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The death of the pastor's wife, Dawn Hacheney, in 1997 took twists and turns before the investigators in Bainbridge found the reality behind the tragedy. Dawn Hacheney was found unresponsive and burnt at her home in December 1997 while her husband, Nick Hacheney, had been hunting in the morning.
However, forensic reports came back with evidence of Dawn being dead before the house caught on fire. Dawn had been drugged and suffocated to death with a plastic bag before Nick lit the apartment on fire.
The Dateline: Unforgettable episode titled Twisted Faith showcases the horrifying death of Dawn Hacheney as it airs on June 20, 2024, at 8 p.m. EST on Oxygen. The official synopsis reads,
"A charismatic pastor's dark secrets come to light, triggering a murder investigation. Josh Mankiewicz looks back at a case that shattered a congregation and exposed the cost of their unshakable trust."
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Who was Dawn Hacheney? Details explored
Dawn Marie Tienhaara Hacheney was born on December 5, 1969, in Seattle, Washington to parents Donald and Diana Parmele Tienhaara. Dawn grew up in Bremerton where she attended the Bremerton Christian School. Dawn represented the state of Washington at the National Spelling Bee during her school years.
She graduated in 1988 as a valedictorian after which she went on to study at the Northwest Bible College in Kirkland. At Northwest Bible College, Dawn earned a degree in Associate of Arts after two years. She began working as a loan officer at the Kitsap Federal Credit Union.
Dawn's mother, Diana Parmele, shared with NBC News,
"She was four years old when she accepted the Lord into her life. She would come to bed with her dad and I and she’d quote scriptures."
She met Nicholas "Nick" Hacheney and the two matched over their shared love for God and religion. Dawn and Nick tied the knot on April 20, 1990, in Silverdale after which Nick joined Bainbridge's Christ Community Church as the youth pastor.
However, things took a dark turn after six years of their marriage as Dawn met with her unfortunate death on December 26, 1997.
What happened to Dawn Hacheney?
The Bremerton Fire Department in Washington received a call notifying them of Nick Hacheney's East Bremerton home on fire on December 26, 1997, per Oxygen. As the firefighters arrived at the scene, they put out the fire to find 28-year-old Dawn Hacheney burnt and lying on the bed in the master bedroom unresponsive.
Nick had reportedly been out duck hunting before sunrise when the tragedy took place, per NBC News. Dawn had not inhaled any smoke or gasses while she was allegedly trapped in the fire. The authorities found propane canisters and an electric space heater next to the bed along with wrapping paper of Christmas presents all over the room.
Once informed, he mentioned to the authorities that it could have been the electric space heater behind the fire. The case turned cold for a few years and Dawn's death was ruled as accidental death.
The case was reopened in 2001 and investigations led to the horrific discovery of Dawn's murder. Nick Hacheney had reportedly drugged Dawn with Benadryl and suffocated her to death with a plastic bag over her head, according to Kitsap Sun.
Watch the details of Dawn Hacheney's murder as Dateline: Unforgettable airs on Oxygen on Thursday.
