A San Diego woman has been granted parole, 20 years after she and her sister, as teenagers, plotted and carried out the murder of their stepfather, Timothy MacNeil. Brae Hansen, 37, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007 and sentenced to 25 years to life.
Hansen and her sister, Aerith Asora (formerly Nathaniel Marcus Gann), were both involved in the murder, which they attempted to stage as a home invasion. The motive stemmed from resentment and feelings of worthlessness, exacerbated after their mother's suicide the previous year and their stepfather's subsequent relationship, according to court documents. When MacNeil informed Hansen she would have to move out upon turning 18, her resentment intensified into anger and a plan to kill him.
The initial plan involved hiring a hitman, for whom Hansen withdrew money from bank accounts and left with her mother's gun and a spare house key. This plan was altered when the hitman could not be secured and Asora decided to carry out the murder herself. Court filings indicate Hansen later claimed to have changed her mind, but Asora drove from Arizona to San Diego on July 19, 2007, and proceeded with the plan.
Asora, wearing dark clothing and a ski mask, shot MacNeil multiple times. He died at the scene. Asora then disposed of the clothing and mask and returned to Arizona. Police arrived to find MacNeil deceased and Hansen in the home. Hansen's accidental statement to detectives, mentioning that 'Nathan tied my hands,' implicated her involvement and identified the shooter.
Changes in California law regarding the prosecution of individuals aged 25 or younger at the time of their offense have contributed to Hansen's eligibility for parole. Laws enacted between 2014 and 2018 aim to provide leniency for youthful offenders. Currently, parole hearings are accessible to all individuals who committed offenses before the age of 25.
Hansen's initial parole hearing was in January 2025, with a subsequent hearing on August 21, 2026, leading to her release. The San Diego District Attorney's Office, represented by Summer Stephan, has expressed strong opposition to Hansen's parole, citing the premeditated nature of the crime and its devastating impact on the victim's family. The DA's office stated they stood with the victim's family and opposed Hansen's release. Asora has reportedly sought resentencing and attempted to shift blame, but as of yet, parole has only been granted to Hansen.