BOZEMAN — The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday who killed Danielle Houchins, the 15-year-old girl who was raped and murdered at Cameron Bridge nearly 28 years ago. And although we now know who the killer is, we still may never know what prompted him to kill an innocent girl.
“After nearly 28 years without answers without justice, we celebrate today,” says Stephanie Houchins, Danielle’s sister.
On Sept. 21, 1996, Houchins left her home in Belgrade and drove out to the Cameron Bridge Fishing Access site. She never returned home. Several hours after she went missing her body was found by family friends. She had been murdered.
Who killed Danielle Houchins? That was the question that remained unanswered for almost 28 years. Until about a month ago.
“During the initial investigation, 4 hairs were collected from Danni’s body,” said Sheriff Dan Springer.
The sheriff’s office reopened the case in 2019. New technology gave hope for a different outcome in the cold case.
The preserved evidence was first sent to a forensics lab in California, where it was run through the FBI’s combined DNA index system. No matches were found. Investigators didn't give up, and a match was finally found in the database of a large American genealogy company through a court order.
“Preliminary DNA analysis led us to Paul Hutchinson of Dillon, Montana,” said Springer.
In July of 2024, investigators interviewed 55-year-old Paul Hutchinson at his home in Dillon.
“As they discussed Danni’s case, he exhibited signs of nervousness and other erratic behavior. Less than 12 hours later Hutchinson committed suicide,” said the sheriff.
After the suicide, the sheriff's office received confirmation that DNA evidence was a complete match to Paul Hutchinson. Springer said Hutchinson was married and worked for the Bureau of Land Management for 22 years.
“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,” said Stephanie.
Hutchinson had two children, a daughter around the age of 20 and a younger son. Springer said Hutchinson was a graduate student at Montana State University and had only been in the Bozeman area a short period at the time of the murder.
“This appeared to be a crime of opportunity where an evil man took the life of an innocent and lovely 15-year-old girl. This case exemplifies the sheriff’s office's relentless pursuit of justice. We never gave up finding the truth for Danni and her family,” said Springer.
But after nearly 28 years of fighting to find justice for her sister, Stephanie Houchins says she still feels unsatisfied.
“The institutions that are designed to protect the rights of victims, to ensure that vicious killers are incarcerated to deliver justice in Montana. Those institutions failed my sister, failed my family, and failed this community,” she said.
Stephanie said 28 years is far too long and she had to fight far too hard to find justice for her sister.
“Montanans, Danielle’s story should anger you. Should make you think about your mothers, your sisters, your wives, and your daughters. Should make you think about everything you would do to protect and honor the women you love,” said Stephanie.
The investigation into the death of Danielle Houchins is closed. However, law enforcement is still looking into Paul Hutchinson’s life, and possible connections to other cold cases.
Update
The wife of Paul Hutchinson, the man who Gallatin County Sheriff's Office say killed Daniel Houchins, issued a statement on the funeral home website replacing the original obituary.
We are absolutely heartbroken to learn this news, and our hearts go out to the Houchins family. It is good to know that they will at last be able to find the closure that they deserve. Our own family was already reeling from dealing with Paul's suicide. In 24 years of marriage there was never any hint that something like this could be lurking in the background. Paul was an exceptional husband and father. This latest news makes our grieving so much more complicated. We would appreciate being given the space to process and come to terms with this development as we mourn.
Thank you,
Kristi Huthinson
The funeral home also issued a statement:
On behalf of Brundage Funeral Home, we would like to acknowledge the thoughts and sentiments of everyone that is trying to post to Paul’ Obituary. And these are all valid feelings. We would also like to express our deepest sympathy for Dani’s family for their loss and hope that they are able to find closure for this heinous event. For everyone, please understand that the position of a funeral home is NOT to sit in judgement of anyone, but to support the families that are left to pick to the pieces of this or any other events in life. The family of Paul are also now trying to figure out how to move forward and pick up the pieces of their lives, that they now question. The wife and children were not aware of any crimes that have happened prior to them and are also reeling from this news. The funeral home would ask that everyone please understand that we DO NOT condone what happened in 1996, or any other crimes he may have committed. But respect our obligation to our families we serve, and will give the same dedication, dignity and respect to ALL the families we serve. Thank you for your understanding.
