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Robert Hansen

Robert Christian Hansen (1939–2014) was an American serial killer known as the "Butcher Baker." He murdered at least 17 women in and around Anchorage, Alaska, between the early 1970s and 1983, and was convicted in 1984.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Robert Christian Hansen (1939–2014) was an American serial killer known as the "Butcher Baker." He murdered at least 17 women in and around Anchorage, Alaska, between the early 1970s and 1983, and was convicted in 1984. Hansen was sentenced to 461 years in prison and died in custody in 2014.

Early life

Robert Christian Hansen was born in Estherville, Iowa, in 1939. Later in life he moved to Alaska, where he worked as a baker and lived a seemingly ordinary public life.

Criminal activity

Between 1971 and 1983, Hansen targeted women in and around Anchorage, often abducting them and taking them to remote wilderness areas. He confessed to 17 murders, and investigators believed the total could have been higher.

Arrest and conviction

Hansen was arrested in 1983 after one of his victims escaped and provided information to police. He was convicted in 1984 of four murders and sentenced to 461 years in prison.

Death and legacy

Hansen died in prison in 2014 at age 75. His case remains one of the best-known serial murder cases in Alaska and is frequently discussed in true-crime media.

Key facts

  • Hansen was active in Anchorage, Alaska, where he abducted, raped, and murdered women over more than a decade.
  • He was known publicly as the "Butcher Baker" because he worked as a baker while committing the crimes.
  • Sources report that he confessed to killing 17 women, while investigators suspected additional victims.
  • He was arrested in 1983 and convicted in 1984 of four murders.
  • He received a 461-year prison sentence and died in custody in 2014.
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Canadian context

Robert Hansen's case is mainly relevant to Canadian readers as part of widely discussed North American true-crime history and media coverage; there is no direct Canada-specific connection in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Robert Hansen?
Robert Hansen was an American serial killer from Alaska known as the "Butcher Baker." He was convicted of murder in 1984 and later died in prison in 2014.
How many people did Robert Hansen kill?
He confessed to killing 17 women, and investigators believed there may have been more victims. He was convicted of four murders.
Why was he called the Butcher Baker?
He worked as a baker in Anchorage while secretly committing the murders, which led to the nickname "Butcher Baker."
When was Robert Hansen arrested?
He was arrested in 1983 after a victim escaped and identified him to police.
What was Robert Hansen's sentence?
He received a sentence of 461 years in prison without parole.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hansen
    Supports: Birth and death dates, nickname, location of crimes, confession to 17 murders, conviction, and 461-year sentence.
  2. People — https://people.com/how-was-robert-hansen-serial-killer-caught-11989403
    Supports: Overview of crimes, capture in 1983, confession to 17 murders, and death in 2014.
  3. EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/robert-hansen-serial-killer
    Supports: Arrest after victim escape, confession to 17 murders, conviction for four murders, and imprisonment until death.
  4. A&E — https://www.aetv.com/articles/alaska-serial-killer-robert-hansen
    Supports: Nickname, confession to 17 murders, sentencing, and death in 2014.