Stepdaughter Denied Parole for 2007 Murder of Stepfather in San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA – The family of Timothy MacNeil continues to fight for justice, attending every court hearing to keep his murderer and stepdaughter, Brae Hansen, behind bars. On Tuesday, their efforts were rewarded as Hansen was denied parole.
Hansen, now in her mid-thirties, was 17 years old in 2007 when she and her brother conspired to murder their stepfather, 63-year-old Timothy MacNeil, in their Rolando home. According to authorities, Hansen lured MacNeil into the house, hid in the bathroom, and her brother fatally shot him downstairs. The pair staged the crime scene to look like a robbery, allegedly motivated by greed and the prospect of an early inheritance.
In 2009, Hansen expressed remorse at her sentencing, saying, “I’m so sorry about everything that has happened.” She was sentenced to life in prison without parole, while her brother received a sentence of 25 years to life. However, a subsequent Supreme Court ruling deemed life sentences for minors unconstitutional. Citing Hansen’s troubled childhood, including claims of abuse and her mother’s suicide, a judge reduced her sentence to 25 years to life.
At her first parole hearing, Hansen acknowledged her actions as “greedy and selfish” and stated that she has since changed. Despite this, the parole board determined that she lacks clear empathy, minimizes her actions, and still poses an unreasonable risk to public safety. The board concluded there is no clear assurance that she would act differently in the future.
MacNeil’s family, who has tirelessly opposed Hansen’s release, expressed relief at the decision. Shelly MacNeil, Timothy’s niece, said, “You can’t skid out on these technicalities. You brutally murdered him and planned it for a long time.”
The parole board’s decision ensures that Hansen will remain incarcerated, with her next parole hearing scheduled in three years. MacNeil’s family remains committed to preserving his memory and ensuring justice is upheld.
