A tragic turn of events unfolded in Montana last month when a man accused of killing a 15-year-old girl in 1996 died by suicide, just a day after being questioned by police about the cold case. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Paul Hutchinson, 55, was considered a suspect in the death of Danielle “Danni” Houchins after DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
Houchins went missing in 1996 after leaving her home and failing to return, prompting her family to report her disappearance. Her body was later discovered by two brothers near the Gallatin River, where she had been raped, suffocated, and left face down in shallow water. The case remained unsolved for years until modern forensic technology pointed to Hutchinson as the perpetrator.
Authorities described the killing as a crime of opportunity, as Hutchinson and Houchins had no prior connection. Stephanie Mollet, the victim’s younger sister, expressed her belief that Hutchinson violently assaulted and ultimately killed her sibling. Despite Hutchinson’s seemingly normal life with a family and stable job, his behavior during police questioning raised suspicions, leading to his subsequent suicide.
Following his death, the investigation into Houchins’ case is now closed, but authorities are exploring potential connections between Hutchinson and other cold cases across the country. The tragic end to this decades-old mystery serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of unresolved crimes on victims’ families and communities.
