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Todd Hanson Missing Person Case

Last seen in Newport, Minnesota on May 2, 1993

Victim Details

Sep 22, 2011

Jan 9, 2024

Todd

Hanson

58

25

68 inches

155 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

May 2, 1993

Newport

Minnesota

Washington County

No

31051

Newport Police Department

Newport

Minnesota

Washington County

55055

596 7th Avenue, Minnesota

6514599933

Local

Law Enforcement

93900952

Newport Police Department

Brown

Blue

Blue

No

Oct 12, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP12370) and 9 other sources
Todd Hanson, a 25-year-old from Newport, Minnesota, went missing on May 2, 1993, under mysterious circumstances. He was last seen with his friend, Chad Birkeland, in South St. Paul. The two men were driving a gold Toyota Tercel at the time. Eleven days later, on May 13, 1993, Birkeland's body was discovered in the Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota, but Hanson has never been found.

The investigation into Hanson’s disappearance revealed few clues. Authorities searched the Mississippi River area, as well as other locations, but Hanson’s remains were never recovered. In 1995, law enforcement officials dug up a property in Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin, near the Mississippi River, while investigating a drug-related case. The excavation was rumored to be linked to Hanson’s case, but no evidence related to his disappearance was found, and the search turned up only abandoned vehicles. Despite the investigation, no conclusive leads emerged, and Hanson remains missing.

Hanson's case is considered unsolved, and authorities still seek information that might lead to answers. Multiple agencies, including the Newport Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, continue to list Hanson’s disappearance as an active missing person case. Despite decades passing since his last sighting, his family and investigators hold onto hope for closure.
Last Seen: May 2, 1993

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • 29 years later
  • 3882DMMN - Todd Jay Hanson - Doe Network
  • Todd Jay Hanson - The Charley Project
  • Police seek man missing since Halloween - Orange County Register
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP12370 | NamUs
  • May 2, 1993: Todd Hanson and his friend Chad Birkeland ...
  • MN-St. Paul, Todd Jay Hanson, 25, wht male, 2 May 1993
  • What happened to Todd Hanson and Chad Birkeland? - Podimo
  • Screams in the River — One Found, One Missing (Todd Hanson)

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    84%Moderate
    John Doe — Minneapolis, Minnesota - unidentified case UP763
    John Doe — Minneapolis, Minnesota
    UP763 • Found Dec 16, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
    Weight 89%131 lb vs 155 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Minneapolis, Minnesota
    UP124186 • Found Sep 25, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 76%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%156 lb vs 155 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — St Paul, Minnesota
    UP148173 • Found May 23, 2025
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%6 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 32 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%154 lb vs 155 lb
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Burnsville, Minnesota - unidentified case UP4743
    John Doe — Burnsville, Minnesota
    UP4743 • Found Aug 24, 2005
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
    Weight 79%123 lb vs 155 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Prior Lake, Minnesota
    UP4815 • Found Sep 27, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%23 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (3)

    I've been digging into the Todd Hanson case and found something curious. Does anyone else find the... ...Read More
    11/24/2024
    Hey everyone, I was just reading about Todd Hanson's case and got really curious about the whole... ...Read More
    02/10/2023
    I find it so perplexing that even with modern advancements in forensic methods and technology, there... ...Read More
    01/13/2023

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