Five people were arrested in the slaying of a mentally disabled Alaska woman, who officials said was tied up, shot, and tossed into a river after being invited on a hike.
Denali Brehmer, 18, is accused of murdering 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman on June 2. She allegedly got help from 19-year-old Caleb Leyland, 16-year-old Kayden McIntosh, and two unnamed teens, KTUU reported.
Five people in Alaska are charged with murdering a developmentally disabled 19-year-old woman whom they invited on a hike https://t.co/B8rtrS0VKg
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) June 10, 2019
“I know I did something wrong and I know I could have probably done something different if I was able to and I don’t want my daughter knowing that her mom grew up a killer because I don’t see myself as one,” Brehmer said on June 9 at her arraignment for the crime.
Officials claim that she and four others plotted to kill Hoffman, saying they invited her for a hike at the Thunderbird Falls trail near Anchorage.
Three additional suspects arrested in connection with the Cynthia Hoffman case. MORE: https://t.co/VN4ehnTJE7
— KTUU.com (@Ch2KTUU) June 9, 2019
That’s when Hoffman, who is said to have had the mental capacity of a seventh-grader, was gunned down and dumped, said police.
Later, Leyland admitted to his role in the case, allowing Brehmer and McIntosh to take his Chevy Trailblazer to kidnap and murder Hoffman, according to the report.
Cynthia Hoffman was killed last week near Thunderbird Falls; five people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. pic.twitter.com/z8kv2U6Ynw
— KTVA 11 News (@ktva) June 10, 2019
The Alaska Star reported that an unnamed juvenile male also admitted to helping plot the killing
The unnamed juveniles were taken to the McLaughlin Youth Center, and they will face charges, police told the Star.
Cynthia Hoffman’s father says she was last seen at the Polar Bear Playground at Russian Jack Springs Park on Sunday afternoon about 4:40. https://t.co/JODnLs3agE
— KTVA 11 News (@ktva) June 4, 2019
Police have not provided a motive in the shooting.
Hoffman’s family spoke out about the matter, reported the Daily Mail. “All I know is that my daughter didn’t deserve all this,” said her father, Timothy.
“She should have had the friends that she wanted. She shouldn’t have had people that wanted to plot against her. And the ages of these people? I think it is sick. And now they don’t have to live the nightmare that I have to live,” he was quoted as saying by the Mail.
19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman was last seen @ the Polar Bear Playground @ Russian Jack Springs Park in Anchorage, Alaska on Sunday @ 4:40PM. She is developmentally disabled & has the mind of a 12-year-old. Contact Anchorage PD @ 907-786-8900 with any info about her disappearance. pic.twitter.com/RDGebGcZpM
— Missing Persons Planet (@Home4theMissing) June 5, 2019
He said that Hoffman and Brehmer met in high school, saying that Brehmer was her “best friend.”
“Her disability just made her want to have friends,” he added. “That’s all she wanted, was just to be her friend.”
