BOZEMAN — Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer has announced that the man responsible for the death of 15-year-old Danielle Houchins has been identified.
During a press conference on Thursday morning, Springer revealed that Paul Nathaniel Hutchinson, 55, of Dillon, was identified through forensic DNA genome sequencing.
Last month, DNA evidence collected at the time of Houchins’ death was matched to Hutchinson. The day after law enforcement’s first interview with Hutchinson, he died by suicide.
Investigators have concluded that Hutchinson and Houchins did not have any prior connection. They believe that Hutchinson and Houchins crossed paths randomly at the river, where Hutchinson raped and suffocated her in shallow water, considering it a crime of opportunity.
Despite interviewing numerous suspects over the years, Hutchinson was never linked to the case until the DNA results pointed to him.
He was a Montana State University student in September 1996 and later graduated in fisheries wildlife biology. Hutchinson worked for the Montana Bureau of Land Management in Dillon for 22 years. He had no criminal record or history of traffic violations and was married with two adult children.
“This case showcases our unwavering dedication to seeking justice. We never gave up on uncovering the truth for Danni and her family, exhausting all possible avenues to bring a resolution to this heartbreaking situation,” Sheriff Springer stated. “Our commitment to justice for victims and their families remains steadfast, and we will utilize all available resources to solve these cases, regardless of the time that has passed.”
GALLATIN COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
On Saturday, September 21st, 1996, 15-year-old Danielle Houchins left her home in Belgrade and drove out to Cameron Bridge Fishing Access.
Concerned when she did not return home, her mother, Sheryl Houchins, set out to search for her. She discovered Danielle’s truck parked at the fishing access, unlocked and empty. The keys and water bottle were found a few feet away on the trail.
Houchins family
Sheryl searched tirelessly for her daughter, with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue. Unfortunately, the search had to be halted due to darkness.
A few hours later on September 21, 1996, Danielle Houchins was found murdered by family friends in a marshy area of Cameron Bridge.
Murder At Cameron Bridge: Who Killed Danielle Houchins?
Danielle’s body was discovered under a willow tree, showing signs of being dragged and hidden there.
Her body underwent an autopsy at the Montana State Crime Lab, revealing evidence of sexual assault and foreign DNA.
Now, nearly 25 years later, advanced DNA technology was crucial in identifying Hutchinson as the suspect.
Read the full news release from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office below:
After nearly three decades, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has announced the resolution of a cold case involving the murder of 15-year-old Danielle “Danni” Houchins from Belgrade, Montana. Houchins was tragically killed on September 21, 1996.
On that day, Houchins left her home around 11 AM. When she failed to return, her worried family reported her missing to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office. Her mother discovered Houchins’ truck at the Cameron Bridge Fishing Access on the Gallatin River, and later that night, Houchins’ body was found face down in shallow water.
