Suspect in murder of California family asked online psychic: “will I get caught for what I did”? – CBS News

Report on the Homicide of the Han Family and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report details the March 2016 homicide of Dr. Henry Han, his wife Jennie Yu, and their five-year-old daughter Emily Han in Santa Barbara, California. The perpetrator, Pierre Haobsh, was a business associate motivated by financial gain. This case serves as a stark illustration of how violent crime fundamentally undermines key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the incident impacts SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through the loss of a valued healthcare practitioner, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by disrupting a legitimate and innovative business venture through fraud and violence, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by violating personal security and societal peace, while also highlighting the crucial role of justice systems in holding perpetrators accountable.

Incident and Investigation Overview

Discovery of the Crime

On March 24, 2016, the bodies of Dr. Henry Han, Jennie Yu, and Emily Han were discovered at their Santa Barbara residence. The victims had been fatally shot and their bodies wrapped in plastic sheeting. The investigation commenced immediately, revealing a crime scene where the perpetrator had attempted to conceal evidence using bleach and by laundering bloody bedding.

Impact on Community Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Dr. Han was a respected practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, operating the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic. His work significantly contributed to the community’s health and well-being, aligning with the core tenets of SDG 3. He provided alternative and complementary healthcare that improved the quality of life for hundreds of patients, including those with serious illnesses like cancer. The murder of Dr. Han represented a profound loss of a vital healthcare resource, creating a void in the community’s health infrastructure and directly impacting the well-being of his many patients.

Identification of Suspect through Business Dealings (SDG 8 & 9)

Investigators identified a person of interest, Pierre Haobsh, through a business contract found at the scene. This contract was related to a new venture between Dr. Han and Haobsh, focused on developing innovative skincare products using CBD. This enterprise represented progress towards SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). However, the partnership was compromised by Haobsh’s fraudulent activities, including:

• Misrepresenting his scientific qualifications.
• Using toxic materials in product development.
• Making unauthorized charges for personal services on a company account.

Dr. Han’s trust was manipulated by Haobsh, who fabricated a story about having terminal cancer to re-establish the business relationship, ultimately leading to the murders for financial gain. This act of extreme violence for economic motives is a direct assault on the principles of sustainable and ethical economic growth.

Apprehension, Prosecution, and Justice (SDG 16)

Investigation and Arrest

The investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of strong institutions, a cornerstone of SDG 16. Key investigative steps included:

1. Tracing the purchase of plastic wrap and duct tape used in the crime to Haobsh via Home Depot security footage.
2. Tracking the victims’ stolen cell phones, which led authorities to Haobsh’s location in Oceanside, California.
3. Obtaining a confession from Haobsh to a third party, TJ Direda, which included details only the killer would know.

Haobsh was apprehended within 48 hours of the discovery of the crime. A search of his vehicle uncovered the murder weapon, the victims’ personal effects, and other incriminating evidence.

Judicial Proceedings and Verdict

The prosecution built a case demonstrating that the murders were a premeditated plot for financial enrichment, undermining the principles of SDG 8. Evidence showed Haobsh had researched Asian disguises, purchased the murder weapon days in advance, and installed spyware on Dr. Han’s computer to obtain financial information. Following the murders, he attempted to transfer $72,000 from Dr. Han’s accounts. The trial concluded with Judge Brian Hill finding Pierre Haobsh guilty on three counts of first-degree murder. The verdict, described as being “beyond a shadow of a doubt,” reinforced the rule of law and the function of a strong justice system as mandated by SDG 16.

Conclusion: A Violation of Sustainable Development

The murder of the Han family is a tragedy that highlights the interconnectedness of violence, economic stability, and public health. The crime directly contravened multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The community was deprived of a dedicated healthcare provider, and the violent nature of the crime inflicted lasting trauma on friends, family, and patients.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): A promising business venture was destroyed by greed and violence, illustrating how criminal activity can stifle economic growth and innovation.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): While the crime was a profound breach of peace and security, the subsequent investigation and successful prosecution demonstrated the capacity of state institutions to deliver justice and uphold the rule of law.

The case of Pierre Haobsh serves as a critical reminder that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires not only proactive programs but also robust systems to ensure justice and protect citizens from violent acts that threaten the very fabric of a peaceful and prosperous society.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Explanation: This is the most relevant SDG as the article is centered on a violent crime and the response of the justice system. The entire narrative revolves around the intentional homicide of three individuals, the subsequent police investigation, the legal process, and the eventual conviction of the perpetrator. The article details the work of “strong institutions” such as the Santa Barbara sheriff’s investigators, the prosecutor’s office, and the court system in upholding the rule of law and delivering justice. The crime itself—a triple murder—is a direct affront to the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Explanation: This SDG is connected through the victim, Dr. Henry Han, and his role in the community. The article establishes him as a vital healthcare provider who ran the “Santa Barbara Herb Clinic” and treated hundreds of patients, including those with serious illnesses like cancer. His murder represents a significant loss to the local health workforce and a disruption of healthcare services for his many patients, as expressed by one patient’s fear: “if something comes back.” The loss of a skilled practitioner directly impacts the community’s access to health and well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   • Explanation: The article provides a detailed account of a triple homicide, a clear example of the “violence and related death rates” that this target aims to reduce. The description of how Dr. Han, his wife Jennie, and their 5-year-old daughter Emily were “shot while they slept” is a stark illustration of the failure to prevent such violence.

2. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

   • Explanation: The murder of 5-year-old Emily Han is a direct and horrific example of violence against a child. The article notes the particular tragedy of her death, stating she was “just three days shy of her 6th birthday” and was found shot in her own room. This event directly relates to the goal of ending all forms of violence against children.

3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   • Explanation: The article extensively documents the functioning of the rule of law. It describes the police investigation, from the 911 call to the discovery of evidence (bleach, shell casings, the business contract). It follows the process of identifying a suspect through security footage and digital forensics (“digital footprints leading down to the Oceanside area”), the arrest, the trial, and the final verdict where the judge found the defendant “guilty on all counts.” This entire sequence demonstrates the justice system providing a response to a crime.

4. Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce…

   • Explanation: While the target focuses on developing countries, its principle of retaining the health workforce is relevant. The article highlights that Dr. Han’s practice was “flourishing,” and he would see “hundreds” of active patients in a month. His murder is a direct example of a loss to the health workforce, removing a skilled and respected practitioner from the community and diminishing the local capacity for healthcare.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.

   • Explanation: The article explicitly provides the data points for this indicator. It identifies three victims of intentional homicide: Dr. Henry Han (adult male), Jennie Han (adult female), and Emily Han (5-year-old female child). This information is a direct measure of the “related death rates” mentioned in Target 16.1.

2. Implied Indicator: Effectiveness and responsiveness of justice institutions.

   • Explanation: The article implies indicators of institutional effectiveness, which are central to SDG 16. The narrative provides qualitative measures of success for the justice system in this specific case:
     • Crime Clearance Rate: A suspect was identified as a “person of interest” within hours of the crime scene being discovered, and an arrest was made “within 48 hours of the murders,” suggesting a highly effective and rapid investigation.
     • Conviction Rate: The article states that the perpetrator, Pierre Haobsh, was found “guilty on all counts” and sentenced to “three life terms without the possibility of parole,” indicating a successful prosecution.

3. Implied Indicator: Reduction in local health worker density.

   • Explanation: In relation to Target 3.c, the article implies a negative impact on the local health workforce. It states Dr. Han saw “hundreds” of patients and was a unique healer who “saved my life,” according to one patient. His murder represents a quantifiable loss of one skilled health worker and the discontinuation of care for a large number of patients, thereby reducing the availability of healthcare services in the Santa Barbara community.

4. Summary Table of Findings

Source: cbsnews.com