Summary
Edgar Hansen was a memorable shipmate inDeadliest Catch, but it’s not clear what happened to the crabman after he disappeared from the Discovery Channel show. TheF/V Northwesternhas beena fan-favorite boat onDeadliest Catchsince its appearance in season 1. Helmed by the star of the series, Sig Hansen, the boat has appeared in every season of the Discovery Channel reality series. Sig is joined by his family in the show, with his daughter Mandy and his two brothers, Norman and Edgar, all helping out on their family boat.
The Hansen brothers have been through their fair share of trials and tribulations, withNorman Hansen nearly dying in an episode ofDeadliest Catch. Edgar came on the show in season 9 and was immediately respected for his fishing proficiency. He also looks quite a bit like his older brother Sig, buthe has a much more laid-back personality which quickly endeared him to viewers. Despite being liked by fans of the show and the crew of theF/V Northwestern, Edgar suddenly stopped appearing onDeadliest Catchwhile his brothers and niece continued crabbing.
Deadliest Catch: The Cornelia Marie’s Sudden Departure Explained
It was never clearly explained what happened to the Cornelia Marie when it didn’t return for season 19 but legal issues kept it from appearing.
Edgar Hansen Disappeared From Deadliest Catch After His Legal Troubles Came To Light
Edgar Stopped Appearing After Season 14
Edgar’s last appearance onDeadliest Catchcomes in the season 14 finale, “Storm Surge”, but in season 15, he was nowhere to be seen. According to court records obtained byThe Seattle Times, in July 2018, Edgar Hansen admitted to inappropriately sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl the previous fall. In exchange for Edgar pleading guilty to fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation (a gross misdemeanor), he served no jail time and instead received a 364-day suspended jail sentence and was ordered to pay court fines and fees of $1,653.
Edgar was also instructed to undergo a sexual deviancy evaluation and treatment and give a DNA sample to authorities. Asked to write a statement by the Snohomish County District Court judge, Edgar wrote,
“I committed this assault for the purpose of my own sexual gratification. I am very sorry for that conduct and I have commenced treatment to ensure that nothing like this assault ever happens again.”
This all took place back in 2018, in the middle of season 14 airing. Once the news got out, it was likely that Discovery decided not to renew Edgar’s contract to appear on the show.
Edgar Hansen Is No Longer In The Public Eye (Though Redditors Swear They Saw Him On Deadliest Catch)
Edgar Has No Social Media But Appeared On His Niece’s Instagram
Edgar Hansen has little in the way of a social media presence, so it’s not exactly clear what he’s been up to since being fired fromDeadliest Catch. However, eagle-eyed fans on Reddit claim they’ve seen him on theNorthwesternin the background of some scenes. Useru/juice2425says,
“Edgar still works on the boat for some seasons, every so often you can catch a glimpse of him in the background. He was fired by Discovery not from the boat.”
Another Redditoru/kashy87writes,
“Just because the show fired him doesn’t mean he’s out of the family business. Discovery just wants nothing to do with him.”
Mandy Hansenalso posted a video to her Instagram that clearly shows Edgar Hansen partaking in a kick-off tradition of biting the head off a fish.
It makes perfect sense that Edgar would remain working on theNorthwestern, as nothing would preclude him from doing so. Discovery Channel doesn’t dictate who does and doesn’t get to serve on a boat; they only get to decide who they put on their show. It’s a fairly by-the-book result of everything that happened. Edgar was accused of a crime, he pled guilty, was sentenced, served his sentence, and likely resumed working. It all checks out.
The Discovery Channel has the right to decide who goes onDeadliest Catchand if they so decide to take Edgar off, that doesn’t mean they can remove him from theNorthwestern, which it’s clear they have not. While it’s possible that the Redditors are wrong, their theory makes sense.
Deadliest Catch
Cast
Deadliest Catch is a documentary series that chronicles the perilous lives of Alaskan crab fishermen as they brave treacherous conditions and freezing temperatures. Released in April 2005, the series follows crews navigating dangerous waters to meet their quotas and return home safely.
