Episode 31: The Murder of Roland and Maram Hanel
On September 20th of 1984, the small town of Jay, Vermont was met with tragedy. A couple well known for their love of skiing, fitness, and a healthy lifestyle was found murdered in their chalet. Roland Hanel, 49, and his wife of three years, Maram, 32, were discovered by a close friend who decided to visit the couple. Maram was found sprawled on her back in the kitchen, while Roland was found in the living room on his stomach. They both had suffered from roughly 8-11 gunshot wounds each, which were littered along their chests, extremities, and heads.
Initially, the timeline of the crime was messy and unclear. The medical examiner working the case determined that the pair had been dead roughly 24 hours when they were found. One neighbor reported seeing Roland about 6 days before the murder. A gas station attendant and a customer reported seeing the couple on the Wednesday night before the Saturday discovery. A close family friend claimed that Maram had missed a dentist appointment earlier that week. Even though the medical examiner could estimate when the couple died, there was no definitive answer.
In addition to questions about the time of death, there was uncertainty as to why someone would murder the couple. Theories were thrown around like crazy, digging in on random parts of the lives of Roland and Maram. For example, the pair owned a boat that was kept in Florida, and some speculated that this could be a vessel in which they trafficked drugs. There was never any link to any illegal dealings. Additionally, some theorized that due to Maram’s involvement in Munich, Germany during the 1972 Olympics, she may have been targeted by Israeli Secret Police in retaliation for a terrorist organization that made some moves at the time.
To this day, the case remains unsolved. Many theories have been questioned and followed up with, only to lead to dead ends each and every time. Questions of Roland’s character have come up, and have been debunked over and over again. The case gets publicity every so often, but the community and the rest of the world is quickly sliding away from ever finding the truth about this heinous act.
If anyone has any information about the murder of Maram and Roland Hanel, please contact the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit at 802-244-8781. You can submit tips anonymously at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit, or you can text VTIPS to 274637.
Image sources:
unsolvedvermont.com - “The Murder of Roland and Maram Hanel”
newspapers.com - “Unsolved Murders Baffle Authorities”