You’ve probably heard the name "Butcher Baker" whispered in true crime circles, but the reality of Robert Hansen serial killer in Alaska is way darker than a catchy nickname. It wasn't just about a guy who owned a bakery. It was about a man who treated the Alaskan wilderness like his personal, horrific playground for over a decade. Honestly, it’s one of those cases that makes you look twice at your neighbors, even the ones who seem totally "normal."
The Man Behind the Counter
Bob Hansen didn't look like a monster. He was a stuttering, pockmarked baker who lived in Anchorage with his wife and two kids. People knew him as a guy who made decent donuts and was an award-winning archer. That’s the scary part. He was hiding in plain sight. Basically, he used his "nice guy" image as a shield while he was out there doing things that are hard to even talk about.
He moved up to Alaska from Iowa in the late 60s. He wanted a fresh start after some trouble back home, including burning down a school bus garage. Alaska offered him that—and a lot of empty space. He got his pilot’s license, bought a Piper Super Cub, and started hunting big game. But eventually, for Hansen, the caribou and bears weren't enough of a thrill.
How He Hunted Humans
The most messed-up thing about the Robert Hansen serial killer in Alaska case is how he used the landscape. Anchorage in the 70s and 80s was a wild town, full of transient workers and people looking to disappear. Hansen targeted women from the "Spenard" strip—mostly sex workers and exotic dancers—because he figured nobody would miss them.
He’d kidnap them, often at gunpoint, and fly them out to remote areas like the Knik River in his small plane. Once they were deep in the bush, miles from any road or help, he’d let them go. But it wasn't a release. It was the start of a "hunt." He’d track them through the woods with a Ruger Mini-14 rifle. Think about that for a second. The sheer terror of being lost in the Alaskan wilderness while a man with a scope follows your tracks. It’s some real-life horror movie stuff.
The Girl Who Fought Back
The only reason we even know the full extent of this is because of a 17-year-old named Cindy Paulson. In June 1983, Hansen kidnapped her, took her to his home, and prepared to fly her out to his hunting grounds. While he was busy loading his plane at Merrill Field, she saw her chance.
She ran.
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She was barefoot, handcuffed, and terrified, but she made it to a road and flagged down a truck. Even then, the cops almost didn't believe her. Hansen had such a solid reputation as a local business owner that it took a specific kind of investigator, Sergeant Glenn Flothe, to realize Cindy wasn't lying. Flothe saw the patterns that others missed.
The Map Behind the Headboard
When the troopers finally got a warrant to search Hansen’s house, they found the "smoking gun." It wasn't just the jewelry he’d taken from his victims as trophies. It was a flight map hidden behind his headboard. It had about 37 small "X" marks on it.
Those marks weren't for good fishing spots.
They were graves.
When confronted, Hansen’s facade finally cracked. He eventually confessed to 17 murders, though authorities think the number is likely higher—potentially over 30. He was sentenced to life plus 461 years in 1984. He died in prison back in 2014, taking many of his secrets with him.
Why This Case Still Haunts Alaska
Even today, investigators are still working to identify some of his victims using modern DNA technology. For a long time, names like "Eklutna Annie" and "Horseshoe Harriet" (later identified as Robin Pelkey) were the only way we knew these women. It’s a reminder that these weren't just "missing persons"—they were daughters, sisters, and friends whose lives were stolen by a man who thought he was untouchable.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re interested in the deep forensics or the psychology of this case, there are a few things you can do to get the real story:
- Read "Butcher, Baker" by Walter Gilmour and Leland Hale. It’s written by the investigator and a journalist who lived the case. It avoids the sensationalism and sticks to the facts.
- Check out the Alaska State Troopers Museum in Anchorage. They have archives that cover the investigation and the impact it had on Alaskan law enforcement.
- Research the "Eklutna Annie" case. There are still ongoing efforts to identify his last unidentified victim using genetic genealogy. Following these cold case updates is a great way to see how modern science is finally bringing closure to decades-old crimes.
The story of the Robert Hansen serial killer in Alaska is a grim chapter in the state’s history, but it's also a testament to the bravery of a survivor who refused to be another "X" on a map.