Joseph Thomas Hansen Wanted to Be "World's Most Infamous Sociopath," Say Police

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Joseph Thomas Hansen (AP Photo)

SISSETON, S.D. (CBS/AP) Joseph Thomas Hansen, an 18-year-old high school student, stockpiled bomb-making materials in his bedroom and wrote about wanting to blow up his school, target individuals he hated, rape women and "become the world's most infamous sociopath," according to police.

Hansen, of Claire City, was arrested Aug. 23 after someone tipped off a police school resource officer that Hansen had talked about an attack, authorities said.

"Thanks to an alert citizen and a school resource officer, they were able to prevent a very serious and potentially dangerous situation," state Attorney General Marty Jackley said by phone Wednesday.

Hansen pleaded not guilty Tuesday to selling, transporting or possessing an explosive device and possessing substances with the intent to make a destructive device, and is due back in court Sept. 14. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to 25 years in prison, Jackley said.

Hansen remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $500,000 bond.

During a search of Hansen's room, investigators found a list Hansen wrote of things he wanted to do, including blow up Sisseton High School - where he was set to begin his senior year the day after his arrest - torture and rape women and "become the world's most infamous sociopath," according to an affidavit filed Monday.

He listed 39 people he hated and the reasons why, and he researched the 1999 Columbine school massacre in Littleton, Colo., in which two student gunmen killed 12 classmates and a teacher and wounded 26 others before committing suicide, investigators said.

Detectives also found drawings of swastikas, documents outlining two attempts to make napalm, instructional materials on how to make bombs, four guns and a video showing two explosive devices detonating, according to the affidavit.

Two people whose names were redacted in the affidavit told Roberts County Sheriff's investigators that Hansen told them he "had enough fireworks to blow up Sisseton and that the first day of school would be a short one," the court documents state.

During an initial interview with police, Hansen said he was fascinated by mass murder, read books on the subject and wanted to know what makes killers tick, authorities said. He also expressed an interest in the Marine Corps, demolitions and becoming a criminal profiler, according to the court documents.

Claire City has only 85 residents and there are only about 2,500 people living in the area around Sisseton, which is in northeast South Dakota, near the state's borders with North Dakota and Minnesota.

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by texbelle123 September 4, 2010 9:17 PM EDT: The ultimate infamous sociopath - who wrote of his ambitions, listed his targeted victims, took steps to learn how to make bombs -- this brave individual entered a plea of NOT GUILTY????

Totally delusional.; Reply to this comment


by dronemonk September 4, 2010 8:27 PM EDT: The kid was his own worst enemy, and was likely not a real threat to the school. Going to high school in South Dakota can have a chaotic effect on a young man. It is South Dakota after all...; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt September 4, 2010 7:33 PM EDT: The product of some people with great parenting skills.....; Reply to this comment


by Myopinion046 September 3, 2010 7:10 PM EDT: Why do criminals call in bomb threats or otherwise give themselves away and thereby put themselves into jail? One would think not saying anything would be the best way for them to accomplish their sociopathic desires. Oddly, sociopaths are often called intelligent. One fails to see the intelligence.; Reply to this comment