Susan Kuhnhausen: The Night Her Life Changed Forever

On the evening of September 6, 2006, Susan Kuhnhausen returned to her home in southeast Portland, Oregon, after finishing a long shift as an emergency room nurse. She expected nothing more than rest and quiet. Instead, she walked into a situation that would alter her life permanently — a moment of danger that forced her to act instinctively to survive.

Less than 20 minutes later, her neighbor was on the phone with emergency services, reporting a serious incident next door. When police arrived, they discovered that an intruder, later identified as Edward Dalton Haffey, had died inside Susan’s home. What initially appeared to be a failed break-in soon unraveled into a disturbing and carefully planned scheme — one that pointed back to someone Susan trusted most.

Portland police gave Susan Kuhnhausen an award for “sheer determination” after she saved her own life from a hitman.

Susan Kuhnhausen and her husband, Mike Kuhnhausen, had separated about a year before the incident. Despite living apart, they remained on friendly terms. Mike still had access to the house, and there were no obvious signs of hostility or conflict that would have raised alarms.

That evening, Susan even found a handwritten note from Mike explaining that he was having trouble sleeping and had gone to the coast for a short break. Nothing about the message felt threatening. Moments later, however, Susan encountered a stranger emerging from her bedroom.

What followed was a sudden confrontation that left Susan fighting for her life inside her own home. Drawing on instincts shaped by years of working in emergency medicine — where quick decisions can mean the difference between life and death — she resisted. When the encounter ended, Susan fled to her neighbor’s house for help.

At first, investigators believed the case involved a burglary that had gone horribly wrong. However, as detectives examined the scene more closely, inconsistencies began to emerge.

Inside the intruder’s backpack, police found a phone number that immediately raised suspicion — it belonged to Susan’s husband, Mike Kuhnhausen. They also found notes suggesting prior communication and planning. The discovery shifted the entire direction of the investigation.

Edward Dalton Haffey was not a random criminal. He had a documented criminal history and past involvement in serious offenses. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered links between Haffey and Mike Kuhnhausen through prior employment connections.

Suddenly, the case was no longer about a stranger breaking into a home. It was about betrayal.

When police attempted to question Mike Kuhnhausen, they discovered he was missing. Two days after the incident, a letter interpreted as a goodbye note was found at his father’s home. Authorities feared he might harm himself.

Five days later, investigators located Mike in the parking lot of a medical facility outside Portland. He told officers he had intended to admit himself, claiming he had “nothing left.” Instead, he was taken into custody.

Initially, Mike denied knowing Edward Haffey or having any involvement in the incident. But evidence continued to mount. Investigators confirmed that Mike had previously hired Haffey for maintenance work and that Haffey had spoken to others about a supposed “job” shortly before the incident.

Gradually, the full picture came into focus.

At the time, Mike Kuhnhausen was facing significant personal and financial struggles. He had lost his job, lacked stable housing, and was under growing pressure. He also knew that the house Susan lived in had been fully paid off and that he could benefit financially if she were no longer alive.

According to prosecutors, Mike offered Edward Haffey a large sum of money to stage an incident that would appear to be a break-in gone wrong. The plan depended on timing, secrecy, and the assumption that Susan would be defenseless.

That assumption proved fatally wrong.

Faced with overwhelming evidence, Mike Kuhnhausen eventually pleaded guilty to soliciting harm against his estranged wife. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Susan filed for divorce immediately after his arrest and later pursued civil action, not for personal gain, but to ensure Mike would never have the financial means to place her — or anyone else — in danger again.

Mike Kuhnhausen died from illness while incarcerated, just months before he was eligible for release.

Although authorities ruled Susan Kuhnhausen’s actions as self-defense, the emotional consequences did not end with the legal process. She has openly spoken about the long-term psychological impact: anxiety, hypervigilance, and the loss of a sense of safety that once felt natural.

“I carry this for life,” she later said in interviews. “Not because of the law, but because of memory.”

Susan eventually changed her last name and worked to rebuild a sense of normalcy. Over time, she became an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and violent crime, using her experience to support others navigating trauma, legal systems, and recovery.

Her story resonated with many because it challenged common assumptions — that danger comes only from strangers, that separation guarantees safety, and that survival automatically brings closure.

The Kuhnhausen case became a powerful example of how domestic threats can persist even after relationships appear to have ended peacefully. It highlighted the importance of taking emotional, financial, and behavioral warning signs seriously — even when there is no visible abuse.

Law enforcement later recognized Susan’s resolve and survival instincts, but Susan herself has emphasized that no recognition can undo the reality of being forced into such a situation.

“One minute, you’re just living your life,” she said. “The next, everything you thought you understood about safety is gone.”

Today, the case is often cited in discussions about domestic violence awareness, survivor advocacy, and the hidden dangers that can exist behind seemingly ordinary lives.

Susan Kuhnhausen did not seek notoriety or heroism. She sought to survive.

And while the incident ended one threat, it marked the beginning of a lifelong journey — one shaped by resilience, loss, and the determination to ensure that others are not caught unprepared by the unthinkable.

Her story is not just about one night in Portland. It is about trust, survival, and the reality that sometimes, the greatest danger comes from where we least expect it.