Investigation Reopened in 1996 Homicide Case of Danni Houchins

In 2019, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office reopened the investigation into the 1996 death of Danni Houchins, a case that had long been shrouded in controversy. Sheriff Paul Elfmont, who took office in 2021, emphasized the need for a fresh perspective on the case. Danni's sister, Stephanie Mollet, expressed her belief that the evidence consistently indicated murder, despite the initial ruling of drowning by the state medical examiner. Mollet recounted her relief upon learning that DNA evidence linked a deceased suspect, Hutchinson, to her sister’s case. She noted that the possibility of the perpetrator being a friend or family member would have added a layer of emotional betrayal to the tragedy. The initial investigation had left her family grappling with the notion that Danni's death could have been an accident, a sentiment echoed by former sheriff’s officials who criticized the early handling of the case. Former deputy Botek, who was involved shortly after Danni's death, revealed that pursuing leads was often met with resistance from department leadership. She lamented that the investigation was not prioritized as a homicide, which contributed to the family's ongoing distress. Sheriff Slaughter, who later took over the case, expressed frustration over the coroner's ambiguous ruling, asserting that detectives were indeed treating the case as a homicide, contrary to what was communicated to the Houchins family. The renewed investigation aims to bring clarity and justice to a case that has haunted the community for over two decades.