Paul Hutchinson, a married father of two, identified as the suspect in the unsolved 1996 murder of 15-year-old Danielle "Danni" Houchins, took his own life hours after being questioned by investigators. Advanced DNA testing led authorities to Hutchinson after nearly three decades of the case remaining cold.
In a tragic conclusion to a decades-old cold case, the suspected killer of a 15-year-old Montana girl committed suicide after being confronted with evidence linking him to the crime.
Paul Hutchinson, 55, was identified as the suspect in the 1996 murder of Danielle "Danni" Houchins through advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy. Houchins' body was found face down in shallow water near a fishing access point in Belgrade, Montana, after she disappeared from her home.
Solving Decades-Old Crime: Suspect in Teenage Girl's Murder Ends Life after DNA Evidence Surfaces
Despite numerous interviews with suspects and collection of DNA evidence, the case remained unsolved for years. In 2021, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer enlisted the help of retired Los Angeles Police Department officer Tom Elfmont, a private investigator specializing in cold cases.
Elfmont's investigation uncovered new leads, leading to the identification of Hutchinson as a suspect. On July 23, Elfmont and Newport Beach Police Department Sgt. Court Depweg interviewed Hutchinson for nearly two hours.
Solving Decades-Old Crime: Suspect in Teenage Girl's Murder Ends Life after DNA Evidence Surfaces
During the interview, Hutchinson exhibited signs of nervousness and discomfort, particularly when shown a picture of Houchins. Authorities noted his profuse sweating, facial scratching, and hand-chewing. After his release, his behavior was observed as erratic.
The following morning, Hutchinson contacted the Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office, expressing the need for assistance. Deputies found him on the side of the road with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Solving Decades-Old Crime: Suspect in Teenage Girl's Murder Ends Life after DNA Evidence Surfaces
"When the time came to face up and account for his violence, he instead chose to end his life," said Houchins' younger sister, Stephanie Mollet, at a press conference. "He knew of his guilt and couldn't face my family or his family and the pain he had caused."
Investigators described the killing as a "crime of opportunity," believing that Houchins and Hutchinson randomly encountered each other at the river. They determined that Hutchinson raped and suffocated her in shallow water.
Solving Decades-Old Crime: Suspect in Teenage Girl's Murder Ends Life after DNA Evidence Surfaces
"We never gave up on finding the truth for Danni and her family, exhausting all means necessary to bring closure to this heartbreaking chapter," Springer said. "Our commitment to justice for victims and their loved ones is unwavering."
Prior to the murder, Hutchinson had no criminal or traffic history and had recently become a student at Montana State University, where he earned a degree in fisheries wildlife biology. He later worked for the state Bureau of Land Management for 22 years.
The successful resolution of this decades-old case highlights the unwavering determination of law enforcement to pursue justice for victims and their families, regardless of the passage of time. It also underscores the power of advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy in solving unsolved crimes.
