Teen’s brutal rape and murder finally solved after 28 years

In 1996, a teen girl was viciously raped, murdered and left face down in a puddle of mud. Her killer was never found – until now. WARNING: Graphic

WARNING: Distressing

On September 21, 1996, Danielle ‘Danni’ Houchins said goodbye to her family as she left the house to enjoy some fresh autumn air.

The 15-year-old had ventured down to a local fishing site that was a popular nature spot in her hometown of Belgrade, Montana.

At the time, the tiny US town had a population of just under 5,000 people.

She was meant to be back just a few hours later to attend the town’s annual Fall’s Festival with her family.

But tragically, she would never come home again.

The 15-year-old's murder rocked the small town. Picture: Supplied

When she failed to return, her parents contacted police to file a missing person’s report which prompted a massive search for Danielle.

Her truck and some of her personal belongings were spotted parked by a popular fishing spot.

Soon afterwards, the search party made a horrific discovery.

Danielle’s lifeless body was laying face down on the river bed. She had been violently raped and brutally murdered, her killer callously drowning her in a shallow puddle of mud.

It was one of the most gut-wrenching crimes the small town had ever known and continues to haunt the residents of Belgrade today.

Authorities collected a wealth of DNA evidence at the crime scene and several potential suspects were interviewed.

But with the limited forensic technology available at the time and no other leads, the case soon went cold.

Danielle was just 15 years old when she was murdered. Picture: Supplied

She had gone out to get some fresh air. Picture: Supplied

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer, who joined the department five days before the teen’s horrific murder, said the case has always disturbed and stayed with him over the years.

Danielle’s murder case was reopened 21 years later in 2019 with some more DNA attempts made to try and catch the killer, but to no avail.

Springer took charge of the department in 2021 and vowed to never give up on finding justice for Danielle.

“People have picked it up and tried to run with it to where they could, and things have gotten cold over time,” he told the Montana Free Press.

Danielle, pictured with her sister, loved being outdoors. Picture: Supplied

“When I became the sheriff in 2021 I just felt we needed some fresh eyes on this. Someone with different experience, a different knowledge base.”

In March 2023, Springer met with a former Los Angeles Police Department captain, Tom Elfmont, who now runs a global security firm and lives in the area.

“He was interested and was sworn in as a special service deputy with all the authority and resources he needed to solve this one,” Springer said.

Finding a killer

Four hairs that were collected from the teenager’s body at the crime scene were used to create a partial DNA profile.

This was sent to a lab in Virginia, where genealogists used DNA databases to search for possible suspects.

One name came back: Paul Hutchinson.

Danielle disappeared after driving to Cameron Bridge Fishing Access on the Gallatin River, pictured above. PictureL Visit Montana

He was a 55-year-old husband and father of two adult children, who graduated with a degree in fisheries wildlife biology before working for the Montana Bureau of Land Management for 22 years.

He lived with his wife in Dillon, Montana, around 100 miles from where the crime occurred.

At the time of the murder, he lived in nearby Bozeman, just a 17 minute drive from Belgrade.

Police interviewed Hutchinson, who had a clean record, on July 23, 2024, and noted some odd mannerisms and suspicious behaviour.

“During the nearly two-hour interview displayed extreme nervousness,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Investigators noted he sweated profusely, scratched his face, and chewed on his hand.”

Paul Hutchinson, a husband and father of two, was questoned over the murder. Picture: Gallatin Country Sheriff's Office

However, one of the most concerning things for police was when they showed him a photograph of Danielle, he became even more nervous and odd than before.

“When shown a photo of Houchins, Hutchinson slumped in his chair and exhibited signs of being uncomfortable,” they said.

“Upon release, his behaviour was observed to be erratic.”

Just eight hours after the interview had ended, Hutchinson took his own life.

Days later, DNA collected from his body was found to have matched DNA evidence collected from Danielle’s body, providing what Springer said was “100 per cent confirmation” that he was the killer.

The family has been searching for Danielle's killler for 28 years. Picture: Supplied

Her family have finally been given answers. Picture: Supplied

His family were notified of their findings, which understandably came as a huge shock.

“I feel sorrow for the Hutchinson family,” Springer said.

“They were unaware, of course, and in many ways they are also victims of this man.”

They do not believe Hutchinson had any relationship with his victim, but rather saw the attack as a “crime of opportunity”.

He was enrolled at the Montana State University and was 27 at the time of the murder, which he had gotten away with for the past 28 years.

Hutchinson had zero criminal record, not even a driving violation. Picture: Supplied

Bittersweet closure

“After nearly 28 years without answers without justice, we celebrate today,” says Stephanie Houchins, Danielle’s sister.

“He was the one who forcefully and violently sexually assaulted my sister. Then held her head down in a marsh until she choked to death on mud.

While Danielle’s family are happy to finally have closure, they are disheartened that it took 28 years to find out what happened to her.

“The institutions that are designed to protect the rights of victims. To ensure that vicious killers are incarcerated to deliver justice in Montana,” she said.

Danielle's case has stayed with officers since it happened. Picture: Supplied

“Those institutions failed my sister, failed my family, and failed this community.

“Danielle’s story should anger you. Should make you think about your mothers, your sisters, your wives, and your daughters.

“Should make you think about everything you would do to protect and honour the women you love.”

While the case is now closed, police are still looking into Paul Hutchinson’s life and possible connections to other cases.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer focused on the case after he was appointed in 2021. Picture: Supplied

Killer’s wife speaks

In a statement, Hutchinson’s wife of 22 years issued a statement on a funeral home website, replacing her husband’s original obituary.

“We are absolutely heartbroken to learn this news, and our hearts go out to the Houchins family,” she wrote.

“It is good to know that they will at last be able to find the closure that they deserve.

“Our own family was already reeling from dealing with Paul’s suicide.

“In 24 years of marriage there was never any hint that something like this could be lurking in the background.

“Paul was an exceptional husband and father. This latest news makes our grieving so much more complicated.

“We would appreciate being given the space to process and come to terms with this development as we mourn.”