Disclaimer: The article contains mention of murder and assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Throughout his reign of terror from 1972 and 1983, the American serial killer Robert Hansen kidnapped, raped, and murdered at least seventeen women. Furthermore, the identity of one victim remained unknown for 37 years. She was simply called Horseshoe Harriet, however, in 2021 it was revealed that her name was Robin Pelkey.
Robin Pelkey was 19 years old and lived in the streets of Anchorage, Alaska. She reportedly fell victim to Hansen in the early 1980s. According to AP News, Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell stated, “I would like to thank all of the troopers, investigators, and analysts that have diligently worked on this case over the last 37 years. Without their hard work and tenacity, the identity of Ms. Pelkey may have never been known.”
Unfortunately, the identity of one last victim still remains unknown. The victim, who is named Eklutna Annie, is speculated to have been Hansen’s first victim. Officials gave her this name because her remains were discovered near Eklutna Lake. Randy McPherron, an Alaska State Troopers cold case investigator stated, “We really got our fingers crossed that we may know, find out who Eklutna Annie is.”
How was Horseshoe Harriet identified?
Horseshoe Harriet was identified as Robin Pelkey with the help of genetic genealogy and a DNA match. Her remains were reportedly discovered near Horseshoe Lake in Palmer, Alaska.
Robert Hansen aka Butcher Baker once stated that the reason he resorted to murdering women was because they rejected him all his life. According to the New York Daily News, he said, “Going back in my life … I was, I guess what you might call very frustrated. I would see my friends and so forth going out on dates and so forth and had a tremendous desire to do the same thing.”
Hansen was imprisoned in Spring Creek Correctional Center, Seward, Alaska, and died on August 21, 2014, aged 75.
