An Alaska girl pleaded responsible to killing her “greatest buddy” after a person she met on-line stated he would pay her $9 million if she sent him photos and videos of her committing murder.
Denali Brehmer, 22, pleaded responsible Wednesday to first-degree homicide within the June 2019 demise of Cynthia Hoffman, the Alaska Department of Law said.
Hoffman, 19, died from a gunshot wound to the again of the top. Her physique was dumped within the Eklutna River, about 27 miles northeast of Anchorage, court docket paperwork state.
The Anchorage District Lawyer’s Workplace beforehand stated that Brehmer, who was 18 on the time of the crime, began planning the homicide after a person she met on-line advised her that he would give her cash in change for proof of her killing somebody.
Brehmer knew the person as “Tyler” and had begun a relationship with him, however authorities stated he had catfished her and created a pretend persona as a millionaire from Kansas. His actual title is Darin Schilmiller from Indiana, authorities stated.
Court docket paperwork state that Brehmer and Schilmiller began planning a number of crimes in change for cash, together with the “rape and homicide of somebody in Alaska.”
Brehmer selected Hoffman because the sufferer and recruited 4 associates —Kayden McIntosh, Caleb Leyland, and two different unnamed juveniles — to assist her, in line with authorities. Brehmer advised them they’d get “substantial shares of cash” for serving to her kill Hoffman.
Authorities stated that Brehmer and two of the teenagers tricked Hoffman into coming to Thunderbird Falls beneath the guise of a mountain climbing journey. They certain her arms, ft and mouth with duct tape, shot her behind the top, and dumped her physique within the river, court docket paperwork state.
Because the crime was being dedicated, Brehmer despatched photographs and movies to Schilmiller, authorities stated.
After killing Hoffman, the group destroyed a few of her private belongings and texted her mother and father that that they had dropped her off at a park. Police stated there was no proof Hoffman was sexually assaulted.
Alaska Division of Regulation stated Wednesday that Brehmer “admitted the information contained within the criticism initially filed within the case.” The Anchorage Police Division, FBI and different businesses assisted in investigating Hoffman’s demise.
Brehmer was arrested in 2019 and indicted on first-degree homicide, first-degree conspiracy to commit homicide, first-degree solicitation of homicide, tampering with bodily proof and two fees of second-degree homicide.
Following her plea of responsible to first-degree homicide, the opposite fees had been dismissed, the Alaska Division of Regulation stated. She is scheduled to be sentenced in August and faces 30 to 99 years in jail. Her legal professional didn’t instantly return a request for touch upon Saturday.
Schilmiller was arrested and indicted on 5 homicide counts, on-line court docket information present.
McIntosh and Leyland had been indicted on 4 homicide counts, in line with court docket information. McIntosh was additionally indicted on tampering with proof. All three have pleaded not responsible and are awaiting trial. Their attorneys couldn’t instantly be reached.
Hoffman’s household beforehand stated that they imagine she was focused as a result of she had a studying incapacity that “put her at a youthful developmental age than her 19 years,” in line with The Anchorage Daily News.
Safia Samee Ali contributed.
