I met Tamara Pederson’s stepfather on the set of the Sally Jessy Raphael show in November, 1991. He seethed with anger that the Troopers had not solved the Hansen murders sooner. He had a point. If they’d taken Hansen in the early ’70’s there was a chance that Tammy, as she was known, would still be alive. A chance.
In a telling exchange, an audience member asked Pederson how he could blame the police, because “you knew she was in a dangerous profession.” Tamara’s stepfather glared, but had no answer.
4/29/84: AL MOREAU, off duty Palmer Police Officer discovers bone and material protruding from ground near gravesite #6 across river from MORROW gravesite. Reports discovery to AST. Sergeant STOGSDILL and Lieutenant KASNICK removed body from grave. Body taken to Forest Lawn Mortuary.
4/30/84: Doctor ROGERS performed autopsy on found body. Subject shot twice with large calibre copper jacket recovered.
The weapon that Hansen likely used here was his Thompson Contender, a large calibre pistol that was as deadly as it looked.
Thompson Center Arms Contender (7mm, single shot)
5/1/84: Positive ID found body #6 from grave site #6 as TAMARA PEDERSON from dental X-rays. ID performed by Doctor Rogers.
Tamara Pederson (courtesy Alaska State Troopers)
5/2/84: Met with VIGORENS and later Mr. PEDERSON reference TAMARA PEDERSON.
5/3/84: Met with Mr. PEDERSON, TAMARA’s adopted stepfather. Transported him to TAMARA’s grave site per his request. Also used Alyeska’s infared heat detecting video camera to help locate bodies at grave sites #1 and #3 with negative results.
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