Rachel Hansen’s mother pleas for public’s help 4 years after murder

The mother of Rachel Hansen, a 19-year-old woman who was shot while sleeping in her Gilbert apartment, asked for the public’s help and more communication from police on Thursday, which was the fourth anniversary of her daughter’s death.

“We held the press conference today … to reach out to the community to ask for their help and support. And just keep the pressure on for the investigation,” Kim Hansen told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Evening News. “I’m  hoping that somebody knows something that has just not come forward yet.”

On June 4, 2022, Gilbert officers responded to an apartment near San Tan Village Parkway and Ray Road around 2 a.m. after Rachel Hansen called 911 and told dispatchers she’d been shot by an unknown person inside her home. She was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center where she later died.

Kim Hansen explained that while investigators typically reach out to her and her family every few months, they contact police every six to eight weeks asking about updates and new information.

“But there has been a lack of communication, especially for a grieving family,” Hansen said. “Parents and family of a murdered child should have more communication about an ongoing investigation and that’s been very, very difficult. … All they say is that they are continuing to investigate.”

She added that investigators have failed to provide documents they’ve requested, such as the medical examiner’s report, or have provided heavily redacted versions that they can’t obtain any information from.

Mother does not believe Rachel Hansen’s murder was random

While Hansen doesn’t have any theories on why her daughter was murdered, she does not believe that it was a random act of violence.

“I do think that people know, somebody knows, maybe one person or more than one person, but we truly believe, and we have said from day one, that somebody out there somewhere knows something,” Hansen said. “And we’re just hoping and praying that by putting pressure on this whole situation in our community that somebody will eventually do the right thing and come forward.”

Hansen emphasized that even the tiniest bit of information could help solve the case.

Additionally, the mother expressed frustration over information not being included in Gilbert police’s investigation, including a jar of pickles that was left at Rachel Hansen’s apartment in the days leading up to her murder.

“Rachel herself told me on the phone about the jar of pickles. Her fiancé was there with her when the jar of pickles was found. He told Gilbert PD about that. I told Gilbert PD about that. It was on the counter in her apartment when we went to get her belongings out of the apartment and now Gilbert PD is saying there was no jar of pickles,” Hansen explained. “That’s false. That’s false.”

She emphasized that she and her family are committed to finding out who is responsible for Rachel’s death.

“We made a promise to Rachel four years ago, and we’re never going to give up on this,” Hansen said. “We will continue to search and fight and do whatever we have to to find answers and bring justice for her.”

There is a reward of up to $20,000 offered for any information that may lead to an arrest. Anyone with information regarding the murder is asked to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446) for Spanish Speakers.

Related

Police investigate death of 19-year-old in Gilbert apartmentDetectives searching for suspect who shot sleeping 19-year-old woman in GilbertMaricopa County Library District celebrates opening of new West Valley branchBygone mall favorite Hot Dog on a Stick plans return to ArizonaCentral Arizona Project president says feds ‘bought the lies’ on Colorado River planGlendale Police ask for help identifying car involved in hit-and-run that killed bicyclist