Cold Case Solved: Breakthrough in 1996 Murder of Belgrade Teen After 27 Years

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has made a significant breakthrough in a decades-old cold case, bringing long-awaited justice to the family of a Belgrade teen who was tragically murdered in 1996. Last month, authorities named 57-year-old Paul Hutchinson as the prime suspect in the brutal killing of 15-year-old Danielle “Danni” Houchins. Shortly after being questioned by investigators, Hutchinson took his own life, ending a tragic story that had haunted the community for nearly three decades.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer emphasized the department’s unwavering commitment to solving the case, stating, “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. Our commitment to justice for victims and their loved ones is unwavering, and we will continue to use every resource at our disposal to solve these cases, no matter how much time has passed.”

Danielle Houchins was murdered on September 21, 1996. She left her home around 11 a.m., but when she didn’t return, her family reported her missing to the sheriff’s office. Her mother later found Houchins’ pickup at the Cameron Bridge Fishing Access on the Gallatin River. That night, her body was discovered face down in shallow water.

Investigators concluded that Hutchinson and Houchins had no prior connection. They believe it was a crime of opportunity, with Hutchinson and Houchins meeting randomly at the river, where Hutchinson raped and suffocated her. Despite examining multiple suspects over the years, Hutchinson was only recently linked to the case through DNA testing. Hutchinson, who had attended Montana State University in 1996 and later worked for the Montana Bureau of Land Management, had no criminal record and was married with two grown children.

Sheriff Springer noted that the investigation remained open because they were determined to find justice for Danni. When Springer took office in 2021, he sought a fresh perspective, bringing in private investigator Tom Elfmont and Sergeant Court Depweg, an expert in DNA technology from the Newport Beach Police Department.

During the initial investigation, four hairs were collected from Houchins’ body. This preserved evidence was analyzed at Astria Forensics in California, where a partial DNA profile was developed. Although the profile initially yielded no matches in the FBI’s database, further analysis by genealogists at Parabon NanoLabs in Virginia identified Hutchinson as the suspect.

On the evening of July 23, Elfmont and Depweg interviewed Hutchinson, who appeared highly nervous during the two-hour session. The next morning, Hutchinson called the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office for assistance, but deputies later found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators noted that Hutchinson had exhibited erratic behavior, sweating profusely, scratching his face, and appearing uncomfortable when shown a photo of Houchins. His tragic suicide brought an abrupt end to the case, but it also brought a sense of closure to Houchins’ family and the community.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to justice and has shared information with federal and local law enforcement agencies to locate possible victims of similar crimes. The resolution of this case marks the end of a long and painful journey for all those involved.