Matthew Hoffman (murderer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthew J. Hoffman
Born (1980-11-01) November 1, 1980 (age 41)
Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.
Conviction(s)Murder, kidnapping
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
Victims3 murdered, 1 kidnapped
CountryUnited States
State(s)Ohio

Matthew J. Hoffman (born November 1, 1980)[1] is an American convicted murderer known for the triple murder of Tina Herrmann, Kody Maynard, and Stephanie Sprang, as well as the kidnapping and rape of a teenage girl, which happened over the course of four days. The murders took place in Mount Vernon, Ohio.[2][3]

Murders and kidnapping[]

On November 10, 2010, Hoffman broke into Herrmann’s house after camping in the woods the night before.[4] Just as Hoffman was about to burglarize the home, Herrmann and Sprang entered the residency, surprising Hoffman.[5] When Sprang and Herrmann confronted Hoffman, he murdered both of them, killing the family dog as well. He then began to dismember the bodies in a bathtub and place the body parts into plastic bags. While this was happening Sarah, who was 13, and Kody, who was 11, got home from school and entered the house. Hoffman then attacked Kody, and Kody was then murdered.

After the murders of Hermann, Sprang and Kody, Hoffman took Sarah back to his house, binding and gagging her, then leaving her in his basement. He then dismembered the three victims and stuffed them inside a 60 feet tall hollow tree.[6] The family was later reported missing, and a three day search for the four ensued. Hoffman became a suspect when he was found sitting in the same area where Herrmann's truck was found.[7][8] On November 14, detectives raided Hoffman's home and Hoffman was arrested. Sarah was rescued from his basement and survived.[9]

Trial and sentence[]

While incarcerated, Hoffman wrote a four-page confession letter where he admitted to the murders and abduction, as well as revealing the location of the three bodies. While admitting to the abduction Hoffman claimed he treated Sarah nicely and let her play video games, watch movies and eat burgers. Hoffman’s claim was contested by Sarah, with evidence of sexual assault.[10]

Hoffman pleaded guilty to 10 counts, after his bail was set to 1 million dollars. In January 2011, Hoffman was sentenced to life without parole.

Obsession with trees and leaves[]

In Hoffman's house, an abundance of bags containing leaves were found. Hoffman had a strange obsession with trees and leaves, as he had piles of leaves littered all over his house and bags on top of bags inside his basement, where Sarah was kept. After confessing, Hoffman pleaded that they do not damage the hollow tree, where the three bodies were stuffed, but the tree was cut down to stop it from becoming a spectacle.

References[]

  1. ^ "Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Offender Search Detail". Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Man charged in deaths of victims found in Ohio tree". BBC News. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  3. ^ "Matthew Hoffman, Ohio Killer Who Hid Bodies in Tree, Pleads Guilty". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  4. ^ ALFANO, SEAN. "Matthew Hoffman pleads guilty to killing three in Ohio, stuffing their bodies into a tree". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  5. ^ "Killer: Deaths result of burglary gone wrong". News-Herald. 2011-01-06. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  6. ^ "What was in the home (and mind) of Matthew Hoffman?". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  7. ^ "Two women, two children missing in Ohio". CNN. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  8. ^ "Slain woman's manager: I knew something was wrong". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  9. ^ "Judge sets $1 million bond for Ohio kidnapping suspect". CNN. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  10. ^ "Killer Stuffed His House With Leaves, Kept Kidnapped Girl on Bed of Leaves". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
Retrieved from ""