A California girl who helped plot her stepfather’s homicide as a young person is getting a second likelihood at freedom — regardless of the sufferer’s remaining determined plea for his life.
Brae Hansen, 37, was granted parole Friday after serving about 20 years in jail for the 2007 slaying of her stepfather, Timothy MacNeil.
Hansen and her brother on the time, Nathaniel Marcus Gann, who has since transitioned and altered their title Aerith Asora, had been youngsters after they had been convicted of first-degree homicide and sentenced to 25 years to life for MacNeil’s killing.
The siblings had plotted to make the homicide appear like a house invasion, in keeping with court docket filings and the Every day Mail.
In 2007, Hansen lived with MacNeil on Marraco Drive in San Diego’s Rolando neighborhood. The mom had died by suicide the 12 months earlier than.
After their mom’s dying, MacNeil started relationship one other girl, leaving Hansen feeling “unloved and nugatory,” in keeping with court docket information.
Issues boiled over when MacNeil informed Hansen she must transfer out when she turned 18.
Hansen known as Asora, who was away at school in Arizona, they usually started plotting to kill him.
Their first plan was to rent a hitman. They went so far as leaving cash, their late mom’s gun and a spare home key exterior the house.
However after they couldn’t discover a killer for rent, Asora determined to do the job.
Hansen later informed police she modified her thoughts about killing her stepfather after the hitman plan fell by means of.
Asora wasn’t backing down.
On July 19, 2007, Asora drove to San Diego, woke Hansen and informed her she supposed to undergo with the homicide “whether or not she needed to or not,” in keeping with court docket paperwork.
Asora then shot MacNeil a number of occasions — above his proper hip, within the face, shoulder and again of the pinnacle.
He died on the scene.
MacNeil’s alleged remaining phrases had been, “Why are you killing me, Nathan?” and “Why are you doing this to me?”
Asora fled, tossing the black garments and ski masks they’d worn right into a tree earlier than driving again to Arizona.
Police discovered MacNeil mendacity in a pool of blood inside the house — and Hansen cowering close by along with her arms zip-tied.
Detective Maria Rivera initially interviewed Hansen on the police station earlier than taking her to the house of her aunt and uncle, Richard and Bonnie MacNeil, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
Rivera questioned Hansen once more later that night.
Hansen lastly cracked, saying, “Nathan tied my arms.”
The assertion uncovered her involvement and pointed investigators towards the killer.
Hansen’s path to freedom was made doable partially by modifications to California regulation that expanded parole consideration for individuals who dedicated crimes earlier than turning 25.
Youth offenders can now qualify for particular parole hearings, in keeping with the California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Board of Parole Hearings.
Hansen’s first parole listening to was held Jan. 7, 2025, in keeping with the San Diego County District Legal professional’s Workplace.
She was initially denied parole for 3 years, however the listening to was later moved as much as Aug. 21, 2026.
The board granted her parole.
San Diego County District Legal professional Summer season Stephan strongly opposed her launch.
“This was a callous, premeditated homicide motivated by greed that took the lifetime of Timothy McNeil and eternally modified the lives of his family members,” Stephan stated.
“We’re deeply disillusioned by the Board of Parole Hearings’ choice to grant Brae Hansen parole.”
