The following morning, Hutchinson called the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office, stating that he needed assistance before abruptly hanging up. He was found on the side of the road, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A Crime of Opportunity
Investigators have determined that Houchins and Hutchinson did not know each other, describing the murder as a “crime of opportunity.”
They believe that Hutchinson, who was a student at Montana State University at the time, randomly encountered Houchins before raping her and suffocating her in shallow water.
This brutal crime shattered the lives of Houchins’ family and left a community searching for answers for nearly three decades.
Justice and Closure
Sheriff Springer emphasized the importance of never giving up on the pursuit of justice. “This case exemplifies our relentless pursuit of justice. We never gave up on finding the truth for Danni and her family, exhausting all means necessary to bring closure to this heartbreaking chapter,” Springer said.
