Alleged Spy's Neighbors Shocked Over Arrest
Feb. 20, 2001 -- To Russian intelligence, he was allegedly known as "Ramon," a longtime informant on U.S. secrets.
But to residents in his quiet neighborhood in Vienna, Va., Robert Hanssen, 56, was just "Bob," devout Christian and father of six who could be seen at church every Sunday. For more than 15 years, Hanssen allegedly spied for the Soviet Union and Russia, passing on classified information for more than $1.4 million in cash and jewels.
FBI officials say Hanssen was arrested Sunday night after he deposited a package containing classified information in a park near his neighborhood. Overnight, he went from being a low-key family man to only the third FBI agent ever accused of spying.
His neighbors were stunned.
"I called four women this morning after I saw it on television really early and the same reaction: 'No way. Not Bob. This isn't Bob.' That was the reaction … It's a horrible thing," said Nancy Cullen, who said she has known the Hanssens for 10 years. "He just seemed like a regular person … every Sunday — shuffling all those kids into the van, all eight of them into the van, off to Mass. I know that because I walked by there every Sunday."
Devout Christian Family
Described as a father of six children and a devout Christian who belonged to a very conservative Catholic organization called Opus Dei — "work of God" — who attended the same church as FBI Director Louis Freeh.
Cullen wasn't the only neighbor who noticed the Hanssens' apparent devout nature, and not just because of their regular attendance at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, where his wife, Bonnie, also volunteered as a part-time teacher. There are "Jesus Saves" bumper stickers on their cars and the Hanssens' dog's name in Sunday.
"I don't know what gave me, sort of the collective impression that they're very devout in their faith, but they seem to be," Jennifer Jones said. "Certainly, you know, I'm hoping that they can draw on that during this terrible time as people."
But the pastor of St. Catherine of Sienna said today the Hanssens were dropped for a time in 1999 from the parish for failing to make contributions. They have since been reinstated.
Hanssen's neighbors said he didn't really stand out in his neighborhood. Hanssen is said to have gone to barbecues and neighborhood get-togethers.
Hanssen's alleged role as a double agent also shocked his colleagues at the FBI, sources told ABCNEWS. Both the deputy director of the FBI and the director of intelligence were said to be personal friends of Hanssen. Before joining the FBI 27 years ago next month, Hanssen dabbled in other professions. He studied Russian and dentistry in college before becoming an accountant.
At the time of his arrest Sunday, Hanssen was working in the State Department in Washington, D.C., appearing to help protect U.S. agents from spies. Over his 27-year career, FBI officials said, Hanssen had access to the heart of confidential information in New York and Washington, recruiting and hiring U.S. spies, catching spies and setting up phone taps and surveillance.
Police Yellow Tape Attracts Crowd
Hanssen's brown panel and brick split-level house with a one-car garage didn't normally stand out from others in the neighborhood. Half the houses there have a basketball hoop in the driveway, a soccer net in the yard, or a hopscotch game scrawled on the sidewalk.
But today, the Hanssen home was surrounded yellow police tape as FBI agents searched it. One neighbor, Francine Bennett, who lived across the street from the family said they often drove to Florida for vacation and to visit Bonnie Hanssen's parents.
Neighbors had nothing bad to say about the Hanssens, describing the family as sociable and Hanssen as open about his job in the FBI. The eldest of Hanssen's three boys and three girls recently graduated from law school. The youngest is a teenage girl who often worked as a baby sitter.
"I talked to Bob in the mornings when I walk, every morning. If he's getting in the car, 'Hi, how you doing?' He's always stopped to say hello. I don't know — it just was a shock to all of us," Cullen said.
"I think you'll see that anywhere and everywhere we can talk about how great they are so that we can see that he's not maligned unfairly — anything we can do to show the good side," she added. "You know, when something like this happens, everybody immediately decides that must be the case. And I don't think you'll find a neighbor here that thinks that is the case."
ABCNEWS' Pierre Thomas, John McWethy and Jackie Judd contributed to this report.