Natural causes: Man's death, wife's threat weren't related, autopsy finds

Last update: October 7, 2008 - 11:45 PM

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A Blaine man found dead just five hours after his wife was released from jail for attempting to kill him in December died of natural causes, an autopsy has found.

Noel Hanson, 57, was found dead on the couple's bathroom floor on Aug. 11--just after Sandra Hanson--whom he had forgiven for trying to kill him-- returned to their Blaine home to serve her probation.

At the time, Anoka County Lt. Paul Sommer said it was an "ironic set of circumstances." Now, he said Tuesday, it turns out that it was purely coincidental.

Sandra Hanson admitted to authorities that she attempted a murder-suicide in early December, writing to a friend in an e-mail that the couple was facing eviction and planned to kill themselves. When police investigated, they smelled natural gas, and Hanson admitted that she had turned on the oven with the pilot light unlit while her husband was asleep and that he never knew about their financial problems or the suicide idea.

Noel Hanson pleaded with the court not to send his wife of 25 years to prison, and she was sentenced to 20 years' probation with community service.

Noel Hanson had a history of diabetes and heart problems. Sommer said that toxicology tests revealed nothing abnormal in his system. The case is expected to be closed by the end of the week. Sandra Hanson was not arrested or charged after her husband's death.

ABBY SIMONS

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