The Butcher Baker: Iowa Time Machine October 27, 1983

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 27, 1983, Robert Hansen, originally from Estherville, Iowa, was taken into custody in Alaska after a long investigation into a series of violent crimes. Known in national headlines as the “Butcher Baker,” Hansen was later connected to numerous disappearances and tragic events between 1971 and 1983.

Born in Estherville, Hansen grew up working in his family’s bakery. His early years were marked by frequent moves, including a period in California before his family settled in Pocahontas, Iowa, in 1949. He was often described as quiet and withdrawn, spending much of his time practicing archery and hunting, hobbies that became lifelong pursuits.

In 1957, Hansen joined the U.S. Army Reserve and later worked as an assistant drill instructor at a police academy in Pocahontas. In 1960, he was convicted of arson for setting fire to a local school bus garage and served time at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where doctors noted serious mental health concerns.

After his release, Hansen moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1967. Over the next decade, he became known in the community for his bakery and outdoor skills, though beneath that image, he led a secret and violent double life that would later come to light. His 1983 arrest ended one of Alaska’s most chilling crime sprees. Hansen spent the remainder of his life in prison, passing away in 2014. #SerialKiller #TrueCrime #Iowa #OTD #History