Matthew Hoffman Charged in Deaths of Ohio Family Members, Kidnapping and Rape of Teen Girl
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CBS/WBNS/AP) Matthew Hoffman, the man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl, was indicted this week on murder charges in connection with the fatal stabbings of her mother, brother and a family friend.
Hoffman could face life without the possibility of parole if convicted of killing Tina Herrmann, 32; her son, Kody Maynard, 11; and neighbor Stephanie Sprang, 41, according to an indictment announced Tuesday.
The indictment alleges Hoffman committed the killings while he burglarized Herrmann's house Nov. 10 near a lakeside community about 60 miles from Columbus.
Hoffman was also charged with kidnapping the 13-year-old girl during the crime and later raping her at his home in Mount Vernon.
The crimes that Hoffman is charged with could carry a possible death penalty, but Thatcher said that penalty was not pursued "in accordance with the wishes of the victims' families."
Hoffman is also charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly taking clothes and bedding from Herrmann's house because he sought to remove them as possible evidence. He's also charged with abusing a corpse "because the victims' remains were not intact when recovered," Thatcher said.
Valerie Haythorn, a friend and co-worker of Herrmann, said Tuesday she was relieved charges had finally been filed.
"The best thing for him to do is just go in and plead guilty and be done with it," said Haythorn, manager at the Dairy Queen where Herrmann worked. "I'm glad that we're finally getting some kind of justice for the victims and the survivors."
It was Haythorn's trip to Herrmann's house the day after she failed to show up for work that alerted authorities that a possible crime had occurred.
Authorities said an unusual amount of blood was found Nov. 11 in the home of the 32-year-old Herrmann, where Sprang had been visiting, and the search for the four began.
The 13-year-old girl was found three days later in Hoffman's home. Authorities said he gave information that led investigators to the remains of the others Nov. 18 in a wildlife preserve.
Hoffman, an unemployed tree-cutter, is being held in the Knox County jail on $1 million bond.
Authorities have not speculated on a motive. The sheriff has suggested that Hoffman, who spent six years in a Colorado prison for arson and other charges, had been watching the family for some time.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE OHIO FAMILY SLAYING CASE ON CRIMESIDER
