It’s no mystery why Discovery’s Deadliest Catch is one of the most popular reality shows out there. It has all the elements (besides the cold) of a great show: danger, action, and crabs — hundreds and hundreds of them.
The show painstakingly details the rigors and minutiae of working on a crabbing boat and all it entails. The show has also made stars of some of the more memorable cast members, including fan-favorite Sig Hansen and his boat Northwestern. Sharp-eyed viewers noticed there’s been another Hansen in charge since season 15, but not lately. So what happened? Before we delve in, let’s refresh ourselves on Edgar Hansen.
Who is Edgar Hansen?
Edgar served on his brother Sig Hansen’s boat Northwestern from the show’s ninth season until the 14th season when he mysteriously disappeared from the show. He not only looked like his older brother, but he had a more laid-back vibe than him, which helped endear him to viewers and make him a favorite on the show.
His presence on the fishing vessel F/V Northwestern certainly made a lasting impact. He was easily respected and admired during his time at sea, making for plenty of memorable moments. One of which took place in 2012, when a fireworks show was put on by Edgar’s crewmates to commemorate his 41st birthday.
On top of his genial countenance, he was a talented fisherman, perhaps the most essential skill of anyone assuming a higher role on a crabbing boat.
But the weird part of Edgar’s absence was that it was never covered on the show. He left with no explanation. The truth, however, is particularly troubling.
Why did Edgar Hansen leave ‘Deadliest Catch?’
Edgar’s departure from Deadliest Catch was connected to a rather serious court case involving a 16-year-old girl. The young girl reportedly told a therapist about an incident with Edgar that occurred in September 2017. The news broke about a year later, in July of 2018.
The victim revealed that something happened at a house located in Snohomish County, Washington State. The girl’s identity was not revealed due to her age when the event took place. At the time, Edgar’s wife confronted him about the accusations, which he initially denied, but ended up pleading guilty to the charges, later in court proceedings.
According to People, Hansen admitted that he touched the girl inappropriately and made her do the same thing to him.
Hansen was charged with fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation. He was given a suspended 364-day sentence, meaning he served no jail time. Instead, he received two years of probation and had to pay $6,000 in fines.
In addition to those penalties, he had to go through an evaluation for sexual deviancy and give a DNA sample to the police.
What happened to Edgar Hansen?
In a statement requested by a Snohomish County District Court judge, Edgar said “I committed this assault for the purpose of my own sexual gratification. I am very sorry for that conduct and for the harm I have caused [the victim] and I have commenced treatment to ensure that nothing like this assault ever happens again.”
Predictably, he was fired from the show as quietly as possible. The strange thing is that while he’s no longer on the show, he’s still working on the Northwestern, with some viewers saying they’ve seen him in the background of a couple of shots.
The latest season of Deadliest Catch (19) is available to stream, along with all older episodes, on Discovery Plus.
If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
