A California woman who, as a teenager, helped plan the murder of her stepfather has been granted parole after serving approximately 20 years in prison. Brae Hansen, 37, was convicted in 2007 of first-degree murder in the killing of Timothy MacNeil.
Hansen and her sibling, then known as Nathaniel Marcus Gann and now using the name Aerith Asora, were teenagers when they were sentenced to 25 years to life for the crime. Court documents and reports indicate the siblings plotted to stage the murder to appear as a home invasion.
Hansen was living with MacNeil in San Diego's Rolando neighborhood in 2007, a year after her mother died by suicide. According to court records, Hansen felt unloved and worthless after her mother's death and as MacNeil began dating another woman. The situation escalated when MacNeil told Hansen she would have to move out upon turning 18.
Following this, Hansen contacted Asora, who was attending college in Arizona, and they began to plan MacNeil's death. Their initial plan involved hiring a hitman, for which they left money, their late mother's gun, and a spare house key outside the home. When they could not find a hired killer, Asora decided to carry out the murder.
Court documents state that Hansen later told police she reconsidered the plan after the hitman scheme failed. However, Asora was determined to proceed. On July 19, 2007, Asora drove to San Diego, informed Hansen of her intent to commit the murder, and proceeded to shoot MacNeil multiple times, killing him at the scene. MacNeil's alleged last words were, “Why are you killing me, Nathan?” and “Why are you doing this to me?”
After fleeing the scene and discarding evidence, Asora returned to Arizona. Police found MacNeil deceased inside the home, with Hansen discovered nearby with zip ties on her hands. Initially perceived as a victim, Hansen's statement to investigators, including Detective Maria Rivera, that "Nathan tied my hands," revealed her involvement and directed the investigation toward Asora.
Hansen's eligibility for parole was influenced by changes in California law that expanded parole considerations for individuals who committed crimes before the age of 25. These youth offenders can now qualify for special parole hearings.
Hansen's first parole hearing was scheduled for January 7, 2025, and later moved to August 21, 2026. The Board of Parole Hearings ultimately granted her parole. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan publicly opposed Hansen's release, calling the murder "callous, premeditated" and motivated by "greed."