What Sandra Patterson told Trooper Sgt. Don Hughes would come to stand as the early archetype for all of Hansen’s…
After Sgt. Gilmour’s initial interview of Sandra Patterson, the case was turned over to Sgt. Don Hughes for further investigation.…
Beth’s foster cousin notwithstanding, troopers were still looking for an informant, or informants, who could help them break their case.…
Beth’s foster cousin Greg Nicholas gave his first trooper interview on December 26th, the day after Beth was found. As…
Given that Beth had planned to babysit for her (foster) cousin, Greg Nicholas, on the night she disappeared, he immediately…
DECEMBER 25, 1971: On Christmas day, two brothers went to McHugh Creek, along Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage, to shoot…
I’ve written about the murder of Beth van Zanten multiple times — here, here, here and here. That the murder…
Judge Ralph Moody had a difficult task before him. He stood at the apex of a system that had failed…
This is obvious but… at a sentencing hearing, the prosecution recommends the punishment that should be doled out by the…
Criminal sentencing in the U.S. usually comes down to a combination of three factors, in greater or lesser proportion. First…