Matthew Hoffman (murderer)

Matthew J. Hoffman (born November 1, 1980)[1] is an American convicted murderer known for killing three people (Tina Herrmann, her son Kody Maynard, and her friend Stephanie Sprang), as well as kidnapping and raping Sarah Maynard, Herrmann's 13-year-old daughter, over the course of four days. The triple murders took place in Howard, Ohio. Police traced purchases for tarps found at the scene to a local Walmart that led them to Hoffman.[2][3]

Matthew J. Hoffman
Born (1980-11-01) November 1, 1980
Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S.
Conviction(s)Aggravated murder (x3)
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without parole
Details
Victims3 murdered, 1 kidnapped and raped
CountryUnited States
State(s)Ohio

His case is featured in Season 2, Episode 5 of the show Deadly Sins, which is titled "Small Town Massacre".

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 residence, surprising Hoffman.[5]

After murdering Hermann, Sprang, and Kody Maynard, Hoffman took Sarah Maynard back to his house, bound and gagged her, and then left her in his basement. He then dismembered the three victims and stuffed them inside a 60-foot-tall hollow tree.[6] The family was later reported missing, and a three-day search for the four ensued. Hoffman became a suspect when items found in the house, a large tarp and large garbage bags, were purchased from a local Walmart. The police reviewed video footage of Hoffman buying those items at that Walmart as well as leaving them in his own vehicle and were able to determine his identity through BMV records. It also came out later that he had been stopped by police in the area where Herrmann's truck was found but had been released after being questioned as to why he was in that area.[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 ten-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 hamburgers. Hoffman’s claim was contested by Sarah, with evidence of sexual assault. Hoffman was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. [10]

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. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  4. ALFANO, SEAN (7 January 2011). "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 2022-03-31.
  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.
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