Houchins’ younger sister, Stephanie Mollet, also spoke at a news conference, expressing the family’s relief that the case had been solved, despite the fact that Hutchinson will never face trial.
“Even though this man will not face a jury of his peers, I have no doubt he was the one who forcefully and violently sexually assaulted my sister, then held her head down in a marsh until she choked to death on mud,” Mollet said. “When the time came to face up and account for his violence, he instead chose to end his life. He knew of his guilt and couldn’t face my family or his family and the pain he caused.”
The resolution of Houchins’ murder case brings a bittersweet sense of closure to her family and the community.
The identification of Hutchinson as her killer, aided by advancements in DNA technology, underscores the importance of persistence in seeking justice for victims.
This announcement comes just days after another cold case in Hawaii was solved through DNA testing, where the suspect also died by suicide before he could be arrested.
