GUILTY OH - Two women & child killed, 13yo abducted, Apple Valley, 10 Nov 2010 #4

[Soul125]

Somebody mentioned on facebook that this Kokosing Gap Trail could be how he walked back to Mt. Vernon without being seen if he dropped the truck off at the environmental center off Gambier Rd. Nobody would have likely seen him.

 

[darlin gal]

I have only been following this case for a couple of days and apologize if this has been covered. There are just way too many posts to read.

Has there been speculation about the possibility of TH and MH having had a secret sexual relationship, either former or current?

Also wondering about the frequent fires set by MH in his backyard. Where I live (Canada), it's illegal to have any fires in a residential area ... even for leaves. Does anyone know if it's legal to have them where MH lived?

TIA

No, the police said there was no relationship between any of the women and him.

They said they think he may have been watching the family.

It is illegal where he lives to burn but neighbors must have never thought to call police or the fire department I guess.

 

[Tikki]

Also, if you go to

http://www.kokosinggaptrail.org/

and click on points of interest, one of them is the Environmental area where the vehicle was found

 

[nervous_nellie]

I have only been following this case for a couple of days and apologize if this has been covered. There are just way too many posts to read.

Has there been speculation about the possibility of TH and MH having had a secret sexual relationship, either former or current?

Also wondering about the frequent fires set by MH in his backyard. Where I live (Canada), it's illegal to have any fires in a residential area ... even for leaves. Does anyone know if it's legal to have them where MH lived?

TIA

i know here in illinois we have specific days we are allowed to burn unless we have a fire warning in place... i wish it was illegal - i hate the smell of burning leaves in my house!

 

[Tikki]

Somebody mentioned on facebook that this Kokosing Gap Trail could be how he walked back to Mt. Vernon without being seen if he dropped the truck off at the college site off Gambier Rd. Nobody would have likely seen him.

Makes sense that he could have left the vehicle there and walked back. 5.8 mi I think?

The other theories about the family walking didn't make sense, imo

 

[antiquegirl]

No, the police said there was no relationship between any of the women and him.

They said they think he may have been watching the family.

It is illegal where he lives to burn but neighbors must have never thought to call police or the fire department I guess.

(BBM)

Thank you. That's what I was thinking. If they had been reported by neighbours, considering his previous police record, maybe he would have been arrested and this whole tragic turn of events could have been avoided.

JMO

 

[sherbetjello]

Sarah's father just spoke out on FB. He mentioned a charity set up in her name. I wonder if it's possible for us to donate online? He gave an address to make a donation, but for me, donating online would be much easier.

 

[C.Hound]

No, the police said there was no relationship between any of the women and him.

They said they think he may have been watching the family.

It is illegal where he lives to burn but neighbors must have never thought to call police or the fire department I guess.

"Authorities believe the girl had been "under the control" of Hoffman since Wednesday, when she and her brother last attended school, the sheriff said. He did not know if Hoffman was connected to either Herrmann or Sprang, but said he is not the ex-boyfriend of either woman.

"At this time, whether he's connected to the family or whether he connected himself to the family ... a lot of that remains to be seen as the investigation continues," Barber said."

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/articl...nn-stephanie-sprang-and-two-children/19715876

 

[hollye]

Does anyone know where exactly the car was found? Was it just parked on the side of the road, in a driveway, or parking space? I can't recall having seen this information.

 

[Tikki]

Does anyone know where exactly the car was found? Was it just parked on the side of the road, in a driveway, or parking space? I can't recall having seen this information.

found this, but lots of misinfo out there in the media right now

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2010/11/12/ohio-family-missing-college-locked-down-amid-search/

The mother’s pickup truck was at the home Wednesday when the boyfriend reported her missing, but it was found abandoned Thursday night on property owned by nearby Kenyon College, about 50 miles northeast of Columbus. The college ordered a lockdown of all students until 7 a.m. Friday.

The truck was discovered at the Brown Family Environmental Center, across the road from campus, but was later removed. The sheriff’s office told the school that the vehicle was believed to be connected to a crime scene.

also

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/16/hope-fading.html?sid=101

The bags are on the side of Lower Gambier Road near Rt. 229, about a half mile from where Tina Herrmann's car was found abandoned on Thursday. The silver-and-black tarp is about 20 feet off the road near the edge of a woods. Agents with the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation are on the way to check out the bags, a Franklin County deputy said

 

[nursebeeme]

Also, if you go to

http://www.kokosinggaptrail.org/

and click on points of interest, one of them is the Environmental area where the vehicle was found

bumping up ((bbm))

 

[Soul125]

Does anyone know where exactly the car was found? Was it just parked on the side of the road, in a driveway, or parking space? I can't recall having seen this information.

Her truck was found at the Brown Family Environmental Center, which is part of Kenyon College. The address is

9781 Laymon Road, Gambier, Ohio 43022

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131264684

 

[darlin gal]

Does anyone know where exactly the car was found? Was it just parked on the side of the road, in a driveway, or parking space? I can't recall having seen this information.

The truck was discovered at the Brown Family Environmental Center, across the road from campus, but was later removed.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/12/missing-ohio-moms-ex-blood-was-found-inside-home/

 

[KAE]

I posted this last night on the old thread - bringing it over here.

Info on the Brown Family Environmental Center at Kenyon College:
http://bfec.kenyon.edu/welcomeset1.htm

Here's a link to a PDF map of the area:
http://bfec.kenyon.edu/trailbrochure2.2.pdf

 

[Bratislava]

Matthew's friend is linked on the FB page-- provides lots of insight into Matthew's "strange activities". Apparently, like myself and his friend, Matthew liked to burn campfires, climb trees, going camping, and learning outdoors survival skills. My Cub Scout son and husband (who is a troop leader) pride themselves on much of the same.

There is no doubt that Matthew is a bad human being, but I'm a little scared to see so much outdoorsy behavior described as suspect. Certainly, outdoors skills are less prominent in a culture where we tend to have a TV in every room, but Matthew's love of nature is not what makes him a criminal. It is his treatment of fellow human beings.

 

[Leila]

I noticed in yesterday's pressie that Barber seemed to be preparing "us" for the worst. Paraphrasing: "2-pronged approach for the search", "these folks might be dead", "no reason to think that they may be located outside the Knox County area", etc.

Since MH wasn't cooperating when arrested, and then subsequently it was reported that he is, it makes me think that perhaps he has confessed to killing them.

Maybe Barber couldn't say more because MH doesn't have a lawyer yet???

Did he refuse a court-appointed lawyer (or was there no opportunity for that until today's bond hearing)? Is he going to be one of those who defends himself?

I noted a very sleight difference in Sheriff Barber's demeanor between the presser on Sunday and the presser yesterday.

On Sunday, the presser came on the heels of finding and rescuing Sarah. At that time he was optimistic saying he was hopeful of finding Tina, Kody, and Stephanie alive - he said they weren't aware of anyone being deceased.

In yesterday's presser, he stated he was optimistic of finding the three missing people alive, but had to be realistic and considering the amount of blood found at the house and the fact that no one has seen any of the three since last Wednesday there's the possibility they're dead. Yesterday's presser was more low key and I felt that there had been a change in the direction of the investigation. Certainly the search of Foundation Park was the search for deceased individuals, not for finding someone presumed to be alive.

I suspect that investigators have been talking to MH and have got a pretty good idea what happened and where the three missing people might be. Their search seems to be centered on Foundation Park.

I'm hopeful that Tina, Kody, and Stephanie will be found in the next few days. The wait, and not knowing, is extremely difficult on the their families. :frown:

 

[Tikki]

Lower Gambier Road is closed off for the search

http://www.knoxpages.com/?NewsID=8176&CatID=1

MOUNT VERNON – Lower Gambier Road is closed at this time as authorities expand their search for three missing people following the discovery of trash bags and a tarp.

 

[jaycee]

I have only been following this case for a couple of days and apologize if this has been covered. There are just way too many posts to read.

Has there been speculation about the possibility of TH and MH having had a secret sexual relationship, either former or current?

No, nothing.
I've been following this closely from the beginning and haven't seen anything like that.

 

[imamaze]

I didn't know if these had been posted or not...

Neighbors: Hoffman eccentric, troubled
A group of friends and neighbors, who gathered at the Columbus Road home of Donna Davis on Monday morning watched tearfully as helicopters continued to circle overhead. The large television is tuned to any breaking news which may bring word of the three people missing from an Apple Valley residence. The computer is carrying live feed of the same. They are waiting for any word about the three Apple Valley residents who remain missing.
Many in this group once considered 30-year-old Matthew Hoffman a friend. The tree trimmer who spent many hours out at his fire pit, was apprehended Sunday morning when Knox County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team members raided his home and rescued 13-year-old Sarah Maynard.
More...

Accused Ohio kidnapper raised suspicions with neighbors
The Ohio man arrested for kidnapping a 13-year-old girl and suspected in the disappearance of her family raised red flags with neighbors long before he was accused of terrorizing the teen and her family.
More... video included...

 

[nursebeeme]

1/15/2010
Subcase: A
COMPLAINT-WARRANT FILED-DEFENDANT ARRESTED 11-14-10 AND INCARCERATED IN THE KNOX COUNTY JAIL.
11/15/2010 BOND HEARING DATE
BOND HEARING DATE 11-16-2010 01:30PM
11/15/2010
JOURNAL ENTRY. THE COURT APPOINTS THE KNOX COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER AS COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR THE DEFENDANT. THIS APPOINTMENT IS AN INTERIM APPOINTMENT, PENDING VERIFICATION OF THE DEFENDANT'S ELIGIBILITY BY THE OFFICE OF THE KNOX COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER..

http://mountvernonmunicipalcourt.org/connection/court/lookup.xsp


***note that this link will take you to the general lookup where you have to type his name in****