Robert Hansen, later known as the “Butcher Baker,” was arrested on October 27, 1983, bringing an end to one of Alaska’s most disturbing crime sprees. Hansen, who was born in Estherville, Iowa, murdered at least seventeen women between 1971 and 1983, though investigators believe the true number of victims may be higher. His crimes involved the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of women—many of whom were vulnerable or marginalized—and shocked communities across Alaska.
Hansen spent much of his early life in Iowa, working at his family’s bakery and later settling with his family in Pocahontas. He was often described as quiet and isolated, struggling socially and enduring a tense relationship with his strict father. As a teenager, he gravitated toward hunting and archery, hobbies that gave him a sense of control and escape. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army Reserve, Hansen returned to Iowa, where his life took a darker turn. In 1960, he was arrested for setting fire to a school bus garage, an act reportedly driven by resentment over his social standing. He served nearly two years in prison, during which he was diagnosed with serious mental health conditions.
After his release, Hansen moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1967. Within a few years, he was arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault, but continued offending after serving short sentences. Over the next decade, Hansen carried out a pattern of brutal crimes, abducting women and flying them to remote areas where he would release them and hunt them for sport. His final arrest in 1983 led to multiple convictions, and he spent the remainder of his life in prison. Hansen died behind bars, leaving behind a legacy defined by violence and loss.
