julie tears me up. 655 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:24,120 It's just makes my life, I guess, you could say. 656 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,800 The whole truth about this hideous crime may never be known. 657 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:33,280 A jury has acquitted Donnie Henson, 658 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:37,240 but his mother and stepfather have not. 659 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,840 I believe the insurance policy was part of the motive. 660 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:40,960 The insurance was on me. 661 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,680 It was Donnie came home that night to wipe our family out. 662 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,920 He brought the gun with him. 663 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:50,280 He had the gasoline that he'd bought two nights previous. 664 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:53,160 And I believe the motive was money. 665 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,560 Whether he was by himself or not, I don't know. 666 00:33:56,760 --> 00:33:59,560 You go on, but life is never the same. 667 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:02,680 And you can build a new house or buy a new car, 668 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:07,680 but you can't bring back the girls. 669 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:11,920 And all we have left is memories. 670 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:17,440 And it's really rough. 671 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:23,520 Jill and Julie Hansen were 15 years old 672 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:25,800 when these home movies were taken. 673 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:28,200 Their parents have never gotten over the brutal crime 674 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:30,200 that tore their family apart. 675 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,680 When we return, will aging love letters 676 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:47,840 lead to a long lost father? 677 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:49,840 Perhaps with your help. 678 00:34:51,280 --> 00:35:04,280 It was the summer of 1955. 679 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:08,040 Maria Hoffman, a 20-year-old exchange student from Germany, 680 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:10,080 found work at the Hotel Moraine, 681 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,520 an elegant lakeside resort 26 miles from Chicago. 682 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:17,680 Maria had just finished a year of study in the United States 683 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:19,680 and needed money for the passage home. 684 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:23,680 Sorry, I didn't see you. 685 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:25,680 I was afraid you'd look at me better. 686 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:27,680 I'm sorry I didn't see you. 687 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:31,680 Hey, wait a minute. Are we both saying the same thing? 688 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:33,680 Yes. Yes. 689 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,680 He surprised me so much. I forgot my English. 690 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:38,680 I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. 691 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:41,680 The young man introduced himself as Michael Seymour. 692 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:43,680 Yes, I'm fine. 693 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:45,680 Like Maria, he was in his early 20s. 694 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:47,680 Here, let me help you. 695 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:49,680 Thank you very kind. 696 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:52,080 I haven't seen you here before. 697 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,080 Are you new? 698 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:57,080 The chance encounter quickly blossomed into a summer romance, 699 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,080 but it was a relationship Maria would keep secret 700 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:01,080 for nearly 30 years. 701 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,080 Welcome. 702 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:05,080 Until the spring of 1983. 703 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,080 How are you? 704 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,080 It's a bit cold. 705 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,080 In the ensuing years, Maria had returned to Germany, 706 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:15,080 married, become a mother, and a grandmother. 707 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:17,080 Her oldest son, Christoph, 708 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,080 was a lieutenant in the German Air Force. 709 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:21,480 During a weekend visit with him, 710 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:23,480 Maria made a stunning confession. 711 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,480 Chris, there's something I want to talk to you about. 712 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:28,480 What is it? 713 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:30,480 It's very difficult. 714 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,480 Chris, your father is not your real father. 715 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:34,480 What? 716 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:36,480 The man who raised you is not your real father. 717 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,480 Mama, are you serious? 718 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:40,480 Your real father is a man I met 719 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:42,480 when I was in the United States. 720 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:44,480 Why haven't you told me this sooner? 721 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:46,480 What is it? 722 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:48,480 When my mother first came to Germany, 723 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:50,880 my mother first told me this. 724 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:54,880 I felt a little bit anger about her not telling me before. 725 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:56,880 I'm your son, I have a right to know. 726 00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:58,880 I made a decision right there 727 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:00,880 that I need to find him. 728 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:03,880 That I need to find out what kind of man he is. 729 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:05,880 That I want to see him 730 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:07,880 and make my own decision, 731 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:09,880 whether I like him or not, 732 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:11,880 and whether I want to stay in contact with him or not. 733 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:15,880 How did it happen? 734 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:17,880 It was the year after I was in school in America. 735 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,280 Over the next hour, 736 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,280 Christoph learned more about his biological father 737 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:24,280 and the long secret romance. 738 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:29,280 For Maria and Michael, 739 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,280 the attraction had been instant and all-consuming. 740 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,280 Together, they spent an enchanted summer. 741 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:39,280 My mother told me that he was from Canada, 742 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:41,280 that he was a very gentle man 743 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,280 and that she fell in love with this man 744 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,280 and she had an affair with him. 745 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,280 But the carefree love affair 746 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:52,280 was eventually clouded by a very real concern. 747 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:54,280 Maria Hoffman was pregnant. 748 00:37:57,280 --> 00:37:59,280 She was very worried about the future. 749 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:01,280 That she was in a foreign country 750 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:03,280 with basically no fixed income 751 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:05,280 and her friend, the man she was in love with, 752 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:07,280 obviously, 753 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:09,280 was pregnant. 754 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,280 She was very worried about the future. 755 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:13,280 She was very worried about the future. 756 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:15,280 She was very worried about the future. 757 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,280 She was very worried about the future. 758 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:21,680 She obviously didn't have a very high income job either, 759 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:23,680 so they would have had to struggle a lot. 760 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,680 I also know that they were in love 761 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:31,680 and that she wanted to be with him. 762 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:39,680 In October of 1955, 763 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:41,680 Maria made an agonizing decision. 764 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:43,680 She would return to Germany 765 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:45,680 to have her baby 766 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:48,080 without Michael Sammer. 767 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:53,080 They separated not in anger. 768 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:55,080 They separated in a good face 769 00:38:55,080 --> 00:38:57,080 and planned on getting together again later on. 770 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:01,080 I don't know what to say, Maria. 771 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:05,080 Lisa, do I? 772 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:08,080 It's all so confusing. 773 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:12,080 I know that I'll miss you. 774 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:15,080 That wasn't an easy way for her, 775 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:17,080 but it was the best way 776 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:21,080 because she could go to the security of her family 777 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:24,080 and had all the support that she needed. 778 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,080 Maria would never again see Michael Sammer. 779 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:37,080 Christoph was born in Germany on May 22, 1956. 780 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,080 The following year, 781 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:41,080 Maria married a college professor, 782 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:44,080 the man Christoph would come to know as his father. 783 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:49,080 Christoph, sit down. 784 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:53,080 There is something I have for you. 785 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,080 I have been saving all these years. 786 00:39:56,080 --> 00:40:00,080 These are letters from your father. 787 00:40:04,080 --> 00:40:06,080 Perhaps it will help you to understand 788 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:09,080 or at least to have more information. 789 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:13,080 In all there were four letters, 790 00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:15,080 the last written in 1958. 791 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:18,080 Included were two snapshots of Michael Sammer. 792 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,080 Christoph Bauer at the age of 27 793 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:24,080 suddenly found himself staring into the face 794 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:26,080 of his birth father. 795 00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:32,080 Christoph immediately followed up the few clues he had. 796 00:40:32,080 --> 00:40:35,080 He wrote to the four different return addresses 797 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:36,080 on the envelopes. 798 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:38,080 He got no response. 799 00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:42,080 Government agencies both in Canada and the United States 800 00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:44,080 had no records of Sammer. 801 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:46,080 And the Hotel Moraine, 802 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:48,080 where Christoph's mother and Sammer had met 803 00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:51,080 had long ago burned to the ground. 804 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:55,080 But there was one ray of hope. 805 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:57,080 A cousin of Maria's who lived in Chicago 806 00:40:57,080 --> 00:41:00,080 said that Michael Sammer had periodically phoned her 807 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,080 after Maria returned to Germany. 808 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:04,080 Have you heard from Maria? 809 00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,080 Do you know how she's been doing? 810 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:08,080 To Christoph's amazement, 811 00:41:08,080 --> 00:41:11,080 Michael Sammer's occasional calls had continued 812 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,080 for nearly 20 years. 813 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:15,080 And Chris, how's he doing? 814 00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:18,080 When I learned that he had checked on me 815 00:41:18,080 --> 00:41:21,080 and that he still was interested in me, 816 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:25,080 I felt supported in my decision to find him. 817 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:31,080 1976, this relative moved, 818 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:34,080 and that was the end of the contact. 819 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:39,080 These are letters. 820 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:42,080 One year after her dramatic confession, 821 00:41:42,080 --> 00:41:44,080 Maria Bauer died. 822 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:46,080 She was 49 years old. 823 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:48,080 The aging letter she left to Christoph 824 00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:51,080 paint a bittersweet picture of youthful love. 825 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:57,080 I feel any child of yours would be somebody worthwhile. 826 00:41:57,080 --> 00:42:00,080 I'm happy to be joined to you through it one way or another, 827 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:03,080 even if by now or in time to come, 828 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:06,080 that is all we have between us. 829 00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:09,080 I also want some kind of closer relationship 830 00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:11,080 with our son Christopher. 831 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:14,080 I think he is the cutest thing I've ever seen. 832 00:42:14,080 --> 00:42:17,080 I receive your last letter with the two pictures of him 833 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:19,080 on the bicycle and with yourself. 834 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:21,080 I really treasure them. 835 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:28,080 Today, Christoph Bauer is a captain 836 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:30,080 in the German Air Force. 837 00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:33,080 In 1991, he has lived with his family in the United States, 838 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:36,080 where he is training helicopter pilots for the U.S. Army. 839 00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:39,080 Christoph and his family will be returning to Germany 840 00:42:39,080 --> 00:42:41,080 next year. 841 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:44,080 Perhaps Michael Samore can be found before they leave, 842 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:47,080 so he can meet his son and three grandchildren 843 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:49,080 for the first time. 844 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:53,080 Recently, Christoph was surprised to learn 845 00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:56,080 that the name Michael Samore is an alias. 846 00:42:56,080 --> 00:42:59,080 Samore's real name is Walter Joseph Anthony Samore. 847 00:43:01,080 --> 00:43:03,080 He was born October 4, 1930 848 00:43:03,080 --> 00:43:05,080 in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, 849 00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:09,080 and lived in Evanston, Illinois until at least 1970. 850 00:43:20,080 --> 00:43:22,080 On our next Unsolved Mysteries, 851 00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:24,080 the harrowing tale of three young men 852 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:26,080 who escaped from an Oklahoma jail 853 00:43:26,080 --> 00:43:29,080 and took to the road armed with a truckload of weapons. 854 00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:31,080 After a wild 150-mile chase, 855 00:43:31,080 --> 00:43:33,080 state troopers cornered the fugitives, 856 00:43:33,080 --> 00:43:36,080 but one of them managed to slip away. 857 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:41,080 The Mona Lisa, one of Leonardo da Vinci's greatest works. 858 00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:43,080 The identity of the model is a mystery 859 00:43:43,080 --> 00:43:47,080 that has intrigued and baffled historians for 500 years. 860 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:51,080 Now, on unorthodox new theories sparked a heated debate, 861 00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:54,080 could the model have been Leonardo himself? 862 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:57,080 Join me next time 863 00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:00,080 for another edition of Unsolved Mysteries.