Eric Hanson

Case record: Eric Hanson

People

• Eric Hanson — defendant; self-employed mortgage broker of Naperville; convicted of murdering his parents, sister, and brother-in-law.
• Kate Hanson-Tsao — sister and victim; 31-year-old Aurora woman.
• Jimmy Tsao — brother-in-law and victim; 34-year-old; husband of Kate Hanson-Tsao.
• Terrance Hanson — parent and victim; 55-year-old; shot to death in Naperville.
• Mary Hanson — parent and victim; 57-year-old; shot to death in Naperville.
• Jennifer Williams — surviving sister; testified against Eric Hanson.
• Robert Anderson — judge; announced the jury’s verdict shortly before 9 p.m.; ruled evidence issues including admissibility of Jennifer Williams’s recollection of a threat; ruled the jury could see videotapes in full if prosecution used them.
• Robert Miller — DuPage County Public Defender; Hanson’s attorney.
• Robert Berlin — Assistant State’s Atty.; prosecution.
• Scott Denton — forensic pathologist who conducted autopsies of Kate and Jimmy Tsao.
• John Collins — DuPage County sheriff’s crime lab director.
• Tara Burghart — AP reporter; provided background coverage of the upcoming trial.
• Art Barnum and Ted Gregory — Chicago Tribune reporters; provided coverage of the verdict.
• Christy Gutowski — Daily Herald reporter; provided coverage of forensic testimony.

Timeline

• Jan 15, 2008 — Jury selection began.
• Jan 29, 2008 — Coverage reported Hanson was set to go to trial in DuPage County on first-degree murder charges and that jury selection had begun.
• Feb 9, 2008 — Coverage reported forensic pathologist testimony detailing how Kate Hanson-Tsao and Jimmy Tsao died.
• Feb 21, 2008 — A DuPage County jury convicted Eric C. Hanson of murdering his parents, sister, and brother-in-law; judge Robert Anderson announced the jury’s verdict shortly before 9 p.m.
• Feb 27, 2008 — Hanson was sentenced to death.
• Feb 28, 2008 — Sentencing was included in coverage.

The offence

Eric Hanson was convicted of murdering his sister Kate Hanson-Tsao and her husband Jimmy Tsao, and of murdering his parents Terrance Hanson and Mary Hanson.

The murders occurred in late September 2005; prosecutors alleged the attack on the Aurora home occurred on Sept. 28, 2005, and the four bodies were discovered in the Tsaos’ Aurora home on Sept. 29, 2005, about six weeks after the alleged threat.

Prosecutors alleged that after Kate Hanson-Tsao discovered Eric Hanson stealing money from their parents, he beat Kate Hanson-Tsao and Jimmy Tsao to death in their Aurora home. Prosecutors then alleged that he drove to his parents’ Naperville home where he shot Terrance Hanson and Mary Hanson while they slept in their bed.

Authorities did not find signs of forced entry to either home, and valuables were not touched.

Prosecutors alleged that after the shooting, Hanson cleared his parents’ Naperville home of obvious signs of a crime, transferred the bodies to the Tsaos’ Aurora house, and attempted to conceal the second crime scene by cleaning up evidence of the shooting.

Investigation

Prosecutors presented evidence that included:

• A rubber glove found in Hanson’s SUV with his father’s blood.
• Jimmy Tsao’s Rolex watch and Kate Hanson-Tsao’s diamond wedding ring recovered from the SUV, with blood on them from the sister and her husband.
• Blood on gloves found in Hanson's Chevrolet TrailBlazer matched that of his parents.
• Forensic evidence linking the gunshots:
  • John Collins, DuPage County sheriff’s crime lab director, testified that the two bullets in the victims’ bodies were identical to a third fired bullet found in the Hansons’ attic space near the bed where they were shot.
  • Collins also testified that physical evidence such as the plastic baggie that held the rubber glove was similar to those found in the Naperville house.
• About 40 witnesses and 350 pieces of physical evidence, including graphic photos.
• Prosecutors said there was no confession and no murder weapons.

Authorities said detectives launched a manhunt for a suspect who had hopped on a flight within the United States. Hanson was arrested in Wisconsin after investigators tracked his cell phone to the area, and he was stopped near Portage, Wis. on Sept. 30, 2005.

Arrest

Eric Hanson was arrested in Wisconsin on Sept. 30, 2005, after investigators tracked his cell phone to the area. He was stopped near Portage, Wis.

Trial

Hanson’s trial occurred in DuPage County. Jury selection began Jan. 15.

Hanson pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence.

Charges and verdict

As the jury was polled, Eric Hanson affirmed his conviction on charges of:

• murder,
• robbery,
• aggravated kidnapping,
• identity theft.

The jury returned its verdict after deliberating about 90 minutes.

A jury later began the sentencing process to determine eligibility for the death penalty and, if eligible, whether Hanson should be sentenced to death.

Prosecution and defense arguments

Prosecutors:

• Argued Hanson had a financial motive.
• Argued Hanson beat the Tsaos in their Aurora home, then shot his parents while they slept, and then moved the bodies.
• Argued the physical evidence supported the timeline and other evidence and focused on financial motive, timeline, and other evidence.
• Robert Berlin, Assistant State’s Atty., asked jurors: "Who else would have a motive to clean up the house where he lived and make it look like he wasn't involved? His many lies are the shifting sands of a guilty mind."

Defense:

• Robert Miller, DuPage County Public Defender, argued Hanson could not have killed four people and cleared his parents’ home of evidence by himself.
• Miller said: "The police put on blinders and never looked anywhere but Eric," and that "The state didn't do a good job of excluding other possibilities."
• Miller called the prosecution’s case "a bunch of maybes."
• The defense argued authorities lacked murder weapons, a confession, and eyewitness testimony, and that Hanson did not have enough time to commit the crimes by 11 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2005, because Hanson testified he had boarded a plane to visit an ex-fiance in Los Angeles.
• Miller argued Hanson did not have to prove his innocence: "Eric doesn't have to prove his innocence under the law."
• Miller also stated: "The state gets emotional and does finger-pointing, but Eric doesn't have to prove his innocence under the law." (as presented in the narrative of closing arguments)

Evidence and witness testimony

Forensic testimony described the victims’ injuries and autopsy findings.

Scott Denton, forensic pathologist:

• Testified that Kate Hanson-Tsao and Jimmy Tsao died from catastrophic skull and brain injuries after being pummeled with an unknown pipe-like object.
• Tsao did not have defensive wounds.
• Denton testified that the killer repeatedly beat Tsao on his head and face while he sat on a love seat watching television and playing a game on his laptop computer.
• Denton testified that Kate put up a fight to live and suffered horrific face and head injuries, defensive wounds, and massive blood loss.

Jennifer Williams, Hanson’s surviving sister, wept during the verdict announcement and did not comment on the verdict outside court, saying she wanted to wait until the jury determined the sentence.

Threat testimony and evidentiary rulings

Jennifer Williams testified about a conversation in which Kate Hanson-Tsao told her she had caught Eric Hanson stealing money from their parents and that Kate threatened Eric with telling their father.

The remembered threat from Eric Hanson was:

• "If you tell Dad, I will kill you," as remembered by Jennifer Williams in a pretrial hearing based on her recollection of Kate’s recounting.

Judge Robert Anderson ruled that Williams’s recollection of the alleged threat could be admitted as evidence.

The defense argued Hanson’s right to confront a witness would be denied.

Videotaped statements

Judge Robert Anderson ruled that the jury could see videotapes of Hanson’s questioning in full if the prosecution chose to use them.

The defense sought to show only excerpts in which Hanson denied killing his family, while prosecutors said Hanson at times remained silent or cried with his head down during the questioning.

In one portion shown in court, Hanson said when asked why his family was killed:

• "I don't know why," he said calmly.

Hanson’s testimony

During trial, Hanson denied the murders but conceded he stole about $40,000 from his parents.

Hanson testified that he arrived at the Naperville home he shared with his parents at about 11 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2005, watched a DVD in his basement bedroom, and went to sleep. He testified he awoke the next morning about 7 and left for the airport for a trip to California, never hearing the gunshots that killed his parents the night before.

Prosecutors contended that Hanson attacked his sister and brother-in-law, then hours later shot his parents, cleared the Naperville home of signs of a crime, transferred the bodies to the Tsaos’ house, left on Sept. 29 to catch a flight to Los Angeles, attended a concert with his ex-fiance, and returned on Sept. 30 although he told authorities in cell phone conversations that he was still in Los Angeles.

Sentencing

On February 27, 2008, Eric Hanson was sentenced to death.

Jurors were to decide first whether Hanson was legally eligible for the death penalty and, if eligible, then whether he should be sentenced to death.

A moratorium on executions was issued by Gov. George Ryan in 2000 and continued by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Prosecutors for the case called the moratorium a "charade," but Blagojevich was not about to lift the ban.

Outcome

Eric Hanson was convicted of murdering his parents, sister, and brother-in-law, and the conviction led to a death sentence on February 27, 2008.

Other details

Victims and relationship details

• Eric Hanson killed his sister Kate Hanson-Tsao and her husband Jimmy Tsao in Aurora.
• Eric Hanson killed his parents Terrance and Mary Hanson in Naperville.
• The four bodies were discovered in the Tsaos’ Aurora home on Sept. 29, 2005.

Ages and identifying details

• Kate Hanson-Tsao was 31.
• Jimmy Tsao was 34.
• Terrance Hanson was 55.
• Mary Hanson was 57.

Financial wrongdoing

• Prosecutors alleged Hanson defrauded his mother and father of $140,000 after taking money through an elaborate credit card scheme.
• Prosecutors alleged Hanson stole more than $80,000 through forged checks and credit cards in order to cover up stealing more than $80,000.
• The Daily Herald reporting stated prosecutors alleged he stole $80,000 earlier and that he continued the scam even after his sister and mother confronted him.
• Hanson testified he conceded he stole about $40,000 from his parents.
• Coverage reported Kate discovered Eric Hanson’s identity theft and fraud against their parents the month before the murders.

Personal background and prior criminal history

In 1995, Hanson pleaded guilty to a series of home invasions in Oakland County, Mich., north of Detroit. He was allowed to serve time in a five-month boot camp program for first-time offenders.

• In 1997, Hanson broke terms of probation, and a judge sentenced him to 18 months in a Michigan prison.
• In 1999, Hanson pleaded guilty in Illinois to retail theft at a DuPage County department store and aggravated battery involving the merchant. He was sentenced to 30 months probation and 180 days in jail.

Other reported statements and allegations

• An uncle told police he once caught teenage Hanson watching a videotape of animals being tortured and killed.
• A family friend told authorities Hanson had forcibly held his daughter's head under water.
• Another family friend told police Hanson had threatened his sister Kate as a teen and was sent to reform school.
• A Tsao brother and business partner in a computer venture said Hanson had been banned from the Tsao house because Jimmy Tsao thought he was stealing money and valuables.
• Jennifer Williams told police that while her family appeared "picture perfect" to outsiders, Eric was a "con man" who counted on his parents to pay his bills and knew they would bail him out; Williams said Mary Hanson was especially concerned with protecting the family's image.

Travel and arrest logistics

• Authorities suspect Hanson planned to confront his last surviving sibling, Jennifer Williams, because she knew of his financial wrongdoing.
• Coverage said police suspected he planned to at least confront Jennifer Williams because she knew of his financial wrongdoing.
• Hanson was reportedly stopped near Portage, Wis., on Sept. 30, 2005, while authorities had planned to meet him at an airport in Los Angeles for his trip back to Illinois.

Sentencing phrasing and dates present in records

• The status field recorded the death sentence date as February 27, 2008.