A married father-of-two took his own life this week, hours after being questioned over a three-decade-old murder case, authorities in Montana said.
55-year-old Paul Hutchinson was recently identified as the killer of 15-year-old Danielle “Danni” Houchins through DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy.
Danni was found deceased, face down in shallow water near the Cameron Bridge Fishing Access point in September 1996.
Over the years, investigators interviewed many suspects until 2021, when a private investigator was hired to assist in the cold case.
Authorities said hair collected from the teen’s body led to the identification of Hutchinson who was interviewed in connection to the cold case on July 23.
The man appeared nervous and uncomfortable when shown a picture of the victim he was being accused of raping and killing when he had just become a student at Montana State University.
“Investigators noted he sweated profusely, scratched his face, and chewed on his hand,” the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Upon release, his behavior was observed to be erratic.”
Hutchinson called Beaverhead County deputies seeking assistance and hung up the phone. He was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the side of a road.
“When the time came to face up and account for his violence, he instead chose to end his life,” Danni’s sister said.
“He knew of his guilt and couldn’t face my family or his family and the pain he had caused.”
