Parole granted to California woman convicted of stepfather murder after 20 years

Brae Hansen, now 37, obtained parole on Friday following approximately 20 years of incarceration for the 2007 murder of her stepfather Timothy MacNeil in San Diego’s Rolando neighborhood. The crime was a collaborative plot with her sibling, then Nathaniel Marcus Gann and now Aerith Asora, who ultimately shot MacNeil multiple times after a failed attempt to hire a hitman. Prosecutors, led by San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, argued against parole, describing the killing as a callous, premeditated act motivated by greed.

Hansen’s eligibility was influenced by recent California legislation expanding parole consideration for individuals who committed offenses before turning 25. Her initial parole hearing in January 2025 resulted in denial, but a subsequent hearing on August 21, 2026, led to approval. The decision highlights ongoing debates over parole reform and the balance between rehabilitation prospects and victims’ families’ concerns.