Post by Scumhunter on Oct 2, 2024 16:15:37 GMT -5
From azcentral.com:
In 2009, Kim Hansen watched in disbelief as her lively 6-year-old daughter climbed on top of a fence in their backyard in order to mount her new horse all by herself.
Her daughter had discovered a passion for animals that would motivate her into her young adult life—a life that ended before her 20th birthday.
Now, Hansen continues to search for answers while operating a dog rescue in her daughter's memory, as the case of Rachel Hansen's murder remains unsolved more than two years after her death.
Rachel was 19 years old when she was fatally shot on June 4, 2022, in her Gilbert apartment, one week before her 20th birthday. No information is known about the suspect.
“For that year, we were just in shock, just reeling from unimaginable loss and literally in survival-only mode.”
The Hansen family, who have a long history of fostering an adopting children, adopted Rachel when she was 6 years old.
“She would sit on the fence and look out at the pasture and just sit there and say, 'I just wish I had a horse.'" Hansen said. "And so, for a little girl who had been through a lot of early childhood trauma, we had no choice but to get her a horse!”
Rachel spent all of her free time riding horses, Hansen said, and would go on to graduate high school early to start her own business buying, selling and training horses.
“I was just always amazed at how bold she was.”
One year after Rachel's death, Hansen started Rachel's Rescue to honor her daughter's memory. The inspiration came from Rachel, who wanted to start her own rescue after fostering dogs with their family during the COVID lockdown.
“During that time, when we fostered for other rescue. Rachel would often say, 'Mom, let's start our own rescue. I just want to start a rescue with you.' And to the point that she would sit down at the kitchen table and doodle different things that could be logos or names or whatever. She was very serious about it," Hansen said.
Since starting the rescue in June 2023, the family has found homes for more than 200 dogs. There are usually 15-20 puppies and adult dogs in their home at a time, Hansen said, including six dogs they had adopted through the fostering process.
The Hansens continue to operate the rescue and spread Rachel's story for the next year, still with no answers from police.
“The Gilbert Police Department has reached the end of their ropes, so to speak," Hansen said.
Officials told The Republic that the case remains to be an active investigation.
"We understand how difficult lengthy investigations can be on the families and friends of victims, as well as our community," said Sgt. Lorenzo Teruya, a spokesperson for Gilbert Police.
"We want to stress that this is a highly sensitive case, and we must be cautious that any information shared does not jeopardize our investigation or our steadfast endeavor to bring justice to Rachel and her loved ones," he said.
The family decided to start a GoFundMe in June to raise money for a private investigation.
So far, they have raised $1,175 out of their $20,000 goal, and all donations go toward covering necessary expenses.
Hansen said the most important thing to her, among all her efforts, is that people hear Rachel's story.
“Talk about the case. Share the case. Share information, pass it along," she said. “Sharing her story — and nationwide, not just necessarily locally — because we have no idea where her killer is today.”
Anyone with information regarding the case is advised to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-Testigo for Spanish speakers. You also can leave an anonymous tip on the Silent Witness website at silentwitness.org.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/gilbert/2024/08/15/rachel-hansen-was-killed-in-her-home-two-years-ago-what-we-know/74801075007/
Thoughts? I am placing Rachel’s case in the National Media unsolved section because the search for her killer has been the subject of a few national podcasts including True Crime with Kendall Rae. This is an awful and tragic story and the fact that she called 911 after being shot and there’s still no justice is very upsetting.
open.spotify.com/episode/1GS8lqGxBCE2ONxA7QZV0t
Admin Note: If you have any (news-related) updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form