Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"It's midnight on June 13, 1983, and a 17 year old sex worker named Cindy Paulson is standing on a street corner in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, waiting for a date." — Ashley Flowers
"Please were not alarmed when dancers went missing from 4th Avenue. Danish girls could either be good news or bad news, depending on where they went and how. Worst case, it could mean that a girl had overdose on drugs. If not found sooner, her body would turn up when the snow melted. If a dancer died, it was sad, but not surprising. After all, they lived a high risk lives. The thing about living on the edge is that sometimes you fell or were pushed over that edge." — Tom Brennan (quoted by Brett)
"On this day, we should only remember his victims and all of their families, and my heart goes out to them. As far as Hanson is concerned, this world is better without him." — Sergeant Floathe (quoted by Ashley Flowers)
This episode chronicles the disturbing case of Robert Hanson, known as "The Butcher Baker of Alaska," a serial killer who targeted vulnerable women for over a decade. The narrative begins with the harrowing experience of Cindy Paulson, a 17-year-old sex worker who was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and threatened with a gun by Hanson in 1983. Her escape and subsequent report to the police provided crucial initial clues, including a detailed description of her assailant and his unique blue house. However, despite the clear evidence of assault, societal biases against sex workers and a lack of corroborating physical evidence at the time led to skepticism from some law enforcement officials and the district attorney, who ultimately declined to press charges.
The investigation gained momentum as Alaska State Troopers began to connect Cindy Paulson's case to a series of unsolved murders of women in Anchorage during the 1970s and 80s. A pattern emerged of women, often involved in sex work or as dancers, disappearing after meeting prospective clients or employers. Sergeant Glenn Flothy, a detective with a keen interest in serial offenses, became instrumental in building a case against Hanson, despite initial resistance from the District Attorney's office, who denied search warrants. The episode details how a profile developed by the FBI's behavioral science unit, based on the victimology and crime scenes, chillingly matched Hanson's characteristics, including his age, his likely experience with rejection, and his potential for arson and shoplifting.
The breakthrough came with a comprehensive search of Hanson's property, which yielded a map marked with numerous "X"s, four of which corresponded to known grave sites of murdered women. Additionally, a stash of firearms, including one matching ballistics evidence from crime scenes, and a bag of women's jewelry were discovered. Crucially, Hanson's alibi witnesses recanted their statements, revealing his lack of an alibi for the night of Cindy Paulson's abduction. Ultimately, Hanson confessed to 17 murders, though police suspected him of many more. The episode highlights the systemic failures and societal prejudices that allowed Hanson to evade justice for so long, emphasizing that his victims were often dismissed due to their marginalized status.