He also thinks he should get credit for the time he spent on a GPS monitor. Brittani Marcells condition was listed as critical, and she was placed in a medically induced coma. Justice is not really being served, she said. Mike Snyder Murder Mystery Explained | Where is Ellen Snyder Now? Investigators also decided to seek assistance with a technology called DNA business, which had developed an innovative invention that uses DNA to discover the individuals genetic features such as their eye color or hair color. Hansen pleaded no contest to beating a then 17-year-old, Brittani,. She has three younger siblings and a brother named Jonathan. As per official court records, Justin Hansen is presently in NMCD custody. In 2015, when the original detective on the case was preparing to retire, a clerical error led to the destruction of almost all the evidence in the case -- nearly a year and a half before investigators had even heard of Hansen. Hansen is charged with kidnapping with great bodily harm, attempted murder and other crimes. The investigators had swarmed the quiet neighborhood of the Marcell residence and began looking for evidence. went through the surgery and it completely transformed her smile. But the case went to a dead end when authorities could not find any potential suspects or clues. CLIP 11/03/21. Then, according to the Journal, a name came to her: Justin Hansen. I have a (photo of Hansen) two months after the attack, and he has tattoos. Still, Hansen protests that he is innocent. Culture Movies & TV. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Detectives were certain that this would be the key to solving the mystery. The hypnosis partially helped, with Brittani remembering a vague description of her killer, who was tall with spikey hair and a fair complexion. Shoemaker also pointed out that her sons eyes are undeniably green, unlike the description of brown eyes that Brittani Marcell had given of her attacker, and that hes had tattoos since at least 2008, the year Brittani Marcell was attacked. Hansen has green eyes. But the focus went to the single drop of blood found outside the Marcells' house. Aug 22: difference between nascar cup and xfinity series cars . The attacker had left behind a bloody shovel, knife, and roll of duct tape, but he had also unintentionally left behind another critical clue. For more on this case and others like it, watch "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered," airing Wednesdays at 8/7c on Oxygen or stream episodes here. "He was at a fast-food restaurant drinking from a cup, and he threw that cup into the trash can and then left," Waymire said. Marcell, her father, was a successful artist who passed away in 2008. In 2016, Brittani came up with an initial name, Justin, and her sisters recognized the name. The police got approval from a local district attorney and undercover detectives followed Justin and got his DNA from a cup he drank from at a McDonalds. You dont understand the language that you and I are speaking today., And then, when I went to rehab, I was more of like a teenager, a young teenager, Marcell continues. The Marcell family and Justin Hansen sitting down with ABC for the world to hear. At that point, Justin Hansen did jump to the top of the list as a suspect, Waymire said. Police spoke to Mr Hansen at his house but couldnt persuade him to give them a sample of his DNA to compare against the sample left at the scene of the crime. Brittani Marcell survived a nearly fatal attack in 2008, when she was hit with a shovel in her Albuquerque, New Mexico home. Brittani Marcell's mother Diane Marcell is seen here during a "20/20" interview. or. The brackets are out for softball, baseball, tennis: How did your team fare. Doctors discovered she had a broken left arm, a broken left wrist, multiple skull fractures, fixed pupils and minimal brain activity. Once we were able to go inside, you could see it was pretty violent, he told Dateline reporter Andrea Canning. Mr Gonterman said however that shed come across a report in which Hansen was a suspect in a rape. I know Im not guilty, Hansen said. Take a look. He was indicted in 2017. Really, at this point, we had no suspect at all, so everybody is, Morales said. She said shed never forget that face, and I know as a mom I would never forget that face, Shoemaker said. This is not the first time Hansen has asked for a shorter sentence. After undergoing hypnosis, MsMarcell said she began to remember details about her attacker. They even looked into the lives of her siblings, searching for a potential suspect. One person transported to hospital following crash on Coors APD's Motors Unit is currently investigating APD's Motors Unit is currently investigating the cause of the crash. She had MsMarcell meet with a forensic psychologist who hypnotised her, trying to draw out any memories of the attack buried under her trauma. This involves making small incisions around the mouth to slightly turn up the lips. Brittani Marcellus. Brittani Marcell, a New Mexican native, was an energetic and outgoing 17-year-oldhigh school student. ABC's Matt Gutman described it as a severe, brutal and senseless act. This way when investigators finally found the attacker, they could attach his name to the existing indictment and ensure that he faced all possible charges. (A no-contest plea essentially has the same effect as a guilty plea, but the defendant does not admit the accusations against them.). Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. We havent been able to test that blood ourselves and test Justins against that, Ms Shoemaker said. When she returned, she was aided in finding the attacker who had escaped through the window. Brittani Marcell's sister is using her family's experience to help other female victims fight for justice. He was at a fast-food restaurant drinking from a cup, and he threw that cup into the trash can and then left, Waymire said. On Wednesday, the man accused of brutally beating a woman with a shovel in 2008 was sentenced to 18 years in prison. But Marcell is certain of his guilt, and her family agrees. Ms Shoemaker questioned why Ms Marcells mother, Diane Marcell, who also saw the attacker, was unable to identify Hansen when she was shown a photo line-up. I see a person Ive never seen before in my house and hes holding a shovel and he walks through my living room, drops the shovel and walks through the dining room and around to the kitchen, and I am looking at him and he tells me Im next, while hes reaching for a butcher knife, Diane recalled to Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, airing Wednesdays at 8/7c on Oxygen. Brittani Marcell is an inspiring woman who has taken an incredible journey to self-discovery and transformation. ABC says that Hansen, who does not have a previous criminal history, argues additional testing on the weapons at the scene in 2008 now impossible due to a 2015 error resulting in their destruction would have exonerated him. We talked to her and shed blink her eyes and smile, but we knew at that point, there was a lot of paralysis, her mom, Diane, said. My son didnt do this. The high school teenager who worked at a sunglasses kiosk at the Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque, New. The sister of Brittani Marcell was shocked to see Justin Hansen at a recent Isotopes game. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? But the attack had also caused significant damage to Brittanis memory and she was unable to remember most of her high school career including who had attacked her that fateful morning. Attack on Brittani Marcell "Seemed Personal" Diane Marcell was looking forward to having lunch with her 17-year-old daughter, Brittani when she opened the door to the family's Albuquerque home and made a grisly discovery. She was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, with minimal brain activity, fixed pupils, a crushed ear canal, and severely damaged optic nerve. Her case was re-opened in 2013, and investigators encouraged Brittani to undergo hypnosis in 2014 as it might help her to recover her suppressed memory. An exclusive preview is above. Cooper also said she didnt think the description of the attacker that Marcell and her mother provided over the years looked like Hansen. He Said Youre Next: Brittani Marcells Mom Recalls Attack, Attack on Brittani Marcell Seemed Personal, I see a person Ive never seen before in my house and hes holding a shovel and he walks through my living room, drops the shovel and walks through the dining room and around to the kitchen, and I am looking at him and he tells me Im next, while hes reaching for a butcher knife, Diane recalled to, For more on this case and others like it, watch "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered," airing. Hansens public defender, Sophie Cooper, said she does not believe the DNA evidence laid out in the affidavit is conclusive, and the affidavit doesnt say whether Hansens DNA matched other samples found at the house. Brittani had 22 surgeries to fix her damaged face. Brittani Marcell is seen here in this family photo taken in July 2008 before she was attacked. Jonathan, her brother, is also a photographer and model. It was pretty obvious that unless Brittani Marcell recovered memories of the attacker, that the one and only piece of evidence was a single blood drop, Mr Waymire told. But when Det Gonterman did not hear back from Mr Hansen, she asked undercover detectives to follow him and get a sample of his DNA. Brittani lost her left eyesight as well as was declared deaf permanently in her ear. Detectives deemed him suspected and demanded an autopsy, but Justin did not respond. They had been dating for a couple years, and she admitted that she had been drinking, Ms Shoemaker said. It was scary after they told me what had happened, MsMarcell told. Published: Friday, July 7th, 2017 at 6:25PMUpdated: Friday, July 7th, 2017 at 9:27PM. By the time he was sentenced, Brittani had already endured 22 painful surgeries, but she planned to go back for one more surgery to try to regain her smile, something she lost as a result of the paralysis. Justin Hansen, a father-of-four, was convicted of attempted murder in June for the 2008 assault of a 17-year-old girl. Marcell was in a . Be sure to do your research and consult with a qualified surgeon before making any decisions about elective surgery. To gain more information about who investigators might be looking for, Gonterman turned to Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company, who had just begun ground-breaking analysis that allowed scientists to determine a persons genetic characteristics, like their ethnicity, hair color and eye color, through DNA. To improve your experience, MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies aged 46. I know that Brittani has suffered a lot, Ms Shoemaker said. As for the DNA evidence that seemingly puts Mr Hansen at the Marcell house the day of the attack, Ms Shoemaker said: I dont know. She is sharing what they went through for years, to get justice after the Cibola. While he remembered Brittani he downplayed their relationship, saying that he had walked by maybe but never had like a hang out.. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "My sister's been crying and struggling for this and now you're sad? He had cut himself on a piece of glass that was part of the window in the broken dining room through which he fled. Your email address will not be published. She decided that she didn't want to prosecute because she was drinking at the time, Gonterman said. Is it something thats right for everyone? Man Gets Life in Prison for 2016 Killing of Google Employee Vanessa Marcotte, Ex-Army Sergeant Admits He Fatally Stabbed Service Member Who Reported Fellow Soldier's Marijuana Use, Couple Jailed for Plotting to Sell U.S. Nuclear Secrets Hidden in Peanut Butter Sandwich, having been brutally beaten with a shovel in her home. Morales believed it could be the clue to break open the case, but after uploading the DNA into the national CODIS database, a database run by the FBI of DNA profiles gathered from across the country, there were no hits. He was arrested Wednesday night and had his first court appearance in the 2nd Judicial District Court on Friday morning. Marcell says acquaintance Justin Hansen savagely attacked her in her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2008. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brittani Marcell was an energetic and bubbly 17-year-old high school student. Her family is outraged after recent developments. She was a fun-loving and outgoing person, had a brother and five sisters, and worked at a sunglass kiosk at the Cottonwood Mall. Det. Thats what I want, my smile. Is Brittani Marcell married? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Hes crying again, and hes getting his way once again. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Marcells friends also told detectives last January that they had seen him hanging out at her store, leaning on the counter and talking with her. She would have to relearn how to read, write, walk, even swallow. Her parents, Brittanis sister, Emily, is an actor, and her sister, Amanda, a dancer, is a successful businesswoman. It matched the DNA from the crime scene, and Justin was arrested on July 5, 2017. That's what concerns me the most is just not being able to wake up and see them in the morning. Since her Smile Surgery - a facial plastic surgery procedure to correct her crooked smile - in 2018, she has been an advocate for self-acceptance, body positivity, and self-confidence. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. It took several weeks to recover from her medically induced condition, only to lose nearly all memories regarding her college days and the brutal attack on her. glendale dmv driving test route selects academy at bishop kearney tuition brittani marcell before and after; 29. Shoemaker questioned why Brittani Marcells mother, Diane Marcell, who also saw the attacker, was unable to identify Hansen when she was shown a photo lineup. The cases progression is traced on Friday nights episode of ABCs 20/20, which is exclusively previewed above, in a clip that explains how Marcell first decided to undergo hypnotherapy to aid law enforcement. She was a fun and social person. Marcell Family But when Gonterman did not hear back from Hansen, she asked undercover detectives to follow him and get a sample of his DNA. The detectives were confident that it would prove to be an essential clue. Zero percent, Ms Shoemaker told. It was pretty obvious that unless Brittani Marcell recovered memories of the attacker, that the one and only piece of evidence was a single blood drop, Waymire told 20/20.. Her revelations reportedly led to DNA testing that showed a drop of Hansens blood was at the scene of Marcells assault. The next day, while Mr Hansen was shopping at the grocery store with three of his children in July 2017, several officers arrested him. He was at a fast-food restaurant drinking from a cup, and he threw that cup into the trash can and then left, Mr Waymire said. Brittani Marcell is seen here in this family photo taken in 2007. The attacker was gone fleeing through a dining room window but Brittani, a once vibrant and bubbly teenager, lay on the ground fighting for her life. It just seems like everything just kind of stacked up against me, from the get-go, Mr Hansen said. The procedure is relatively quick and easy to recover from. I feel for the Marcells. swig secret menu; pete postlethwaite brother; My Cart. Brittani Marcells mother, Diane Marcell who was heading home to meet Brittani for lunch, opened the front door and found her daughter lying on the floor just inside the house, covered in blood, and a man standing over her holding a shovel. Initially confused and scared due to her memory loss, Brittani was able to regain most of her abilities following cognitive behavioral therapy. The family was scared of the perpetrator and could get Brittani admitted into the hospital with an untrue name. While Justin Hansen insisted that he was not the one who attacked Brittani, he signed a plea deal to enter a plea of no contest for the attempted murder of the 1st degree and aggravated burglary. Faux Wood Vertical Blinds Replacement Slats: All You Need To Know, Alyssa Hansen: Top 10 Facts You Should Know. She did provide one possible clue, however, by suggesting that the man may have been someone she knew from work or was possibly a customer at the sunglass kiosk where she worked. Justin Hansen was a handsome and well-known guy who worked in the mall and was known to be a friend to Brittani there. The former couple has four children together. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Im very overwhelmed with this, said Brittani. In the course of five years, Brittani was discharged from the hospital. See Photos. Though he apologized to the Marcell family at his sentencing without discussing his alleged responsibility, the Journal reports, Hansen also asked the judge to think of the effect his prison sentence would have on his young children. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Brittani Marcell is seen here in this family photo taken in 2007. , PHOTOS: Storm moves through New Mexico leaving snow, Snow causes difficult driving conditions across NM, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The police had swarmed through the peaceful neighborhood around the Marcell home and began searching for evidence. Brittani Marcell is opening up about her road to healing and justice after she was savagely attacked in her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 10 years ago. Despite the traumatic experience of Brittani Marcell, the former actress is still single. APD's Homicide Unit is currently investigating, APD's Homicide Unit is currently investigating, according to a press release sent out Saturday night. The man escaped bursting through a window - leaving Brittani Marcell fighting for her life. Diane Marcell was looking forward to having lunch with her 17-year-old daughter, Brittani when she opened the door to the familys Albuquerque home and made a grisly discovery. Hansen is serving an 18-year sentence in a 2008 shovel beating that nearly killed Brittani Marcell, then a 17-year-old Cibola High School student. However, when Diane was at Marcells home, She was shocked to discover her daughters blood in the hallway. 1 seeds for this year's high schoo APD investigates homicide outside of Motel 6. He worked at Hollister and hed come down over to my kiosk and all and hed, you know sit, there and chat and all, Brittani said of what she remembered of the friendship. The state tried to fight the appeal, taking it to the New Mexico Supreme Court but was denied. The majority of patients report excellent results after Most patients report an increase in self-confidence and satisfaction with their appearance. She had to undergo more than 22 surgeries since her attack. This drop of blood was found at the crime scene after Brittani Marcell was attacked. She said, Shes been there with me on every medical appointment, every surgery, its like shes somebody who I look up to very much so, shes like my best friend now.. Pet care: The life of the single female ferret. Although Justin Hansens age has not been made public, Alyssa Hansen is the actress ex-wife and works at a Hollister shop. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? You can achieve the smile youve always wanted. She plans to have another surgery soon. When Brittani Marcell emerged from a medically induced coma in late 2008, having been brutally beaten with a shovel in her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she found that she could not communicate. That's what concerns me the most is just not being able to wake up and see them in the morning," he said. Back at the hospital, Brittanis family was terrified the attacker would strike again and the teen was admitted to the hospital under an assumed name. Shoemaker said shed asked Hansen point-blank if he had anything to do with Brittani Marcells attack, and she believed him when he said no. The profile also indicated that there was a high likelihood that the suspect would have either green or hazel eyes, a fairly unique eye colour. When he saw me, he looked and he went that way and my eyes went down on his hands to find out what he was doing, and then I flew out of there, Diane Marcell said.