Matthew J. Hoffman (born November 1, 1980) is an American convicted murderer known for killing three people (32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 11-year-old son Kody Maynard, and her 41-year-old 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 Howard is a census-designated place (CDP) in southern Howard Township, Knox County, Ohio, Howard Township, Knox County, Ohio, Knox County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census it had a population of 246. The United ...

. Police traced purchases for tarps found at the scene to a local

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...

that led them to Hoffman. His case is featured in Season 2, Episode 5 of the show '' Deadly Sins'', which is titled "Small Town Massacre", and in Season 9, Episode 4 of the show '' Signs of a Psychopath'' titled "It's called closure".

Murders and kidnapping

On November 10, 2010, Hoffman broke into Herrmann's house after camping in the woods the night before. Just as Hoffman was about to burglarize the home, Herrmann and Sprang entered the residence, surprising Hoffman. 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. The family was later reported missing, and a three-day search for the four ensued. Hoffman became a suspect when items uncovered in the house, a large tarp and large garbage bags, were found to be 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

motor vehicle A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on railway track, rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such ...

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. On November 14, detectives raided Hoffman's home and Hoffman was arrested. Sarah was rescued from his basement and survived.

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.

References

External links

* , a

true crime True crime is a genre of non-fiction work in which an author examines a crime, including detailing the actions of people associated with and affected by the crime, and investigating the perpetrator's Motive (law), motives. True crime works often ...

documentary about the case, including an analysis of Hoffman's

police interrogation Interrogation (also called questioning) is interviewing as commonly employed by law enforcement officers, military personnel, intelligence agencies, organized crime syndicates, and terrorist organizations with the goal of eliciting useful informa ...

videos {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffman, Matthew Living people 1980 births American people convicted of murder American murderers of children American rapists 21st-century American murderers American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment People convicted of murder by Ohio Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Ohio Violence against women in Ohio