Fair Game Alaska's Most Notorious Serial Killer

by Bernard DuClos

Young beautiful women flocked to boomtown Anchorage in Alaska, chasing dreams of easy riches. They thought they'd hit the jackpot when they met handsome, charismatic big game hunter Robert Hansen. A man with plenty of money, he baited his trap with the promise of a joyride in his private plane. His unwary victims landed in a nightmare.

The twisted man would fly them to his remote cabin, and submit them to rape and torture before turning them loose. After giving them a few minutes' head start, he would stalk his human prey, hunting them down like helpless animals - then burying them beneath the frozen tundra. For ten years he carried out his depraved sport undetected, until one of his terrified victims managed to run far enough and fast enough to escape.

Here is the shocking true story of Alaska's most notorious serial killer, and how a group of determined detectives brought him to justice with the assistance of VICAP, the FBI unit made famous by 'The Silence of the Lambs'.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

284 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 1993

Reviews

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like true crime books that have something different. This was different because it took place in Alaska in the early 1990's about a man who killed at least 17 prostitutes and/or exotic dancers. If I could change one thing I would have had him interview the killers wife and family but perhaps they refused. The book touches lightly into the psyche of a killer and mentions John Walsh but it would have been interesting to find out how the killer went for so long without his wife noticing anything. It held my interest all the way through. It was interesting to find out the killer was born just 20 miles from me in Minnesota. If I could I would like to tell the author that the name of the town the killer was born in is spelled Estherville and not Esterville.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

For no obvious reason, one tends not to think of Alaska as killing grounds but serial killer Robert Hansen changed that perception.

Brought up in an unhappy household, he began a life of petty crime at an early age but nobody thought that he would turn out to be the notorious serial killer that he became.

Before he began his killing spree, he had been in trouble with the law on more than one occasion and spent various spells in prison. When he was released for his last prosecuted offence he was supposed to have been under surveillance both psychologically and criminally. However, the system somehow failed and he was allowed to roam free.

This started him on his final crimes, which were atrocious. Somehow he managed to get a pilot's licence and acquired himself a 'plane with money that he was earning from his baker's business in Anchorage. And in this 'plane he flew his victims to the frozen tundra before committing horrendous crimes on them and then letting them loose, only to then hunt them down and finally kill them. They were buried in shallow graves and in rivers and he kept a map with asterisks representing all the locations where bodies were secreted. This, of course, later helped investigators identify the remains of many of the missing women.

One state trooper suspected him all along and he reported this to his superiors who, because of his persistence, finally took notice. And when one of his intended victims escaped and reported to police, the manhunt began in earnest. Caught he was sentenced to life and is still regarded as a very dangerous criminal by the Alsakan authorities.

It is a gripping, if sometimes horrendous, book.

[Dollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently watched a movie I’d never heard of entitled The Frozen Ground, which focused on the hunt for a serial rapist/killer in Alaska forty or so years ago. I didn’t realize it was a true story until photos of the victims were shown at the end of the film. I had never heard of murderer, Robert Hansen, so I got on Wikipedia and learned about Hansen and this book. From 1970 to the mid-1980s, this husband and father of two small children who owned a bakery in Anchorage and was a big-game hunter, preyed on down-on-their-luck exotic dancers and prostitutes ranging in age from 16-early 40s. This was a heart-breaking read. Mr. Du Clos told this story so well that I could imagine the hell the families of these women went through and the frustration of the Alaska detectives and troopers trying to catch this killer. What was also sad was how long it took them to finally start suspecting Hansen. This was a shocking story in a few different ways and I had a hard time putting it down. It was well-written and informative. I now know more about Alaska than I’ve ever known and more about Robert Hansen than I could ever imagine. I’m hoping I'll eventually forget the mention that his penis appeared mutilated to one of his victims. I would recommend this book to any true crime readers who want to know more about this case.

[Christine Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading this incredible true crime account, based in Anchorage. His victims were dancers at mob-run clubs that proliferated in Anchorage during the oil boom. What is incredible about it is how many times the perp (Robert Hansen) was released on probation or parole (because he was an upstanding citizen) and then immediately proceeded to kill or assault again. He was an arsonist and kleptomaniac who was arrested time and again--and released. It is a horrible testament to the throw-away status of the dancers and prostitutes he killed. In one case, the dancer was the only person who showed up for the prosecution in his trial because the state trooper who arrested him did not bother. She was was grilled herself on what she was wearing, the fact that she was a young single mother, and her sex life. Hansen, on the other hand, was a prominent local businessman and record-holding big-game hunter with friends who would back up his shaky alibis. Du Clos believes Hansen's passion for hunting extended to his attacks on women--the thrill was in the chase.

The book includes fascinating descriptions of organized crime in Alaska, including mob connections with Seattle and Hawaii, around the time of the pipeline boom, including exploitation of women brought from the lower 48 by Talent West (which had organized crime connections) to be dancers in seedly clubs. The women were lied to about their compensation, airfare, and housing. Some of women had no family or friends to realize they were missing, but others pushed to find the killer who was stalking the dancers. Du Clos's writing can venture into tabloid quality, verging on the sensational--but then, the crimes were also outrageous and the lack of concern about them appalling.

The story was made into a direct-to-video movie, "Frozen Ground," with John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, and Vanessa Hudgens.

[Christine Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodread's description of DuClos's account of the life and crimes of Anchorage big game hunter and serial killer Robert Hansen as "capable, but breathless" nails it. There is an "Oh, my gosh!" quality to the writing that sometimes makes the reader think they are reading a tabloid. The story is chilling, fascinating, and appalling. Hansen, serial rapist and murderer, who began his criminal career with arson as a young man, was repeatedly released by the justice system because he was a reputable family man, owner of a bakery and record-holder for trophy game hunting. His victims, however, were dancers at seedy Anchorage strip clubs. In one case, his victim was the only person representing the prosecution at a trial--not even the arresting officer bothered to show up. DuClos's description of organized crime in Anchorage during the pipeline boom is one of the best parts of the book. Criminal elements with connections to Seattle and Hawaii promised young women round-trip airfare, living quarters, and big bucks originating with Alaska's oil boom if they would come to dance at the clubs they owned. Their cover organization, Talent West, did not keep promises and left admittedly naive women stranded with few options for returning home or supporting themselves. These women were Hansen's targets. Hansen was repeated released after minimal psychiatric treatment.

Fair Game is chilling and compelling reading if you can get past the style. It was made into a film with Nicholas Cage and John Cusack, which I have not yet seen.

[Orion · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good look at the culture and climate that allowed Robert Hanson to murder for so long. DuClos avoids many of the myths about Hansen’s case and illuminates the negligence of many law enforcement officials (and highlights the hard work of some!), but it can be quite slow and dry at points. I found it hard to read more than a chapter or two without getting distracted.

[Leia]

The particular copy I read was very poorly edited but I think that was just a printing issue. It also had no source citations at all. The timeline was very confused by the narrative structure as well, and no timeline was provided. It had good information and a clear passion for the case, but would have benefited from further editing and a reference list or sources.

[Valeria Marzullo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up, audiobook version, after hearing the story on "Casefile" podcast. It is such an appalling case, I was really intrigued...but the book is confused. Could have been edited better. Particularly flat on the audio version. At the beginning of chapter 30, the author makes some points about rape that left me having to listen to the chapter twice. Not good.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horrific story, well told, with a gripping sense of the place and time when the crimes happened. It grinds me that so many marks on Robert Hansen's map are still unexplained. I hope all those unlucky women are resting in peace.

[MaryAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Contrary to popular myth, rape is not the acting out of sexual desire, but rather the violent expression of anger stemming from feelings of helplessness or inadequacy."

I disagree with that. It is like saying: "theft is not about stealing, it is about power," or "murder is not about killing, it is about power."

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is out of print so I had to purchase it through a used online bookstore. I learned a lot about Robert and stuff that didn’t pertain to him - like how crime families are apparently still a thing and how they operated strip clubs. Pictures are included. This was better than the movies they have made about him (like Frozen Ground).

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is just an example of how frustrating our criminal system can be. So many clues as to the murders and rapes by Robert Hansen and yet he was allowed to roam the streets of Alaska for years.

[Anne Cupero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This case is very interesting, but this author did not do nearly enough research to cover his story thoroughly enough. I think it came across as being rushed into print.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-linear look at the crimes committed by Alaska serial killer Robert Hansen. Fair Game reads more like a novel than nonfiction book in writing style, making it highly engaging.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of true crime but had never heard of Bob Hansen. the book was functional in telling the story but I would have liked more about the girls and less history of the areas he lived.

[goatbones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, but I wouldn't recommend the e-book edition as it's full of formatting and spelling errors.