48 Hours – The Han Family Murders

Date: November 10, 2025
Host: CBS News
Correspondent: Natalie Morales

Episode Overview

This gripping episode of 48 Hours delves into the tragic and shocking 2016 murders of Dr. Henry Han, his wife Jenny, and their five-year-old daughter Emily in Santa Barbara, California. Through extensive interviews with friends, partners, law enforcement, and witnesses, the episode reconstructs the Han family’s promising life, the uncovering of their deaths, the disturbing investigation, the arrest and trial of their killer Pierre Hopsch, and the lingering trauma their community still carries. The program combines deeply personal anecdotes with detailed forensic evidence, shining a light on how a trusted partner's betrayal led to a crime that rocked all who knew the Hans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Han Family: Healers, Friends, and Community Pillars

• Intro to the Hans: Dr. Henry Han, a renowned holistic healer and TCM doctor, is described by friends and colleagues as deeply compassionate and devoted to family and patients. Jenny, his wife, became his right hand in the clinic, and together with Emily, they were seen as a tight-knit, positive force.
  • Quote: “He had the magic… being with the three of them…was good therapy.” (01:34, Mark Palombo)
• The Events Leading Up to the Crime: Friends recount the last moments spent with the family, including a dinner and playing games with Emily just days before the tragedy.
  • Quote: “She was just goofing around with a book, making all these funny faces…loving life.” (05:32, Narrator / Mark Palombo)

2. Discovery of the Crime (03:00-04:48)

• Alarm Bells: The Hans’ absence from a 10am meeting triggers anxiety among friends and business partners; repeated calls go unanswered.
• Welfare Check: Don Goldberg enters the house with police after failing to reach the family. Both vehicles are still in the garage. Deputies discover the three bodies wrapped in plastic and duct tape.
  • Quote: “Within a minute or two, sunk in that the three bodies were Henry, Jenny and Emily. My friends were gone. There’s a certain amount of shock that sets in.” (03:39, Don Goldberg)
• Forensic Clues: Heavy scent of bleach, bedding stripped and in the laundry, attempts to clean up the scene, bullet evidence, and shell casings tied directly to the victims.

3. The Investigation: Early Breaks and Pierre Hopsch’s Emergence (09:08–19:37)

• Evidence and Suspicions: Investigators find exhaustive biological evidence at the scene. A key discovery is a business contract between Henry Han and Pierre Hopsch, signed the day Henry was last seen alive.
  • Quote: “It was basically a four page business contract…Partner one Pierre Hopsch and partner two Dr. Hahn.” (11:16, Interviewer)
• Pierre’s Background: Pierre Hopsch was young, uncredentialed, and involved in failed business ventures with the Hans. Friends recount being unsettled by Pierre’s presence and actions, including fraudulent charges for escort services and quality concerns about his lab work.
  • Quote: “He could talk a game and stay over the folks' heads a bit scientifically.” (15:54, Interviewer)
• Material Evidence: Surveillance video confirms Pierre buying duct tape and plastic wrap at Home Depot days before the murders, matching what’s found at the scene.
• Digital Footprints: The Hans’ missing phones ping as they travel south, ultimately leading police to Oceanside, CA.

4. Manhunt and Arrest of Pierre Hopsch (19:37–22:23)

• Coordinated Surveillance: Santa Barbara and Oceanside police track Pierre using cell phone data and stake out his father’s home.
• Crucial Moment: Pierre is spotted meeting his father, receiving duffel bags, then is stopped at an Arco gas station in a dramatic midnight arrest.
  • Quote: “All of a sudden, you see an unmarked car drive…pulls in and lays on the brakes. Two huge dudes get out...pull a gun on him and prone him out. And our eyes are like saucer. We’re like, Whoa.” (21:51, Interviewer)
• Pierre’s Claims: Quickly after arrest, Pierre claims he’s the target of an international conspiracy over a “quantum energy source” and that shadowy enemies killed the Hans, not him.

5. Breakthrough Witness: TJ Dorito (24:26–27:34)

• TJ’s Account: Marijuana grower TJ Dorito testifies Pierre confessed to the murders, described details only the killer would know, and asked for help moving the bodies. Pierre claimed his motive was to access $20 million from Henry’s accounts.
  • Quote: “The first thing out of his mouth: Just so you know, I'm a monster. He had told me right then and there that he had killed Dr. Henry, his wife, and his child and needed help.” (25:55, TJ Dorito)
• Failed Escape: Pierre tries to lure TJ to Vegas (possibly to silence him), then laments in text, “Yep, I’m screwed. They just found everything. My life’s over.” (27:34)

6. Mountain of Evidence (29:18–36:47)

• Searches and Forensics: Pierre’s car contained Henry’s wallet, murder weapon, suppressor, and the victims’ devices wrapped in foil. Autopsies revealed 14 shots total; Emily, heartbreakingly, was shot eight times.
• Digital Trail: Investigations found Pierre researching how to impersonate Dr. Han, purchasing ammunition, and deploying a keylogger on Henry’s computer.
  • Quote: “What part of the skull is more penetrable? What ammunition would be better?” (34:53, Interviewer, citing keylogger evidence)
• Prosecution’s Theory: Pierre planned the murders for financial gain, setting up digital tools to siphon money immediately afterward.
• Missed Escape Window: The normal meeting that Henry missed triggered an early welfare check, disrupting Pierre’s plan to dispose of the bodies.

7. The Trial, Defense Arguments, and Verdict (36:47–41:24)

• Defense Tactics: Christine Voss, Pierre’s attorney, presses on discrepancies in the evidence, timeline, and star witness credibility, but the circumstantial and physical evidence is overwhelming.
  • Quote: “You called him a lying liar who lies about lying, right? ‘Lie, lie, lie, lie. Hundreds of lies we found on him. His life was a con.’” (41:16, Prosecutor Ben Ledenig)
• Pierre’s Testimony: Pierre insists throughout the trial the government framed him, invoking outlandish conspiracy theories, but only he alleges anyone else’s involvement.
• Guilty on All Counts: Judge Hill finds Pierre guilty “beyond a shadow of a doubt,” sentencing him to three life terms without parole. (41:48)

8. Aftermath and Enduring Pain (42:16–43:01)

• Community Reaction: Pierre’s sentence brings little comfort; friends grieve the irreplaceable loss.
  • Quote: “I don't understand how there really could be justice. He's still alive and they're not. He took precious moments that we'll never get.” (42:16, Interviewee)
• Legacy of the Han Family: Their legacy as healers and friends lives on: “They lived too short, but their name lives on forever.” (43:01, Interviewee)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:34 | Mark Palombo | “He had the magic… being with the three of them…was good therapy.” | | 03:39 | Don Goldberg | “Within a minute or two, sunk in that the three bodies were Henry, Jenny and Emily. My friends were gone. There’s a certain amount of shock that sets in.” | | 11:16 | Interviewer | “It was basically a four page business contract…Partner one Pierre Hopsch and partner two Dr. Hahn.” | | 15:54 | Interviewer | “He could talk a game and stay over the folks' heads a bit scientifically.” | | 21:51 | Interviewer | “All of a sudden, you see an unmarked car drive…pulls in and lays on the brakes. Two huge dudes get out...pull a gun on him and prone him out. And our eyes are like saucer. We’re like, Whoa.” | | 25:55 | TJ Dorito | “The first thing out of his mouth: Just so you know, I'm a monster. He had told me right then and there that he had killed Dr. Henry, his wife, and his child and needed help.” | | 34:53 | Interviewer | “What part of the skull is more penetrable? What ammunition would be better?” (evidence from keylogger) | | 41:16 | Ben Ledenig | “You called him a lying liar who lies about lying, right? ‘Lie, lie, lie, lie. Hundreds of lies we found on him. His life was a con.’” | | 42:16 | Interviewee | “I don't understand how there really could be justice. He's still alive and they're not. He took precious moments that we'll never get.” | | 43:01 | Interviewee | “They lived too short, but their name lives on forever.” |

Key Timestamps for Significant Segments

• 00:30–01:55: Introduction to Han family, their character, early suspicions
• 03:00–04:48: Discovery of bodies, immediate shock
• 09:08–11:31: Crime scene, early evidence, and business clues
• 15:02–17:46: Warnings about Pierre Hopsch, background
• 19:09–22:23: Arrest and bizarre police chase/arrest moment
• 24:26–27:34: Pierre's confession to TJ Dorito, attempted escape
• 29:18–36:47: Forensic evidence, financial motive, and prosecution theory
• 36:47–41:24: Defense, trial, and judge's verdict
• 42:16–43:01: Reflections on justice and the Han family’s legacy

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode uses a somber, investigative tone, candid and unflinching in describing both the warmth of the Han family and the horror of the crime. Friends’ heartbreak, prosecutors’ determination, and the bizarre delusions of the perpetrator are laid bare, lending credibility and gravity to the story. The reporting is sensitively delivered, with the pacing matching the urgency and devastation of the real-time investigation.

Conclusion

This episode of 48 Hours provides a compelling and empathetic look into the Han family murders—a story of trust betrayed, a meticulous investigation, and community grief that endures long after justice is served. Through expert reporting and poignant interviews, the legacy of Henry, Jenny, and Emily Han—and the lessons their loss imparts—live on.