Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"It's an understatement to say that Jill and Julie were adored in their community. Everyone knows the Hansen twins because when they were just 10 years old, Jill was diagnosed with leukemia. And the whole town of Willow Creek rallied behind the family in her six-year road to recovery." — Ashley Flowers
"The defense claims that everyone was outside of the trailer when Jill was shot and therefore Donnie couldn't have shot Jill." — Ashley Flowers
"According to the time standard, jurors were concerned that the prosecution couldn't really show what exactly happened in the Hanson House that night." — Ashley Flowers
This episode details the tragic case of twin sisters Jill and Julie Hansen, who were murdered in a house fire in Willow Creek, California, in 1986. The initial scene suggested a tragic accident, but the discovery of gunshot wounds on both sisters quickly turned the investigation into a homicide case. The fire, intentionally set with gasoline, compounded the tragedy. The investigation focused on the Hansen family, particularly stepson Donnie, due to the discovery of a shotgun linked to him and his car.
As the investigation progressed, numerous potential leads and pieces of evidence were either overlooked or mishandled by law enforcement. These included questionable witness statements, the presence of unspent shotgun shells in Donnie's car, and a crucial conflict of interest involving a deputy questioning potential witnesses who were his relatives. The defense team later uncovered significant gaps in the official investigation, suggesting a lack of thoroughness and potential bias towards Donnie as the sole suspect.
Despite strong circumstantial evidence against Donnie, including his palm print on the weapon and failed polygraph tests, his trial resulted in an acquittal. Jurors cited concerns about the prosecution's inability to definitively establish the events of that night and the perceived incompetence of the investigation. The case left the family shattered, with the father estranged from his stepson, and a lingering desire for answers, underscored by a substantial reward for information that remains unclaimed.