Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Updated: 8:16 am

Four reported missing forces lockdown at Ohio college
HOWARD, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio sheriff says things were found out of place at the home of a woman whose disappearance with three other people prompted a college lockdown.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said Friday that police were searching for two women and two children. Barber told a local TV station the boyfriend of one woman reported her missing on Wednesday and the woman's co-worker said she didn't show up for work on Thursday.

The co-worker went to the woman's home and saw things out of place. The sheriff says police searched the house and found it in "an unusual condition." He did not elaborate.

The woman's pickup truck was found abandoned Thursday on property owned by nearby Kenyon College, which ordered a lockdown until 7 a.m. Friday of all students on the residential campus.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/national/story/Four-reported-missing-forces-lockdown-at-Ohio/z6yvU8o9b0q-fQlKQLYAPQ.cspx

This is all I have at the moment.....names soon, I hope.

Here we go...........

Four missing, Ohio college on lockdown overnight
Authorities searching for woman, her two children and a female friend

HOWARD, Ohio — An Ohio sheriff said authorities were searching for a missing woman, her two children and a female friend on Friday in a case that has prompted an overnight lockdown at nearby Kenyon College.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber told WBNS-TV the boyfriend of one woman reported her missing on Wednesday, and that the woman's co-worker said she didn't show up for work on Thursday.

The co-worker went to the woman's home and noticed that things were out of place, the Associated Press reported. The sheriff says police searched the house and found it in "an unusual condition," but he did not elaborate.

The missing were Tina Herrman, 32, Stephanie Spring, 41 and Herrman's two children, aged 13 and 10, WBNS-TV reported on its website.

"(On) Thursday, Tina did not show up at work; she works at the local Dairy Queen in Mount Vernon," Knox County Sheriff told WBNS. "A co-worker came out and met deputies out here. Her truck was gone."

Her pickup truck was later found abandoned Thursday on property owned by nearby Kenyon College.

Police removed the vehicle and the college was back to "normal" on Friday morning after having been locked down overnight, Kenyon's director of public affairs Shawn Presley told msnbc.com. The college, which is fully residential, has about 1,700 students.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40147951/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Friday,  November 12, 2010 12:16 AM

APPLE VALLEY, Ohio — Authorities said a pickup belonging to a missing Knox County woman was found on the campus of Kenyon College late Thursday, prompting a lockdown.

Knox County Sheriff's deputies were searching for two women and two children, reported missing from an Apple Valley home on Thursday evening, 10TV News reported.

Tina Herrmann, 32, Stephanie Spring, 41, and two children, Cody Manerd, 10, and Sarah Manerd, 13, were reported missing.

The relationship between the four was not immediately clear.

Knox County Sheriff's deputies and investigators from the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation spent several hours searching a house on Apple Valley Road, 10TV's Ashleigh Barry reported.

BCI investigators said there were signs of a struggle inside the home, Barry reported.

A dark purple Ford F-150 that belonged to one of the women was also missing, deputies said.

Kenyon College, in Gambier Ohio, was put on lockdown shortly after 10 p.m. after the pickup was found abandoned at the Brown Family Environmental Center.

An e-mail, sent to students at 11:10 p.m., said law enforcement told college officials there was a "potentially dangerous person in the vicinity."

Watch 10TV News HD and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/12/story-apple-valley-four-missing-knox-county-truck-found-kenyon-college.html?sid=102

Sheriff: Blood found in missing Ohio woman's home

Published November 12, 2010
Associated Press

as usual......the link locks me up.....

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/12/ohio-college-locked-amid-case-missing/

The missing...............

(http://www.10tv.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/10tv/local/stories/2010/11/12/image_missingadultschildren.jpg)

Stephanie Spring (top left), Tina Herrmann (top right), Kody Maynard (bottom left) and Sarah Maynard (bottom right

 ::MonkeyMad::   OMG!  When is this going to stop?????????

It won't.

Another similar - different pic of Spring

(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/klaasen3/Sub9%20June%202010/4missing.jpg)

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/12/story-gambier-4-people-missing-kenyon-lockdown.html?sid=102

My heart sank just reading this....


Search Continues For Missing Women, Children

Friday,  November 12, 2010 5:42 AM
Updated: Friday,  November 12, 2010 7:35 PM
WBNS-10TV

HOWARD, Ohio — Investigators continued to search a Knox County home for evidence on Friday after two woman and two children disappeared.

Their disappearance prompted authorities to lock down Kenyon College on Thursday night, after one of the missing person's vehicles was found parked near campus, 10TV News reported.

Deputies were at Tina Herrmann's home on King Beach Drive since 5 p.m. Thursday.  Herrmann, 32, and her two children, vanished on Wednesday, along with Herrmann's friend, Stephanie Sprang, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.

According to Knox County Sheriff David Barber, the inside of the house was in "unusual condition."  He said he was surprised that children and adults would be living inside. (???????)

The children, Sarah Maynard, 13, and Kody Maynard, 11, were not in school on Thursday.

The Knox County Sheriff's office issued an endangered missing child advisory shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday.

It is not an Amber Alert, but the sheriff's office said the children are believed to be in danger. A check of the residence revealed evidence that the occupants were possibly a victim of a crime, the sheriff said.

Investigators said blood was found inside the home in two locations, but Barber said he believes it was from some type of an injury and does not necessarily mean foul play was involved.

Investigators were also monitoring Herrmann's cell phone and bank records.

Officials from the FBI, Knox County Sheriff's office, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification are involved in the search, Frazer reported.

Herrmann's pickup was discovered late Thursday night near the Kenyon College campus in nearby Gambier.

"It makes no sense to me," said Larry Maynard, the father of the missing children.

Larry Maynard said that he spoke with one of Herrmann's co-workers, who went to her house and peeked inside her windows after not showing up for work.

According to Barber, Herrmann worked at Dairy Queen, located at 1600 Coshocton Ave., in Mount Vernon.

"I guess (the co-worker saw) some beer cans and some things that looked kind of out of place, and she knew that something was definitely not right," Larry Maynard said.  "My ex kept a pretty clean house.  She went and entered the home and when she went into the home, she saw some blood in the home and -- at that point -- she turned around and left."

According to Larry Maynard, the co-worker then called 911.  He said that Herrmann's live-in boyfriend, Greg Borders, contacted him after she was reported missing.

Borders said the couple was having trouble, but said he knows nothing and has done nothing wrong, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.

He said he last saw Herrmann and her children around 4 a.m. Wednesday, before he left for work at a Target distribution center in West Jefferson.

He said he and Herrmann talked briefly on the phone shortly before 5 a.m. and received a text message from her at 11 a.m. Borders said that was the last time he heard from her.

Borders said he had no idea Herrmann never made it to her job because he spent the night with a friend.

"So I spent the night there and we went golfing and probably about noon I got a call from my mom asking me if I knew where Tina was," Borders said.
"The way things are going down and then to have CSI out here as long as they have been in the house something had to have happened."

The couple had been together for six years. Borders said their home was going into foreclosure; they were talking about splitting up, and had been arguing.

He said he would never hurt Herrmann or her children.

Larry Maynard said he is not so sure.

"The boyfriend, the live-in boyfriend, Greg, I mean I don't believe anything he says," Maynard said. "My kids are my world. It's like somebody had ripped my heart out of me.  I don't want to believe that something has happened to my children, but in my heart, I know there's something that's happened to them."

Sarah M. Maynard is 5 feet tall, weighing 90 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Kody A. Maynard was described as 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Stephanie L. Sprang is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Tina R. Herrmann was described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.

Investigators said they are treating this as a missing persons case, and they have no suspects and no persons of interest.

The discovery of Herrmann's pickup prompted the Kenyon campus to be locked down at about 11 p.m. Friday.  Students were asked to stay inside campus buildings.  The lockdown was lifted Friday at 7 a.m.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office at 740-397-3333.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/12/story-gambier-4-people-missing-kenyon-lockdown.html?sid=102   (http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/12/story-gambier-4-people-missing-kenyon-lockdown.html?sid=102)

Video news story at the link also-The BOYFRIEND is interviewed and a brief snip from the children's father.

*Just my opinion but my initial impression is as follows:

He appears to be fairly young and clean cut. He looks down allot during the interview but sounds confident when he speaks however he does not seem to show allot of "concern" for their welfare or make any pleas for their safe return. I hope to God these children are found safely.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/index.html (http://www.10tv.com/live/content/index.html)

*Notice one of the women s last name is spelled "SPRANG" and "SPRING" in various news stories.Not sure which it is.



Sheriff: Blood found in missing Ohio woman's home
ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, Associated Press

Published: 05:55 a.m., Friday, November 12, 2010

 

      HOWARD, Ohio (AP) — Blood was found in the home of a missing woman and her two children, whose disappearance along with her friend led to a lockdown at a college near where her pickup truck was spotted, a sheriff said Friday.

Investigators were interpreting the blood as a sign someone was injured but still considered the case a missing-persons report, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said.

Authorities were searching for 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Maynard, her 10-year-old son, Kody Maynard, and a 41-year-old friend, Stephanie Sprang. Sarah Maynard is a seventh-grader at East Knox Middle School, where her brother is in the fifth grade, school officials said. The children were at school Wednesday.

Herrmann and Sprang apparently had been looking at an apartment for Herrmann, said Greg Borders, who said he and Herrmann had recently ended a six-year relationship but still were living in the same house.

Herrmann's co-worker at Dairy Queen reported her missing on Wednesday after she didn't show up to work, Barber said. A sheriff's deputy went to her home in Howard, about 60 miles northeast of Columbus, twice Wednesday night and found lights on and a pickup truck in the driveway.

"No one answered the door," Barber said. "There was no sign of anything out of place."

Authorities returned to the home Thursday after the concerned co-worker went to the house and found blood inside. Investigators confirmed the blood but said they didn't see signs of a struggle, like overturned chairs.

It's unclear what led to the disappearance of the four, authorities said.

"Right now, there's no indication to say that they were abducted," the sheriff said. "But they're unaccounted."

Borders said Friday he last heard from Herrmann on Wednesday morning. He said Herrmann texted him on his way to work at a distribution center about 80 miles away in West Jefferson about 4:40 a.m. Wednesday to let him know that she'd fed the dog. He said the dog, a miniature pinscher named Tanner, also was missing.

The couple were living together in the split-level house, which sits along a rural road, despite splitting up several weeks ago, and they were on the verge of losing the house after falling a few months behind on their mortgage payments, Borders said.

"We were fairly civil, as civil as you can be living in the same house when you're split up," he told reporters outside the home.

He said they argued but their fights were never physical.

Herrmann's truck was found Thursday night on property owned by Kenyon College, about 7 miles from Howard. Officials there put the campus under an hours-long lockdown until Friday morning.

A statement posted on the school's website said "enhanced" security would be in place through at least the weekend.

Officials didn't believe there was any threat to students and the lockdown, instructing students to go to their residence halls and remain there, was done strictly as a precaution, school spokesman Shawn Presley said. Authorities did not say whether they found anyone, Presley said.

Borders said he finished his shift at 4 p.m. Wednesday and spent the night with a friend. He said he was playing golf on Thursday when his mother called and said Herrmann apparently was missing.

He said he didn't think much of it until he returned to the house in Howard after 5:30 p.m. and found authorities there.

He gave officers permission to search the house and didn't go inside himself. He said a deputy took a few steps into the home and said he saw a considerable mess inside.

"I think something bad happened, something happened inside the house," Borders said. "It's not like Tina or me to leave the house unsecured."

It wasn't clear if the house was unlocked when authorities arrived.

The children's father, Larry Maynard, told WBNS-TV it was unlike Herrmann to go away without letting him know. He didn't return messages seeking further comment.

The district where the children go to school had staff available if any students were upset about their missing classmates and wanted to talk, Superintendent Matt Caputo said Friday.

___http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/4-missing-from-Ohio-home-truck-found-near-college-809624.php  (http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/4-missing-from-Ohio-home-truck-found-near-college-809624.php)

Associated Press writers Doug Whiteman

I just saw this story on one of the morning news shows....they said beer cans and blood were found in the home and the friends car was in the garage. 

Something is very wrong here  ::MonkeyNoNo:: 

How is this not an amber alert???

Not sure, but the rules, I believe are different from State to State.... here is the general rule

http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm

http://www.ohioamberplan.org/

Thanks Nut  ::MonkeyCool:: 

Support Growing To Find Missing Family, Friend

Saturday,  November 13, 2010 8:01 AM
WBNS-10TV

HOWARD, Ohio — Friends and neighbors gathered on Saturday morning to search for two women and two children who disappeared earlier in the week.

Tina Herrmann, 32 , her children Sarah Maynard, 13, and Kody Maynard, 11, were last seen on Wednesday, 10TV News reported.

"Detectives are interviewing family members, friends and acquaintances," said Knox County Sheriff David Barber.  "Right now, there is no indication that they were abducted."

Investigators spent Friday searching through Herrmann's King Beach Drive home for clues as to why the four disappeared.

Even though blood was found inside the home, police said that they did not believe it came from a struggle, but from an injury at least one of the missing people sustained.

Barber said they were treating the disappearance as a missing person's case.

Larry Maynard, the father of the two children, said that one of Herrmann's co-workers at Dairy Queen, located at 1600 Coshocton Ave., in Mount Vernon, went to check on her after she did not show up for her Thursday shift.  The co-worker told him that she found blood and beer cans when she peeked inside the windows before calling 911.

Greg Borders, who shares the house with Herrmann and her two children, said that he left for work early Wednesday and then spent the night at a friend's house in Urbana, Ohio.

Borders admitted that their six-year relationship was shaky but told 10TV News that he would never hurt Herrmann or her children.

"I mean, there were arguments every once in awhile and disagreements, but I was still watching her kids at night when she went to work," Borders said.  "I think something bad happened."

Herrmann's pickup was discovered late Thursday night near the Kenyon College campus in nearby Gambier.

According to Larry Maynard, Herrmann and Borders were having problems and she needed to get away from him.  Larry Maynard told 10TV News that Herrmann was searching for a new place to live and that his children often spoke of problems in the house.

"The kids have told me when (Borders) gets drunk, he becomes somewhat violent," Larry Maynard said.  "He throws beer bottles at the pickup truck if their mom tries to leave.  He broke the garage door.  He gets real vulgar, belligerent when he's drunk."

Borders admitted that the situation was not ideal but the reports of a volatile relationship were not true.

"We were fairly civil," Borders said.  "I mean, as civil as you can be living in the same house when you are split up."

"I'm expecting the worst and hoping for the best," Larry Maynard said.

Sarah M. Maynard is 5 feet tall, weighing 90 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Kody A. Maynard was described as 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Sprang is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Herrmann was described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.

Investigators said they are treating this as a missing person's case, and they have no suspects and no persons of interest.

""I'm hoping that they find them and they are safe and Kody and (Sarah) are back in school," said Morgan McCarthy, a friend who created a Facebook page to coordinate information about the missing people.

As of late Friday, more than 600 people joined the group, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.

The page has been filled with messages of prayers and pictures of the missing people.

"I'm hoping that someone will see the (missing people) at the gas station where they might be on vacation or something and they say, 'Hey, people are looking for you,'" said Rebecca Cook, a friend of the children.

 http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/13/story-howard-knox-county-missing-people.html?sid=102 (http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/13/story-howard-knox-county-missing-people.html?sid=102)
Stay with 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Link to FACEbook page for the four missing, I searched for a FB on Mom and the friend but could not find anything:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-The-Maynard-Kids/174173612594279 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-The-Maynard-Kids/174173612594279)

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/13/friends-searching-women-kids-missing-ohio/

(http://www.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/U.S./MissingFamily_397x224.jpg)

Ohio Sheriff: Blood Discovery May Be Key Factor in Missing Family Case

Published November 13, 2010 | Associated Press

HOWARD, Ohio -- An unusual amount of blood found in a missing woman's home is evidence of an injury apparently related to her disappearance with her two children and a female friend, a sheriff in Ohio said Saturday.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber did not say who investigators believe was injured inside the home of 32-year-old Tina Herrmann in Howard, about 60 miles north of Columbus, and he would not elaborate.

"The one thing I can say about it is that it's an unusual amount," Barber said of the blood. "It isn't from someone stubbing their toe or cutting their finger, you know, or peeling an apple or something like that."

Hermann was reported missing Wednesday, along with 13-year-old daughter Sarah Maynard, 10-year-old son Kody Maynard, and 41-year-old friend Stephanie Sprang.

Investigators were searching by air and land and in a private lake about a half-mile from the home. Friends and neighbors began their own search at about 7 a.m., leaving from nearby Kenyon College, not far from where Hermann's pickup truck was found Thursday night.

While investigators are continuing to question people and evaluate evidence, Barber said no activity has shown up on the women's cell phone or credit card accounts.

"We're asking people to keep a guarded but optimistic attitude about how this case is going to unfold," he said.

The sheriff on Friday said there was no indication that the women and children had been abducted. The friend's vehicle was found parked at the home.

Around the rural subdivision of Apple Valley, neighbors were increasingly concerned.

The state Highway Patrol, FBI and Center for Missing and Exploited Children were helping in the investigation, and Barber said the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was continuing to collect evidence at the home.

Barring a major break in the case, Barber said he did not anticipate any further updates until 2 p.m. Sunday.

Amanda Strouse, 23, a resident of Mt. Vernon about 5 miles away, said she and companions took 10 dozen donuts to the site of an early-morning search attempt at a Kenyon College nature area where Herrmann's truck was found.

"Four people missing. That's kind of scary. And it could have been someone in our family," she said.

Barber said Sprang's three children -- 20, 17 and 9 -- have been questioned, and that her family and friends are wondering why and how she disappeared.

The discovery of Herrmann's truck near the Kenyon campus, about 7 miles from Howard, prompted the school to impose a lockdown for nearly nine hours, from Thursday night into Friday morning. Students were notified by e-mail, text message and telephone.

The e-mail to students said authorities warned college officials of "a potentially dangerous person in the vicinity." Shawn Presley, a Kenyon spokesman, said students were told to remain in their residence halls as a precaution; those outside or in other buildings were either personally escorted or driven back to their residence halls by campus safety officers.

Signs were still posted around the campus Saturday, where there was a visiting day for prospective students. The handbills alerted students to continue to be cautious and said that their buildings would be locked after 6 p.m.

I find it very ironic that the boyfriend says he stayed the night at a friends house the night the went missing.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/13/story-howard-missing-women-search-saturday.html?sid=102

Search For 4 Grows More Intense
Saturday,  November 13, 2010 9:34 PM
WBNS-10TV
 
HOWARD, Ohio — Volunteers and sheriff's deputies joined the FBI in scouring parts of Knox County on Saturday in hopes of finding two women and two children who disappeared this week.

Tina Herrmann, 32 , her children Sarah Maynard, 13, and Kody Maynard, 11, were last seen on Wednesday, 10TV News reported.

Herrmann's friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41, also disappeared.


Volunteers started their day outside with prayer outside nearby Kenyon College, in Gambier.  Then, they searched an open field where Herrmann's pickup was found late Thursday night, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.

An Ohio State Highway Patrol airplane searched from the air and Ohio Department of Natural Resources teams searched nearby Apple Valley Lake.

"I kind of want to know what is going on because it is so close to home," said Amanda Strouse of Mount Vernon.  "I mean, four people missing, that's kind of scary."

Knox County Sheriff David Barber asked everyone to keep a guarded, but optimistic attitude about how the case might unfold.

He said that evidence continues to be collected and processed; with special attention being paid to blood that was found inside Herrmann's home.  Barber called the amount of blood "unusual."

"It is obvious that someone was injured in the house," Barber said.

Dozens of friends and loved ones gathered at a vigil on Saturday night to pay tribute to the missing people, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.

The vigil was held at the Amity-Apple Valley Baptist Church, where Kody Maynard attended services several times, according to friends.

Church members said that they were praying not only for the safe return of the missing people, but for the investigators to find them.

"It's a family-oriented community where everyone watches out for each other," said Pastor Todd Miller.  "It has taken us by surprise by what happened."

Miller said that he was not surprised by the outpouring of support in finding all four victims.

No one has seen or heard from the missing women or children since Wednesday, when Herrmann failed to show up for work.

On Thursday, both of her children were absent from school.

Sarah M. Maynard is 5 feet tall, weighing 90 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Kody A. Maynard was described as 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Sprang is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Herrmann was described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office at 740-397-3333.

The first thing that makes my hinky meter go "ding" is the truck.

Now, why would anyone go back to a crime scene (or remain at the crime scene for a day), then drive/park the truck away from the home?

The boyfriend said the truck was at the home on Wednesday, but then it was gone on Thursday.

Would a criminal wait a whole day inside the home, even after the boyfriend comes by (he said he was living in the same house while separating?)

Did the criminal just come back? I can only think of one reason to go back to a crime scene, then get in the truck and park it away from the home.

Also what was the relationship between these two ladies?

To me the boyfriend and husband should be check thoroughly, just to make sure.

Great question....if this were a "stranger" he surely wouldn't go back to the house for the truck and risk being seen.  But then again some criminals have a huge lack of common sense.

I wonder what type of pickup this was?  If it was a small cab then how do you fit 2 adults, 2 kids and a dog in it?  (if someone tried to set it up to look like she/they just up and left).

Mom Tina Herrmann, Children Sarah Maynard & Kody Maynard, and Friend Stephanie Sprang Missing in Ohio Since 11/10/2010

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2010/11/14/mom-tina-herrmann-children-sarah-maynard-kody-maynard-and-friend-stephanie-sprang-missing-in-ohio-since-11102010/

Even before the truck was found, the hinky meter was spinning when the mom goes missing one day and the children the next. Points to a crime being committed after the children went to school on Wednesday and then a "clean up" of the crime having to be done when they returned.

Why would the truck be at the home, lights on and no one coming to the door ... to all disappear and the pick up being dropped off at another location making it appear they all just left together.

Of course an ex-boyfriend making a comment like, "We were fairly civil, as civil as you can be living in the same house when you're broken up." should cause pause for alarm. Um, "AS YOU CAN BE"?

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1148.snc4/149043_174691155875858_174173612594279_654691_7029565_n.jpg)


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-The-Maynard-Kids/174173612594279#!/photo.php?fbid=174691155875858&set=a.174280472583593.49252.174173612594279

This pic was in the slideshow of the search...i am thinking this is her pickup though there is no caption on it so not 100% sure

(http://www.10tv.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/10tv/local/stories/2010/11/12/images/knox15.jpg)

http://www.10tv.com/live/foundation/slideshow.jsp?file=/local/stories/2010/11/12/slideshow_knoxcounty.html&image=15&adsec=local&tot=15&sid=102

And this would also explain how one person could "take on" 4 people.  The ex-boyfriend is at the top of my list for sure!  Even in his interviews he seems fishy.

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/ohio-town-awaits-word-on-case-of-missing-women-tina-herrmann-stephanie-sprang-and-two-children/19715876

Ohio Town Awaits Word on Missing Women, Children
Updated: 3 hours 45 minutes ago
AP
HOWARD, Ohio (Nov. 14) -- Residents of a central Ohio town held out hope Sunday that a mother who disappeared last week along with her two children and a friend would turn up after authorities found an "unusual amount of blood" found in her home.

Authorities in Howard planned an update on the case Sunday afternoon in the disappearance of 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 41-year-old friend Stephanie Sprang, and Herrmann's 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Maynard, and 10-year-old son, Kody Maynard.

Herrmann's pickup truck was found Thursday night in a nature area near Kenyon College, about 60 miles north of Columbus. Knox County Sheriff David Barber had said Friday that there was no indication of an abduction and that the friend's vehicle was found parked at Herrmann's home, about seven miles away.


He followed Saturday by saying that authorities had found blood in the home.

"The one thing I can say about it is that it's an unusual amount," Barber said. "It isn't from someone stubbing their toe or cutting their finger, you know, or peeling an apple or something like that."

He did not say who investigators believe was injured. The state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was collecting evidence at the home, he said.

Investigators have combed land, sky and a private lake about a half-mile from Herrmann's home. The state Highway Patrol, FBI and Center for Missing and Exploited Children were helping investigate.

Neighbors were increasingly concerned. Josh and Alicia Lawson helped search woods and valleys Saturday afternoon for any clues.

"Everybody knows somebody that knows them, being a small town," Alicia Lawson said. "I just hope they show up and it's all been a huge misunderstanding, but it's starting to feel like that isn't going to happen."

 

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/14/story-mount-vernon-ohio-missing-girl-found.html?sid=102

Missing Girl Found Safe; 1 In Custody
Sunday,  November 14, 2010 11:45 AM
Updated: Sunday,  November 14, 2010 12:55 PM
WBNS-10TV
 
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — A 13-year-old girl who was missing with three other people was found safe on Sunday morning.

Sarah Maynard was last seen on Wednesday.  Sources told 10TV News that the girl was found safe inside a Columbus Avenue home in Mount Vernon.

Maynard was taken to Knox Community Hospital for evaluation, 10TV News reported.

SLIDESHOWS:  Four Missing | Search For Missing People

One person was taken into custody.  No other details were available.

Her brother, Kody Maynard, 11, was still missing, along with their mother, Tina Herrmann, 32.  A family friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41, was also missing.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference.  It will be seen live on 10TV.com.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/14/story-mount-vernon-ohio-missing-girl-found.html?sid=102

Missing Girl Found Safe; 1 In Custody

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — A 13-year-old girl who was missing with three other people was found safe on Sunday morning.

Sarah Maynard was last seen on Wednesday.  Sources told 10TV News that the girl was found safe inside a Columbus Avenue home in Mount Vernon.

Maynard was taken to Knox Community Hospital for evaluation, 10TV News reported.


One person was taken into custody.  No other details were available.

Her brother, Kody Maynard, 11, was still missing, along with their mother, Tina Herrmann, 32.  A family friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41, was also missing.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference.  It will be seen live on 10TV.com.

Oops, Hi SuzieQ...you fired faster!      ::MonkeyJnBox::

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/14/ohio-town-waits-answers-ohio-missing-family-case/

URGENT: 13-year-old girl, one of four involved in missing persons case that has rocked an Ohio community, has reportedly been found safe, as neighbor says a body has been removed near the family's home.

*Oh, my gosh! I am in shock to see this. What the heck could that be about? Thanks for the updates, I am speechless! ::MonkeyShocked::

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- Authorities have moved in on a home in the 40 block of Columbus Road, just south of Mount Vernon.

The Mount Vernon News reports law enforcement officers forced entry into the home around 7:45 a.m.

Neighbors at the scene tell NBC 4 a man by the name of Matt Hoffman was taken into custody from the home. Moments later, a young girl was brought out from the home on a gurney, covered and taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

One of the neighbors who participated in Saturday's search party tells NBC 4's Patrick Preston the uncle of Tina Herrmann told her 13-year-old Sarah has been found and is being life-flighted to Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Another neighbor tells NBC 4 they saw a body bag being taken from the home.

Authorities have not confirmed any details and have not confirmed whether or not the crime scene is connected to the disappearance of Tina Herrmann, Sarah Maynard, Kody Maynard and Stephanie Sprang from Apple Valley on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is currently on scene.

The Mount Vernon News also reports the Knox County Coroner, Jennifer Ogle, has not been called to the scene.

Knox County Sheriff still plans to meet with media in a press conference at 2 p.m.

Stay with NBC 4 and nbc4i.com as this story develops.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/14/5/1-person-found-inside-mount-vernon-home-1-taken-cu-ar-290645/

Knox County deputies reportedly remove body from home near Mount Vernon
Sunday, November 14, 2010  10:36 AM

The Columbus Dispatch




Knox County deputies have closed Columbus Road near Mount Vernon as part of an investigation at a house on that street.

A neighbor said a man who lived at 49 Columbus Rd. was taken out of the house in handcuffs about 8 this morning. A body also was removed, Donna Davis said.

Davis and the residents of three or four other houses have been told to stay within a police perimeter while the search at 49 Columbus continues, she said.

Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, owns the house at 49 Columbus Rd. in Clinton Township, according to the Knox County auditor's website.

Another neighbor said the FBI questioned residents this morning about when they had last seen Hoffman, what kind of car he drove and whether they had noticed anything unusual about his behavior.

At 10:30 a.m., a sheriff's spokesman would not give any details or say whether the investigation is related to the four people missing since Wednesday.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said yesterday that the search was continuing for Stephanie Sprang, 41; her friend and neighbor, Tina Herrmann, 32; and Herrmann's two children, Sarah Maynard, 13, and Kody Maynard, 10.

The children were at school Wednesday but Herrmann missed work. Her pickup was found Thursday on the campus of Kenyon College in Gambier, about 7 miles from her house.

Sprang lived on Magers Road and Herrmann on King Beach Drive in Howard Township.

 http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/14/14-knox.html?sid=101  (http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/14/14-knox.html?sid=101)

mmmmmm Ohio......must be central time, eh? It is 2pm eastern time now at my house, lol.

<snipped>Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, owns the house at 49 Columbus Rd. in Clinton Township, according to the Knox County auditor's website.

Just wanted to say that this may not be the person arrested. It could be a rental property.

I am in Ohio and it is 2pm

Thanks Cartfly for all the updates....I, too, am speechless!   ::MonkeyEek:: 

DEVELOPING: One of the four people missing for several days in Ohio has reportedly been found safe in the Mount Vernon area, as a neighbor says police have carried a body out of a nearby home.

A neighbor told The Associated Press that authorities have made an arrest and taken a body bag out of a home about 10 miles from the house where Tina Hermann and her two children disappeared last week with a friend.

Meanwhile, Sarah Maynard , 13, was found safe Sunday inside a home in Mount Vernon, WBNS-TV reported.

Jeannette Columber of Mount Vernon says she saw authorities bring the black bag and a handcuffed person wearing a hooded sweatshirt out of a home on her street on Sunday morning.

Knox County Sheriff's Office personnel would not comment on the activity or say whether it is related to the case..

Columber says she saw SWAT officers, a sheriff's office van and several trucks from the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation at the neighbor's home.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/14/ohio-town-waits-answers-ohio-missing-family-case/

There is supposed to be a press conference here at 2pm but I cant find it

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/index.html

*Sorry, I need more coffee......I see from this article Matthew Hoffman was arrested* I guess I was a little to fast on the trigger there, LOL ::MonkeyCool::

It must be central time.

Crap, I found it but missed the first part...anyone catch it??

they have no confirmation that any of the missing are deceased....the daughter was found in the basement of the house... suspect has prior record of arson and served jail time...that's the only past he has.

Me too!! WAtching now,
Sarah bound and gagged in basement

Sarah was bound and gagged in the basement...Hoffman is not cooperative....police believe he can lead them to the other victims. 

Only Sarah found, others still missing

Pray they find the other three alive.

Hoffman charged with kidnapping but sherriff feels more charges coming. They posted a pic of him but I dont know how to screen cap.  This site will likely have a more detailed article soon.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/index.html

Me too Suzie   ::MonkeyAngel:: 

Just saw this on the TV  ::MonkeyNoNo:: wonder who was taken from the house in a body bag?  How horrible.

This is a strange one. Thanks for the 'time' answer Leroy, I was too lazy to look it up.

Matthew Hoffman

That was/is rumor according to the latest presser.

I believe when they took the girl out, it was said her body was covered.......anyone could have mistaken that for a body bag, I guess.

Thanks for clearing that up, I'm sure people might have gotten confused thinking it was a body bag. Thanks for the picture of Hoffman  ::MonkeyNoNo::

I wonder if this is the friend the boyfriend stayed with.

Missing 13 Year Old Sarah Maynard Found Safe, One Arrest Made … Stephanie Sprang, Tina Herrmann & Kody Maynard Still Missing

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2010/11/14/missing-13-year-old-sarah-maynard-found-safe-one-arrest-made-stephanie-sprang-tina-herrmann-kody-maynard-still-missing/

Well this case just went from strange to bizarre. Four people missing, then one found at a separate location and the other three still missing? An abduction? Why?

Thank heavens one was found safe, hopefully the same can be said to be true for the rest.

http://www.myspace.com/hotmatty4u1992

ummmmmm....that looks like him, but things don't add up, lol.

Wow, does lookl like him but this says he is only 21 and the one arrested is 30.  But you can be who you wanna be on MS and FB  ::MonkeyCool:: 

I am feeling very guilty suspecting the ex-boyfriend so early on....so far nothing to indicate he knew Matt.  I am puzzled beyond belief   ::MonkeyEek:: 

You can view the presser her

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/index.html

http://admin.steamboatpilot.com/news/2001/jan/04/man_gets_eight/     :smt102 :smt102

Nut, he is supposed to be 30 and was arrested aboout 45 miles from Columbus, OH, I thought I read.

Plus, his Facebook status does not say arrested and in deep doo-doo. ;)

Buckeye - thanks for the article, very interesting.  This young man turned out to be a monster...too bad he wasn't given more jail time.

Could not find him in the Ohio sex offenders registry

http://www.esorn.ag.state.oh.us/Secured/p21_2.aspx

The sheriff said that Matthew J. Hoffman has been charged with Sarah Maynard's kidnapping. So is the dirtbags name Matthew J. Hoffman or John Matthew Hoffman?

Ohio teen found; whereabouts of brother, mom, friend unknownBy the CNN Wire Staff
November 14, 2010 -- Updated 2115 GMT (0515 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Girl was taken to hospital for evaluation
She was recovered in an early morning raid
Sheriff: 30-year-old man faces one count of kidnapping

(CNN) -- A 13-year-old Ohio girl who had been missing since Wednesday along with her brother, mother and a family friend was found bound and gagged Sunday in the basement of a Mount Vernon, Ohio, home, authorities said.

Sarah Maynard was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, said Knox County Sheriff David Barber. Authorities have interviewed her "somewhat," he said, but would not divulge what was said. Police believe she has been held since Wednesday, he said.

The teen was recovered in an early morning raid on the home involving a SWAT team. Matthew Hoffman, 30, who lives in the home, was taken into custody following the raid about 8 a.m. ET, Barber said, and faces a kidnapping charge. Additional charges are expected, Barber said.

Sarah Maynard's mother, Tina Herrmann, 32, remains missing, along with 10-year-old Kody Maynard and Herrmann's friend, 41-year-old Stephanie Sprang.

Barber said a combination of intelligence information received and investigative work led authorities to the home. Authorities were hoping they would find all four people, but knew they might only find Sarah Maynard, he said.

Police were still investigating whether Hoffman knew any of the four people, he said. Asked if Hoffman was cooperating with authorities, Barber said he was not.

Herrmann failed to report to work at a Dairy Queen in Mount Vernon, in central Ohio, on Wednesday, Barber told CNN affiliate WBNS. A deputy twice went to her home in Howard, about nine miles east of Mount Vernon, and saw her pickup truck there. Although lights were on in the home, no one answered the door.

A Dairy Queen manager went into the home on Thursday and found blood inside, Barber told the station.

Hermann's truck was found Thursday night near Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, about seven miles southwest of Howard, authorities said.

The children were in school Wednesday, but not Thursday, the sheriff said. Sprang's car was found at Herrmann's home.

Asked about Hoffman's criminal record, Barber said he served prison time for an arson conviction in another state. He said authorities believe Hoffman could "absolutely" lead police to the other three.

Sarah Maynard, following her release from the hospital, likely would be sent to live with her father. Before she was found, Larry Maynard told WBNS, "I am expecting the worst, hoping for the best."

Donna Davis, who lives on the same street as the home where the girl was found, told WBNS Hoffman was a "weirdo" and that she made her children come indoors when he was outside.

"This doesn't happen in Mount Vernon," said another neighbor, Ronnetta Shults.

Mount Vernon is about 50 miles northeast of Columbus, Ohio.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/14/ohio.family.missing/

Good point!!! My hinky meter was on the boyfriend after seeing him on video. I hope I am wrong and the boyfriend was just a victim of circumstances.

Did anyone else hear on the original presser the spokesman said something to the effect that "Sarah, would be going to live with her father" ??? This implies to me that they think Mom could be deceased. I hope I just misunderstood.
I found on facebook that Bio Dad lives in Florida and the odd thing is he had a couple of "Hoffman's" on his friends list. Maybe Hoffman is like Smith in that area.

From looking at the photos, I don't think they are the same person.
If you look at their noses you can tell.. the photo earlier in this thread shows Matthew as having a more pointed nose with the nostrils flaring up on the outsides.. that myspace photo shows someone with a more broader nose with a flat end and the nostrils don't pull up on each side.

Photo of the person arrested posted earlier in this thread:
(http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=8943.0;attach=15089)

Myspace photos:
http://www.myspace.com/hotmatty4u1992/photos/albums/my-photos/122324

Is anyone curious as to how the police figured out she was staying in a house 50 miles away?

Most possibly a tip, but who would know she was there?

 ::MonkeyEek::

Marketplace Advertisement Man Arrested For Kidnapping Ohio Girl
Other Family Members Still Missing
Updated: Sunday, 14 Nov 2010, 1:12 PM PST
Published : Sunday, 14 Nov 2010, 1:12 PM PST

(NewsCore) - Knox County Sheriff David Barber said Sunday that 30-year-old Matthew J. Hoffman of Mount Vernon, Ohio has been arrested on one count of kidnapping for detaining 13-year-old Sarah Maynard against her will.

<snipped>

Media reports that a body bag was taken Sunday from the home where Sarah was kept were “absolutely false,” Barber said.

Barber said it was unknown if Hoffman had any connection to the family -- though he said Hoffman was not an ex-boyfriend of either Hermann or Sprang  -- or if he worked alone.

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpps/news/man-arrested-for-kidnapping-ohio-girl-dpgonc-km-20101114_10615924?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I sure would like to know.

Janet

Okay....let's see if I can explain this.  The man arrested lives at 49 Columbus Rd., Mount Vernon OH

Sprang lived on Magers Road and Herrmann on King Beach Drive in Howard Township (Apple Valley area) which is apx. 10 miles from Mount Vernon.

In a previous post, it simply stated:
Mount Vernon is about 50 miles northeast of Columbus, Ohio. ............... just to give a general location of where Mount Vernon is located.

K?

http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=2499
Matthew J. Hoffman Arrested In Missing Ohio Family Case
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, has been arrested and charged with one count of kidnapping after 13 year old Sarah Maynard was found bound and gagged in his basement this morning, November 14, 2010.
Sarah Maynard’s mother, brother and a family friend are still missing.
More charges are expected.
(http://law.rightpundits.com/wp-content/photos/capt.d8ca1268418a4c999fbaca79bc14f452_d8ca1268418a4c999fbaca79bc14f452_0matthewhoffman.jpg)
Booking photo provided by the Knox County Sheriff

Matthew J. Hoffman Arrested In Missing Ohio Family Case (Photo)

Matthew J. Hoffman was arrested this Sunday morning in connection with the missing Ohio family and friend case that has mystified the nation. He has been charged with one count of kidnapping at this time, with more charges expected to follow.

Tina Herrmann, 32, daughter Sarah Maynard, 13, son Kody Maynard, 10, and a 41-year-old friend Stephanie Sprang, all vanished Wednesday, November 10, 2010.
An intensive air and ground search yielded nothing until this morning.

Shortly before 8:00 AM today, November 14, 2010, police allegedly forced their way in to Matthew Hoffman’s residence and rescued 13 year old Sarah Maynard. She was found in the basement, bound and gagged. She is currently in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries while the others remain missing.

Neighbors had earlier reported that police had removed a person in a body bag. Authorities claim that report is false.
    “We have no one that we’re aware of who is deceased,”Knox County Sheriff David Barber said. “So we’re still treating this as a missing person’s case.”
    “We were hopeful of finding more than one of the missing people in the house,” he said. “But the information we had was that Sarah would definitely be found in that house.”

Barber also said he was hoping that Matthew ‘Matt’ Hoffman would offer information on the three still missing. While Hoffman did not resist arrest, reports say that he is not cooperating with law enforcement. He did not say what lead to Matt Hoffman’s arrest.

It’s not known what, if any, connection Matthew J. Hoffman had to the family or their friend. Police have said that he was never a boyfriend / ex-boyfriend of Tina Herrmann or Stephanie Sprang.

Hoffman has two addresses, one is 49 Columbus Road, about ten miles from Sarah Maynard’s home. The other is listed as 3730 Apple Valley Drive.

    The second address is a home owned by Hoffman’s parents and is within walking distance to the home from which the four people were reported missing last Wednesday.

At this point, I’m thinking this was not a tragic, random event.

What say you? If you have any thoughts on ‘Matthew J. Hoffman Arrested In Missing Ohio Family Case’, please leave them in the comment section.
Do you think this was random, or were Sarah Maynard and her family and friend targeted? Is more than one person involved? Will Tina Herrmann, Stephanie Sprang and Kody Maynard be found safe?
Sarah Maynard is listed in good condition and if her mother isn’t found between now and the time of her release from the hospital, she will be placed in her father’s care.

You are urged to call the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at 740-397-3333 if you have any information on this case.

Voice of reason, thanks.

I still would like to know how the police figured it out.

:D

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/14/story-mount-vernon-ohio-missing-girl-found.html?sid=102

Missing Girl Found Safe; Man In Custody
Sunday,  November 14, 2010 11:45 AM
Updated: Sunday,  November 14, 2010 6:46 PM
WBNS-10TV
 
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — A 13-year-old who was missing since Wednesday was found safe inside the basement of a home on Sunday morning.

Sarah Maynard was bound and gagged when authorities entered the house, located at 49 Columbus Rd., at about 8 a.m., Knox County Sheriff David Barber said.

Matthew J. Hoffman was taken into custody inside the home and was charged with one count of kidnapping.  Additional charges were expected to be filed, Barber said.

"We believe (Maynard) was taken sometime on Wednesday and (Hoffman) has had control of ever since," Barber said.

Maynard, her younger brother Kody, 11; their mother, Tina Herrmann, 32; and a family friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41, have been missing since Wednesday.

Barber said that he believes Hoffman, 30, abducted Sarah Maynard.

"It's obvious that (Hoffman) found his way to her and to their home," Barber said.

Barber would not say how authorities learned that the girl was inside Hoffman's home.

Hoffman's neighbors said that they heard a loud noise at about 8 a.m. at the time law enforcement entered his home.

"We were hopeful that we would find more than one (person), but our information was most definitely that Sarah was going to be in that house," Barber said.

Investigators have not given up hope that the other three are still alive, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.  On Sunday, dozens of people searched nearby Foundation Park for anything that could lead them to the three missing people.

"This doesn't happen in Mount Vernon," said Ronnetta Shults, who assisted in searching the park.

Maynard was taken to Knox Community Hospital for evaluation.  She was expected to be OK, 10TV News reported.

Hoffman also has a home on Apple Valley Drive in nearby Howard, Ohio, the same street where the Maynard children disappeared with Herrmann and Sprang.

Court records showed that Hoffman was convicted of setting fire to a Steamboat Springs, Colo., condominium complex, causing $2 million in damage.  Investigators said that in 2000, he used 10 gallons of gasoline to commit the arson.

Hoffman admitted the arson to cover up a burglary that he committed there, according to court records and news accounts from the time.

Sixteen people were evacuated and prosecutors said that it was a "miracle" that nobody died.

In 2001, Hoffman was sentenced to eight years in prison.

"I don't want to make (your sentence) too long," the judge said.  "I want you to have hope and take advantage of the programs in prison."

Hoffman was supposed to pay $2 million restitution.  Court records showed that he paid about $5,000.  It was not clear from court records whether Hoffman was still on parole, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported.

Hoffman's neighbors along Columbus Road said that he moved into the five-bedroom home about a year ago.  They said that he lived alone and had a history of strange behavior that made them uncomfortable.

"At first, (Hoffman) seemed like he was OK," said Donna Davis, his next door neighbor.  "Then, I started making my kids come in when he was outside."

Davis told 10TV's Glenn McEntyre that initially, Hoffman seemed more odd than menacing.

"He was a weirdo," Davis said.  "If you look back here in the tree, there's a hammock where he would sit and watch people.  He's just different.  He would always walk over to the gravel pit with bags and sometimes not bring them back.  Sometimes he would."

The former gravel pit that Davis mentioned is now known as Foundation Park, a few blocks from Hoffman's home.

"I told the FBI this morning, 'Go check the gravel pit if they're looking for anything, because that's where he always walked,'" Davis said.

Volunteers, including Sprang's brother, searched the park on Sunday.

Davis said that although she saw and heard nothing strange in the days leading up to Sunday's arrest but over the last four days, she was growing increasingly wary Hoffman.

"He said to my friend that he wanted to punch my kid in the face, and my kid is 8. So the guy's disturbed, obviously," Davis said.

Two people who spoke with McEntyre said that Hoffman had recently assaulted a former girlfriend.

Hoffman was expected to be in court on Monday, 10TV News reported.

No one has seen or heard from the missing women or children since Wednesday, when Herrmann failed to show up for work.  On Thursday, both of her children were absent from school.

Barber said that special attention was being paid to blood that was found inside Herrmann's home.  Barber called the amount of blood "unusual."

"It is obvious that someone was injured in the house," Barber said.

Kody A. Maynard is 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Sprang is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Herrmann is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office at 740-397-3333.

I read in one of the articles that his parents lived just 4 or 5 houses from where the victims lived. Maybe they could have told the police something.

Yes.  I think that the relative locations of the two homes just may have a connection.

I was hoping there would be an update in regards to the whereabouts other three by now.

Janet

 :gaah:

Nose completely different - not the same guy.

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1188.snc4/151093_174920022519638_174173612594279_656423_6189527_n.jpg)

Caption reads - The house circled in the red is the house Sarah was found in. The house is located on Columbus Rd in Mount Vernon.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=49252&id=174173612594279#!/pages/Pray-for-The-Maynard-Kids/174173612594279

Missing Girl Found Safe; Man Charged With Kidnapping - 3 others still missing
By Alex Mazer
Published: November 14, 2010
Updated: November 14, 2010 - 2:24 PM 

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio --The Knox County Sheriff confirmed Sunday afternoon that the missing 13-year-old girl from Howard, Ohio, was found bound and gagged in a home in Clinton Township.
 
Sheriff David Barger said she has been removed safely and is reported in good condition, although being checked out by medical experts. Three others reported missing in the same incident have not been located.
 
The sheriff  said that the owner and occupant of the home where Sarah Maynard was found has been arrested and they hope he will lead him to the three persons still missing.
 
The sheriff said that Matthew J. Hoffman has been charged with Sarah Maynard's kidnapping.
 
Sheriff Barber said Hoffman  listed two residences.  One was at 49 Columbus Road where Sarah was found.   The second was at 3730 Apple Valley Drive.
 
The second address is a home owned by Hoffman's parents and is within walking distance to the home from which the four people were reported missing last Wednesday.
 
Today's events began when The Mount Vernon News reported law enforcement officers forced entry into the home on Columbus Street around 7:45 a.m.
 
Neighbors at the scene at that time told  NBC 4 a man by the name of Matt Hoffman was taken into custody from the home. Moments later, a young girl was brought out from the home on a gurney, covered and taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
 
One of the neighbors who participated in Saturday's search party tells NBC 4's Patrick Preston the uncle of Tina Herrmann told her 13-year-old Sarah has been found and is being life-flighted to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
 
Another neighbor tells NBC 4 they saw a body bag being taken from the home.  This was not verified subsequently by law enforcement.
 
Still missing are Sara Maynard's brother, Kody, her mother Tina Herrmann, 32, and a family friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41.
 
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is currently on scene.
 
http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/14/14/1-person-found-inside-mount-vernon-home-1-taken-cu-ar-290645/

1 found; man in custody; search continues

By George Breithaupt
November 14, 2010 4:34 pm EST

MOUNT VERNON — An early morning raid at 49 Columbus Road by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit resulted in the rescue of one of the four people missing from Apple Valley since last Wednesday.

According to Knox County Sheriff David Barber, Sarah Maynard, 13, was discovered bound and gagged in the basement of the Columbus Road residence. Homeowner Matthew Hoffman was in the home at the time of the raid. He was taken into custody and charged with one count of kidnapping.

“We have good news to report today,” Barber said. “We have located and rescued Sarah Maynard at approximately 8 a.m. this morning. She was being held against her will and she was in good condition with non-life threatening injuries. She was taken to the hospital for evaluation. She has been interviewed somewhat. In the house with her was an individual from Mount Vernon. He is now in the Knox County Jail currently charged with kidnapping. His name is Matthew J. Hoffman and he is 30 years old. We believe Sarah was under the control of Mr. Hoffman since last Wednesday in one form or another and at one location or another.”

Knox Community Hospital confirmed Sarah had been taken there for evaluation and was transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus this afternoon.

Hoffman gave sheriff’s deputies two addresses, one was the residence where he was arrested. The second was 3730 Apple Valley Drive, Howard.

“That address is within walking distance of the crime scene (in Apple Valley ) and is owned by his mother and step-father.

Additional charges are expected to be filed as this investigation continues. Unfortunately, as of this time we have not located Tina, Stephanie or Kody. The investigation continues. Hoffman has not given us any information and has not been cooperative at this point.”

Still missing are Maynard’s mother, Tina Herrmann, 32,; her brother, Kody Maynard, 11; and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, all of Howard.

Barber added Hoffman does have a prior conviction for arson in Colorado for which he did prison time.

“We are unsure at this time if (Hoffman) was acquainted with the family,” Barber said. “That remains to be seen as the investigation continues.”

Barber said the raid was the result of investigative efforts by detectives of the sheriff’s office. He denied the response was to reports of gunshots at the house or because someone escaped from the house early this morning. He also stated the coroner had not been called in after the raid and that no bodies were found in the residence.

“The residence on Columbus Road is currently being processed by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation,” Barber explained. “It is being considered a crime scene and treated as such.”

Barber told the News that the incident was still being treated as a missing persons case.

“As of right now we have no one we are aware of is deceased,” Barber said.

Barber added the collection of evidence at the Apple Valley residence was completed Saturday evening.

“Tomorrow (Monday) we hope DNA testing can begin,” he said. “We have been assured this will be considered a priority case by the BCI&I.”

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/10/11/13/1-found-man-in-custody-search-continues

Perhaps all of the links/posts relating to 'HotMatty' should be removed? Afterall ... he is looking for love (in all the wrong places). ?? Give me an AOK' and I'll do it. You know how much I love my 'delete' button :cool:

Well, this 'voice of reason' tells me that if he only wanted the girl, there would be no reason to keep the others alive.

Perhaps they found his DNA in the woman's home, he did have a criminal record. Or perhaps like others mentioned...his mother lived nearby the woman's home.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/14/story-mount-vernon-ohio-missing-girl-found.html?sid=102


So, they KNEW that she would be there.

I don't think the information came from Hoffman himself, since the news reports say he is not cooperating. So, who else would've known that at least the teenager would be there?

One of his neighbors mentioned a fire Hoffman supposedly made on his backyard on Wednesday night, maybe burning evidence?

I noticed the police tape includes the house next door, or is it my eyes that are going bad?

:D

Police block off Ohio park near suspect's house


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9JGJM380&show_article=1

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) - Police cruisers have blocked off an Ohio park near a house where a 13-year-old girl was found bound and gagged and a man was arrested.

Mount Vernon police Capt. George Hartz says an officer patrolling overnight found items in the park possibly related to the girl and the ongoing search for her missing mother, brother and another woman.

Thirty-year-old Matthew Hoffman was taken into custody Sunday at his home about two blocks from the park, where neighbors said he was often seen. He's been charged with kidnapping.

Hartz would not say what was found in the park. He says it's closed until a determination is made on whether it's a crime scene.

The Knox County Sheriff's office says no updated information will be released before Monday afternoon.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP)—Ten miles from home, a 13-year-old girl was found bound and gagged but alive four days after disappearing with her family. The whereabouts of her mother, brother and another woman remained a mystery, however.

A man was arrested Sunday at the home where Sarah Maynard was found in this central Ohio city, and authorities hope he will provide information leading to the others, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said.

"We were hopeful that we would find more than one" of the missing people in Hoffman's house, Barber said. "Our information was definite that it was most likely that Sarah was going to be in that house."

Barber did not say what led investigators to the two-story tan-sided house where they found the girl bound in the basement. Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, was arrested and charged with kidnapping.

Barber said more charges are expected against Hoffman, who lives at the home about 40 miles north of Columbus.

Hoffman was being held in the county jail, where personnel would not comment on whether he had an attorney. A bond hearing was expected to be held Monday.

Barber said the girl was hospitalized in good condition, but he would give no details and did not say if she had been sexually abused.

Sarah, her mother, 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 10-year-old brother, Kody, and Herrmann's 41-year-old friend Stephanie Sprang disappeared Wednesday from Herrmann's home in nearby Howard. Barber said DNA testing on blood found in that house was expected to begin Monday.

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.

Authorities had talked to the girl but would not release any details because the investigation is ongoing, Barber said.

Authorities blocked off about a half block on either side of the home as they investigated early Sunday afternoon, keeping people from entering or leaving about a half dozen homes. But by late Sunday afternoon, the only sign of investigative activity was red and white evidence tape sealing the front door of the home.

The house with green shutters and front door and a large television antenna on the roof sits in a lower-middle-income neighborhood with two bars within a block. Holly grows through the weathered slats of the porch. A sheet covered one window, and blinds were pulled down on the rest.

Dawna Davis, 35, who lives next door to Hoffman, said she told her children to stay indoors when he was out. She said he moved in alone about a year ago and that a girlfriend lived with him temporarily with her son until about a month ago.

"He would sit and listen to us up in a tree. He had a hammock and he would sit there and listen to us," she said. "He was just different. He was very different."

Davis said Hoffman did tree trimming work and had built a fire Wednesday night in his backyard, where there was a mound of ashes Sunday with tree parts on it. She said he walked to a nearby park with a lake almost every day and was a "nature person" who collected leaves.

Attempts to reach relatives of Hoffman and of Sarah were unsuccessful Sunday.

Herrmann was reported missing Wednesday when she did not show up for work at a local Dairy Queen. Barber has said blood indicating an injury had been found in her home, where Sprang's vehicle was in the driveway.

Herrmann's pickup truck had been found Thursday night near the Kenyon College campus, leading to a lockdown at the school.

Thank you for the update, Sled.  Good to "see" you.   ::HelloKitty::  Is the clock ticking for the other three that may be alive somewhere, or have they been murdered?  I fear it's the latter, especially with Matthew Hoffman not cooperating.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

Hi MuffyBee,

I'm afraid this is going to end badly too. I Pray for the girl that was saved.

Thank God that Sarah was found alive; and praying the other 3 are also found alive! 

Here is a link for the live search if anyone is interested.
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html

Police block off Ohio park in search for rescued 13-year-old's family

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40193670/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Pictures up of suspect.

Thanks for the link! That guy's pic gives me cold chills! I'm really praying that he isn't as evil as his eyes look.

Thanks, looks like they were loading bags of evidence into the white truck?

I don't understand if he only wanted the girl, why would he have taken the others? Since I read that his parent's home is nearby the families home maybe he had his eye on the young girl for awhile

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/15/story-howard-missing-girl-found-man-charged-kidnapping.html?sid=102

Police Block Off Park As Mount Vernon Search Continues
Monday,  November 15, 2010 6:20 AM
Updated: Monday,  November 15, 2010 10:20 AM
WBNS-10TV
 
HOWARD, Ohio — Police on Monday blocked off a park near a home where a teenage girl was found bound and gagged over the weekend.
Police apparently found items in Foundation Park that may be connected to the 13-year-old girl and three other people missing since Wednesday.

Investigators gathered evidence that filled a two-foot bag, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported.

Foundation Park is located south of downtown Mount Vernon, a few blocks away from the home where authorities found Sarah Maynard on Sunday morning.

 ::monkeyscissors::

[[/quote]

Thanks, looks like they were loading bags of evidence into the white truck?
[/quote]

Yes it does but I can't tell what they have found.  I'm surprised the news channel is allowed to show it live.  Perhaps they aren't expecting to find bodies....at least I sure hope they find live ones if they do.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/14/story-mount-vernon-ohio-missing-girl-found.html?sid=102

http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-+&idq=/ff/story/1001%2F20101115%2F1374.htm&sc=+&floc=NI-ne1
     
 
Lake searched near Ohio kidnap suspect's house
DOUG WHITEMAN
Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — Investigators in a boat are searching an Ohio park lake near a home where a 13-year-old girl was found bound and gagged in the basement.

The park in Mount Vernon was closed on Monday, initially because a city police officer found clothing that he thought had blood on it. But Capt. George Hartz says tests didn't find any human blood on the clothing.

The girl's mother, brother and another woman are missing. A man arrested when the girl was rescued Sunday has been charged with kidnapping her.

A court clerk says 30-year-old Matthew Hoffman is tentatively scheduled to appear before a judge Tuesday afternoon.

Hartz says police temporarily reopened the park at midmorning but state and county authorities closed it again a short time later to search the lake.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/15/story-howard-missing-girl-found-man-charged-kidnapping.html?sid=102

The Walmart receipt was for a tarp... maybe he covered the bodies with it? Or, just had it handy in case he needed to flee?

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20101115/US.Ohio.Family.Missing/

Ohio sheriff: 3 still missing may have been killed
32 minutes ago

 MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — A sheriff says "there is a possibility" that three people still missing in central Ohio have been killed.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said at a news conference Monday that authorities still want to remain optimistic that 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 10-year-old son Kody and another woman, 41-year-old Stephanie Sprang, are still alive.

Authorities say Herrmann's 13-year-old daughter Sarah Maynard was found bound and gagged in the basement of 30-year-old Matthew Hoffman, who was arrested on a kidnapping charge.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Investigators searched a lake for signs of three missing people Monday after a 13-year-old girl who disappeared along with them was found bound and gagged in the basement of a man's home nearby.

Ten miles from home, Sarah Maynard was found alive in this central Ohio city on Sunday, four days after disappearing with her mother, her brother and another woman. The man who lived in the house where she was discovered was arrested the same day, and authorities hope he will provide information leading to the others, although it was unclear whether he knew either of the missing women, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said.

Ohio Girl Found, Family Members Still Missing
 "We were hopeful that we would find more than one" of the missing people in Hoffman's house, Barber said. "Our information was definite that it was most likely that Sarah was going to be in that house."

 ::monkeyscissors::

Thanks to all for the updates.

It would interesting to know what Sarah revealed to investigators.

Janet

 +-MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — It's possible that three people still missing in central Ohio have been killed, a sheriff conceded Monday, a day after the 13-year-old girl who disappeared along with them was rescued from the home of a man later charged with kidnapping.

Authorities still want to remain optimistic that 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 10-year-old son, Kody, and Herrmann's friend, 41-year-old Stephanie Sprang, are alive, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said at a news conference.

Investigators searched a lake for signs of the three near a house where 13-year-old Sarah Maynard was found Sunday in the basement and where Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, was arrested. Maynard has been released from a hospital and is staying with relatives, the sheriff said.

"She is a very brave little girl," Barber said. "Under the circumstances, a 13-year-old girl being held captive for four days by a total stranger ... I would call her the epitome of bravery."

Unlike previous days, the sheriff declined to describe the investigation as a missing-persons case, referring to it as "an investigation into the recovery of three people."

More U.S. news  Sheriff: 3 missing may have been killed
Updated 68 minutes ago 11/15/2010 7:44:24 PM +00:00 A sheriff says "there is a possibility" that three people still missing in central Ohio have been killed, a day after a 13-year-old girl who disappeared along with them was found bound and gagged in a man's home nearby. Full story


..The shift in tone was owing to the amount of blood found at the home, the fact that only Maynard was found with the suspect and because apparently no one has seen her mother, brother and the other woman.

"We still would like to retain a hopeful attitude, but we have to be realistic," Barber said.
.It was unclear whether Hoffman knew either of the missing women, the sheriff said earlier. He did not say what led investigators to the two-story tan-sided house about 40 miles north of Columbus but said more charges are expected against Hoffman
Man held in Ohio family’s disappearance
..Foundation Park, a public park with a lake a few blocks from Hoffman's home, was closed Monday, initially by Mount Vernon police because an officer patrolling overnight had found what he thought was bloody clothing potentially related to the investigation, police Capt. George Hartz said. But tests did not find any human blood on the clothing, he said.

The city reopened the park at midmorning, only to have it closed again a half-hour later by county and state authorities so they could search the lake with a boat equipped with sonar, Hartz said. He did not have other details on the lake search.

Neighbors had said Hoffman frequented the park, which was once a gravel quarry and now has three lakes where people fish. It was difficult Monday to see any police activity through the thick trees bordering the park.

Hoffman was being held in the county jail, where personnel would not comment on whether he had an attorney. A bond hearing was tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Mount Vernon Municipal Court clerk's office said.

Only on
..Herrmann, her children and Sprang, disappeared Wednesday from Herrmann's home in nearby Howard. Barber said DNA testing on blood found in that house was expected to begin Monday.

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 earlier.

Authorities blocked off about a half-block on either side of the home as they investigated Sunday afternoon, keeping people from entering or leaving about a half dozen homes. But later in the afternoon, the only sign of investigative activity was red and white evidence tape sealing the front door of the home.

The house with green shutters and front door and a large television antenna on the roof sits in a lower-middle-income neighborhood with two bars within a block. Holly grows through the weathered slats of the porch. A sheet covered one window, and blinds were pulled down on the rest.

Dawna Davis, 35, who lives next door to Hoffman, said she told her children to stay indoors when he was out. She said he moved in alone about a year ago and that a girlfriend lived with him temporarily with her son until about a month ago.

"He would sit and listen to us up in a tree. He had a hammock and he would sit there and listen to us," she said. "He was just different. He was very different."

Davis said Hoffman did tree trimming work and had built a fire Wednesday night in his backyard, where there was a mound of ashes Sunday with tree parts on it. She said he walked to Foundation Park almost every day and was a "nature person" who collected leaves.

Herrmann was reported missing Wednesday when she did not show up for work at a local Dairy Queen. Barber has said blood indicating an injury had been found in her home, where Sprang's vehicle was in the driveway.

Herrmann's pickup truck had been found Thursday night near the Kenyon College campus, leading to a lockdown at the school.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40193670/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?GT1=43001

Live camera view:

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html

Live radio scanner (has other calls coming in, not related to case):

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=wp&feedId=185

NOVEMBER 15, 2010, 5:36 P.M. ET
Hope Dims for Three Missing People in Ohio

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—Fearing the worst, investigators searched a lake for three missing people Monday after a teenage girl who disappeared along with them was rescued, bound and gagged, from the basement of a man's home nearby.

Sheriff David Barber conceded that 13-year-old Sarah Maynard's mother, brother and a family friend may be dead. All four vanished last Wednesday from the girl's home, which was found splattered with blood, police said.

"We still would like to retain a hopeful attitude," the sheriff said, "but we have to be realistic."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703326204575617031481351658.html

HLN is breaking with a car being pulled in the pond near this suspect's home.   Neighbor is reporting that backpacks may have been removed from the car & put into paper bags.

Thanks   ::MonkeyNoNo::

Looks like two cars have been pulled out. But, are they related?

http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/inc/video/news/images/homepage_stopimg.jpg


http://www.abc6onyourside.com/

(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy315/TomboyKetchup/mountvernonstory-car1.jpg)

The picture lighted up.

Thanks Itaryl.  From what I know of the vehicles, obviously Tina's truck was found, Stephanie's car was in Tina's garage and Hoffman's car was in police custody. 

But I would have to go back and find the links to be sure.

There is a few areas along the river in our area where stolen vehicle are often retrieved.

Janet

that's what I'm thinking these are.  Except I still believe Hoffman didn't do this alone so they may in fact be related to this case. 

This is one of those cases that makes me triple, double check my windows and doors.  Sick people out there!!!

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/10/11/15/barber-gives-new-information-on-three-missing-people-at-press-conference

It appears they are not related. The 6:20pm update says so. Good thing LE is checking everything they can.

:D

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/police-close-ohio-park-near-kidnap-suspects-house

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/15/story-mount-vernon-kidnapping-suspect-background.html?sid=102

Mother Of Suspected Kidnapper Says He Is 'Loner'
Monday,  November 15, 2010 5:45 PM
Updated: Monday,  November 15, 2010 8:10 PM
WBNS-10TV
 
Print StoryE-mail StoryMOUNT VERNON, Ohio — A man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl and suspected in the disappearance of her mother, brother and a family friend was scheduled to be in court on Tuesday, as investigators dug deeper into his past.
Matthew Hoffman's mother spoke to 10TV's Jeff Hogan on Monday afternoon and said that since her son was arrested on Sunday morning, it has been an emotional time.

Hoffman, 30, was charged with kidnapping Sarah Maynard. The 13-year-old was removed from Hoffman's Columbus Road home after authorities swarmed the location on Sunday morning.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said that Maynard was released from a hospital and was at home with family members.

Investigators did not elaborate what led them to Hoffman's home but his parents have a house on Apple Valley Drive in nearby Howard, Ohio, the same street where Maynard disappeared, along with her brother, Kody Maynard, 11, mother Tina Herrmann, 32, and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, 10TV News reported.

Hoffman's mother said her son occasionally had mail sent to her address but he has not lived at her home in two years.

She described her son as a "loner" and that she last saw him on Nov. 7, four days before investigators believe he abducted Maynard.

Hoffman was convicted in 2000 of setting fire to a Colorado condo complex that forced 16 people to be evacuated, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported.

Investigators said he used 10 gallons of gasoline to set fire to the Steamboat Springs building in an effort to cover up a burglary he committed there.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison, where he was disciplined for refusing to work, damaging property and assault, Aker reported.

After being released from prison he came to Knox County in 2007 and was able to obtain a $30,000 mortgage but it was unclear how he paid the bills.

While on parole, Hoffman was ordered to make payments for the $2 million in damage to the condos, but records showed he only paid about $5,000.

State records showed Hoffman was on parole supervision until October, Aker reported.

Hoffman's neighbors said that he moved into the five-bedroom home about a year ago.  They said that he lived alone and had a history of strange behavior that made them uncomfortable.

"At first, (Hoffman) seemed like he was OK," said Donna Davis, his next door neighbor.  "Then, I started making my kids come in when he was outside."

Davis told 10TV's Glenn McEntyre that initially, Hoffman seemed more odd than menacing.

"He was a weirdo," Davis said.  "If you look back here in the tree, there's a hammock where he would sit and watch people.  He's just different.  He would always walk over to the gravel pit with bags and sometimes not bring them back.  Sometimes he would."

The former gravel pit that Davis mentioned is now known as Foundation Park, a few blocks from Hoffman's home, and was the site of an extensive search on Monday.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/15/26/knox-co-girl-found-alive-bound-no-word-3-others-ar-291229/   (http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/15/26/knox-co-girl-found-alive-bound-no-word-3-others-ar-291229/)

Knox Co. Sheriff Asks Public For Tips; 3 Still Missing


Published: November 15, 2010
Updated: November 15, 2010 - 6:51 PM

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- It's possible that the three people still missing in Central Ohio were killed, a sheriff conceded Monday, a day after the 13-year-old girl who disappeared along with them was rescued from the home of a man later charged with kidnapping.

Authorities want to remain optimistic that 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 10-year-old son, Kody, and Herrmann's friend, 41-year-old Stephanie Sprang, are alive, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said at a news conference.

Investigators searched the lake for signs of the three near a house where 13-year-old Sarah Maynard was found in the basement and where Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, was arrested. Maynard has been released from a hospital and is staying with relatives, the sheriff said.

"She is a very brave little girl," Barber said. "Under the circumstances, a 13-year-old girl being held captive for four days by a total stranger ... I would call her the epitome of bravery."

Unlike previous days, the sheriff declined to describe the investigation as a missing-persons case, referring to it as "an investigation into the recovery of three people."

The shift in tone was owing to the amount of blood found at the home, the fact that only Maynard was found with the suspect and because apparently no one has seen her mother, brother and the other woman.

"We still would like to retain a hopeful attitude, but we have to be realistic," Barber said.

The sheriff revealed that authorities first questioned Hoffman on Thursday, the day after Herrmann didn't show up for work at a local Dairy Queen and was reported missing.

Police found him "just sitting there" in his car near a public bike trail opposite property owned by Kenyon College, near where Herrmann's pickup truck was found the same day, Barber said. It wasn't clear whether the pickup truck had been found first.

Authorities arrested him Sunday at his two-story tan-sided house about 40 miles north of Columbus. Barber would not reveal what led investigators to the home and said there is no indication others were involved. It was unclear whether Hoffman knew the two women.

"They knew Hoffman or Hoffman made himself known to them; he acquainted himself with the family whether they knew he was acquainting himself with them or not," he said.

A few blocks away from Hoffman's home, Foundation Park was closed Monday, initially by Mount Vernon police because an officer patrolling overnight had found what he thought was bloody clothing potentially related to the investigation, police Capt. George Hartz said. But tests did not find any human blood on the clothing, he said.

The city reopened the park at midmorning, only to have it closed again a half-hour later by county and state authorities so they could search the lake with a boat equipped with sonar, Hartz said. He did not have other details on the lake search.

Neighbors had said Hoffman frequented the park, which was once a gravel quarry and now has three lakes where people fish. It was difficult Monday to see any police activity through the thick trees bordering the park.

Hoffman was being held in the county jail and did not have an attorney, the sheriff said. A bond hearing was tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Mount Vernon Municipal Court clerk's office said.

Herrmann, her children and Sprang disappeared Wednesday from Herrmann's home in nearby Howard. Barber has said blood indicating an injury had been found in Herrmann's home, where Sprang's vehicle was in the driveway.

Authorities believe Maynard, the teenage girl, had been "under the control" of Hoffman since Wednesday, when she and her brother last attended school, the sheriff said.

The girl is with relatives and has been helpful in the investigation, Barber said. He would not comment Monday on whether she was hurt or assaulted.

He asked the public to think back to last Wednesday or Thursday and to report anything unusual to the authorities. Call the Knox County sheriff’s office at 740-397-3333 or a special tipline at 888-363-TIPS.

If the public finds something out of the ordinary or possible evidence, don’t touch it. Call the authorities.

Crews pulled two vehicles out of the water at Foundation Park Monday evening. Investigators said the vehicles are likely unrelated to the search.

A candle and prayer vigil for the three missing was held at 6 p.m. Monday at South Vernon United Methodist Church, 142 Columbus Rd., Mount Vernon.

At about 5 p.m., NBC 4's Patrick Preston said the county prosecutor officially charged Hoffman with kidnapping.

Preston added that Hoffman has since started cooperating with authorities and was answering questions.

Barber said more charges are expected against Hoffman, who lives at the home about 40 miles north of Columbus.

Dawna Davis, 35, who lives next door to Hoffman, said she told her children to stay indoors when he was out. She said he moved in alone about a year ago and that a girlfriend lived with him temporarily with her son until about a month ago.

"He would sit and listen to us up in a tree. He had a hammock and he would sit there and listen to us," she said. "He was just different. He was very different."

TIMELINE
A timeline of events surrounding the disappearance of four people in Ohio:

Wednesday - Tina Herrmann is reported missing when she doesn't show up for work at a Dairy Queen in Mount Vernon, about 40 miles north of Columbus. Her children, Sarah Maynard, 13, and Kody, 10, are last seen at school. A sheriff's deputy goes to the house and sees the lights on and a pickup truck in the driveway.

Thursday - Authorities find blood inside Herrmann's home. A friend of the woman, Stephanie Sprang, also is missing. Herrmann's pickup truck is found that night close to the nearby Kenyon College campus, leading to a lockdown at the school.

Friday - A man who recently ended a relationship with Herrmann but still lives in the same house says he last heard from her early Wednesday. Greg Borders says police were at the house and found a mess inside when he returned Thursday afternoon.

Saturday - Knox County Sheriff David Barber says the unusual amount of blood in the house is related to the disappearance of the four. Investigators and neighbors search by air and land and in a private lake.

Sunday - Authorities find the 13-year-old girl bound and gagged but alive in the basement of a Mount Vernon home, about 10 miles away from Herrmann's home in the community of Howard. Police arrest Matthew J. Hoffman at the Mount Vernon house and charge him with kidnapping.

Monday - An officer finds items that could be tied to the disappearance at a park with a lake that is a few blocks from Hoffman's home. Police cruisers then block off the area. Monday afternoon, search crews recover two vehicle from a body of water at the park, but later announce that the vehicles are likely unrelated to the missing persons case.

http://**/breaking-news/ci_16625747
Ohio sheriff: Missing mom, 2 others may be dead
November 16, 2010

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—Authorities say a man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl found bound and gagged in a basement may have been watching her family beforehand.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber says Matthew J. Hoffman even sat nearby last week as police recovered the missing family's truck in central Ohio.

Now, investigators acknowledge hope is dimming that the girl's mother, brother and family friend will be found alive nearly a week after they were reported missing.

Police rescued 13-year-old Sarah Maynard from the basement of Hoffman's home on Sunday. They're still searching for her mother, Tina Herrmann; her 10-year-old brother, Kody Maynard; and a family 41-year-old friend, Stephanie Sprang.

Hoffman has been charged with one count of kidnapping and is scheduled to appear via video from jail for a bond hearing Tuesday. The sheriff says he does not yet have a lawyer

Cadaver K-9s Called To Mt. Vernon; Mom, Son & Friend Still Missing

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/16/6/mt-vernon-mom-son-friend-still-missing-ar-292197/

He's got a hearing at 1:30pm.

In Good Morning America, a neighbor says he's a "squirrel eater."

Can't get lower than that. He would climb trees, set his lawn on fire, listen to neighbors, and shoot squirrels.

Nothing to indicate he was a killer, though.

Just weird.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/accused-kidnapper-missing-ohio-family-case-raised-flags/story?id=12158770

No red flags WTH ! How about a felon in possession of a weapon or shooting a gun inside city limits.

It's my understanding he was trapping the squirrels and that he also killed a couple of dogs.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/16/story-mount-vernon-missing-people-search-hope.html?sid=102

Families Still Hopeful 3 Will Be Found Alive
Tuesday,  November 16, 2010 6:23 AM
Updated: Tuesday,  November 16, 2010 12:52 PM
WBNS-10TV
 
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — The search for three people missing in Knox County included cadaver dogs on Tuesday.
No one has seen or heard from Tina Herrmann, 32; her son, Kody, 11; and a friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41, since last Wednesday.

Investigators were using cadaver dogs to search six specific areas, including the Kokosing Gap trail that runs between Howard and Mount Vernon, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported.

Detectives told 10TV that dogs found a possible piece of evidence located off the trail near state Route 229.

It was a sock that appeared to have been recently placed in the area.  Investigators were unsure whether it was connected to the missing people.

A shoe was also found at Foundation Park, but there was no immediate word on whether it belonged to one of the missing people.

Part of the search also expanded into Howard, 10TV's Shayla Reaves reported.

A group searching south of Gambier reportedly may have found some evidence, but details on the findings were not released.

Matthew Hoffman, who is accused of kidnapping a fourth person in the case, was expected in court on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities raided Hoffman's home on Sunday morning and found Sarah Maynard, 13, bound and gagged in the basement, 10TV News reported.

His court appearance was delayed Monday while investigators continued to attempt to question him, but authorities said he is not cooperating with investigators. 

Authorities and family members continued to hold out hope on Monday that the three will be found alive.

Optimism remained even after an afternoon news conference in which Knox County Sheriff David Barber offered the grim possibility that three people were dead.

Stephen Thompson, the father of Stephanie Sprang, said Monday that he and his family were still holding out hope that his daughter would be found alive, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.

"I know that that time frame has been long between when they disappeared," Thompson said.  "But we have hope that we will see our loved ones soon."

Authorities spent much of Monday searching Foundation Park in Mount Vernon for any sign of the three missing people.  Officers and deputies used boats and helicopters to search the area, and investigators were seen leaving with bags of evidence.

Authorities downplayed any discovery on Monday night, saying they found nothing related to the case, Mallett reported.

"Your kids, your mom, me, your whole family, we're all looking for you," Thompson said.  "We'll be with you until we find you."

Barber said investigators searched the park because of its proximity to Hoffman's home.

Sarah Maynard is doing well and is with family members, Barber said.  He also said the girl is helping investigators, but he would not say whether Hoffman was cooperating.

"Not only is she assisting the investigation, under the circumstances a 13-year-old girl being held captive for four days by a total stranger, I would call her the epitome of bravery," Barber said.

Investigators tracked Hoffman down with the help of a receipt for a tarp that was purchased at a Walmart store in Mount Vernon, Mallett reported.

Investigators were reviewing surveillance footage from inside the store.

Kody A. Maynard is 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Sprang is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Herrmann is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office at 740-397-3333 or the tip line at 888-363-8477.

Bond has been set at $1 million dollars.  A judge ordered that Matthew Hoffman, 30, post the full bond in order to be released from custody.  He is very muscular in the picture.  He looks very strong.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/16/story-mount-vernon-hoffman-court-hearing-bond.html?sid=102

PRESSER ON FOXNEWS CABLE live right now

Yah, NM, I wrote shooting in a generalizing kinda way, not expecting to be taken literally. I should've known monkeys are good and would pick up on that.

(http://www.10tv.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/10tv/local/stories/2010/11/16/image_hoffmancourt280.jpg)

Here's a picture of him with his huge muscles. It is obvious that he works out, maybe lifts weights and uses steroids... not saying this literally, just speculating.

He will be VERY popular in jail.

;)

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/16/story-mount-vernon-hoffman-court-hearing-bond.html?sid=102

The article says he purchased "tarps" and "a" tarp was recovered, so he probably used the rest of them in his crime.

Now my question is, where was that receipt found? Was it found inside the house where he committed the crimes, or in the truck he disposed of near the college?

Since they say they tracked him down from the receipt, I think they found it in the truck...went to Walmart, saw him on video and realized he was at the park and they had questioned him so probably knew where he lived.

But this doesn't make sense when you think about how LE said they knew Sarah was in the house but weren't sure about the others. 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/ohio-kidnap-suspect-matthew-hoffman-appears-court-wearing/story?id=12163297
(video)
Kidnap Suspect Matthew Hoffman Yawns in Court Appearance
Sarah Maynard's Kidnap Suspects Appears in Court Wearing 'Suicide Gown'
November 16, 2010

Matthew Hoffman, the former convict accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl and eyed in the disappearance of her family, yawned when he appeared in an Ohio court today via video. As a safety precaution, the suspect was dressed in a "suicide gown."
Hoffman, 30, remained silent when charged in court for kidnapping Sarah Maynard, 13, and holding her prisoner in his basement, bound and gagged.

The suspect did not enter a plea. He looked down through much of the hearing, even yawning at one point.

Hoffman's public defender Bruce Malek said his client was unemployed, but had previously worked as a seasonal tree trimmer.

The judge set bail at $1 million and scheduled an additional hearing for next Tuesday.
If convicted of kidnapping, Hoffman could face a 10-year prison term. Authorities have indicated Hoffman could face additional charges.

Hoffman wore an-anti suicide gown made of a heavy material, intended to keep inmates from killing themselves with their own clothes. Knox County Sheriff David Barber said Hoffman had indicated he was contemplating suicide and was placed on suicide watch.
Police believe may have also played a role in the disappearance of the girl's family. Her mother Tina Herrmann, 32, brother Kody Maynard, 10, and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, who were last seen Wednesday at the family's home in Herman, Ohio, some 10 miles from where Sarah was found.

Authorities have searched a former gravel quarry turned into a park near Hoffman's Mount Vernon, Ohio, home looking for evidence of the three missing people. They removed two cars from a lake, but found no new evidence.

Barber told reporters today that police had discovered a Walmart reciept for tarps, garbage bags and a t-shirt at Hoffman's home. He said investigators had since found tarps and garbage bags he described as "significant to the investigation"

"We have recovered and collected significant evidence in this case," he said.
Kidnap Suspect Matthew Hoffman Would Kill and Eat Squirrels

Police were called to Sarah Maynard's home last Wednesday after Herrmann did not show up for work at a Dairy Queen. Investigators said they found large amounts of blood inside the house, which they believe is related to the family's disappearance.

Investigators are awaiting DNA testing of the blood found in the home.

Since Hofmann's arrest neighbors have described the convicted arsonist, who was released from a Colorado prison two years ago, as "bizarre." Hoffman served a seven year term for setting fire to a condominium complex in Steamboat Springs, Colo., in an attempt to cover up a burglary.

Neighbors in Ohio said they would see him climbing trees, spying on them from the boughs, building fires on his front lawn and killing small animals.

"He was killing the squirrels because he doesn't grocery shop," neighbor Kara Fowler told ABC News. "He would actually kill the squirrels and eat them."
Barber said Monday it was increasingly likely that Sarah's missing family were dead.

"We still would like to retain a hopeful attitude, but we have to be realistic," Barber said Monday.

"Four people are missing not quite a week. There has been no contact with them, with the exception of Sarah. Based on evidence, based on the fact we haven't seen them, there is a possibility that Stephanie, Tina and Kody are dead, that they've been killed," he said.
prang's father said he is praying police find the remaining missing people.

"We just have all the hope we can and prayers from everyone," Steven Thompson told "Good Morning America" today.

"We have thought how that connection was there, and we can't come up with one," he said. "I have never met the guy. I have never even seen his picture until just the other day."

Though Thompson had no inkling that anything was amiss with his daughter before she disappeared, he has since heard from friends that she suspected she might have been followed.

"I've heard from friends that she's had feelings for a while now that somebody was stalking her or watching her," he said.

"I've heard from friends that she's had feelings for a while now that somebody was stalking her or watching her," he said.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  That is what I questioned yesterday if this creature was watching this young girl for awhile, because his parents live close by to where the family lives.

It just makes me sick to think of this loon skulking around these folks for several days.   ::MonkeyMad::

http://www.myfox28columbus.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wtte_vid_7697.shtml

I wonder why she reported it, but didn't follow through pressing charges, and if police could have done something about it. I mean, someone showing that kind of rage and aggression is capable of anything.


http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/17/story-mount-vernon-search-day-seven.html?sid=102

No matter how hard I try to picture this I can't. It appears that he wanted the young girl, and if that is right, why would you take four people? Extremely evil individual  ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/17/story-mount-vernon-search-day-seven.html?sid=102

Knox Co. Search Enters Seventh Day
Wednesday,  November 17, 2010 7:50 AM
Updated: Wednesday,  November 17, 2010 12:50 PM
WBNS-10TV
 
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — As search efforts continue in Knox County for three people missing since last week, more details emerged about a man charged in connection with the case.

The mother of Matthew Hoffman said on Tuesday that she was hopeful that her son would include her on his jail visitation list and open up to her, 10TV's Ashleigh Barry reported.

Hoffman, 30, is accused of kidnapping Sarah Maynard, 13, and holding her in his basement for several days.  She was rescued on Sunday morning after authorities swarmed Hoffman's home in Mount Vernon.

Three other people, including the teen's mother and brother, vanished last Wednesday and have not been heard or seen from since.

Hoffman appeared in court on Tuesday via video and was ordered held on a $1 million bond.   He wore what is referred to as a suicide gown after indicating to jail staff that he may try to harm himself, authorities said.

He was scheduled to be in court again next Tuesday afternoon.

Later in the day, Hoffman's mother said that her son has always been extremely smart but often had difficulty connecting with others, including his older siblings.   She said she had no knowledge of the case, nor any information about her son's relationship with Maynard or the three missing people, Barry reported.

Hoffman was known to frequent a Mount Vernon gym, and employees there said nothing about him seemed out of the ordinary.

"He usually stuck to himself and he was very quiet," said employee Carla Black.  "But for the most part he was a really nice guy."

10 Investigates on Tuesday obtained a police report that involved an incident at Hoffman's home on Oct. 24.

Earlier this week, Hoffman's ex-girlfriend told 10TV News that he put his hand around her throat and choked her after she broke up with him.

"I went to my ex-boyfriend's house to pick up my car," the woman said in the report.  "We were in his living room talking and he got upset and he pushed me against the wall.  He grabbed his forearm up against my neck and was choking me.  I (kind of) got loose, then he grabbed me and we fell over his chair and onto the floor.

I was fighting to try and get him off me, but he proceeded to choke me on the ground.  He probably had me pinned down on the ground for about a minute or two.  Finally, he let me up and we talked for a few minutes, and then I left."

Hoffman's ex-girlfriend requested anonymity to 10TV News.

Search teams continued to scour portions of Knox County on Tuesday for clues related to the whereabouts of Tina Herrmann, 32; her son, Kody, 11; and a friend, Stephanie Sprang, 41.

Investigators used dogs to search six specific areas, including the Kokosing Gap trail that runs between nearby Howard, Ohio, and Mount Vernon, 10TV News reported.    Knox County Sheriff David Barber said the searches yielded some evidence, including trash bags and tarp, but he failed to elaborate on the items further.

Authorities released images of three vehicles connected to the case, and Barber asked for people to try and recall if they saw them last Wednesday or Thursday.  The vehicles were a Ford F-150 pickup that Herrmann was driving, a 2008 Toyota Yaris that Hoffman was driving and a silver Jeep belonging to Sprang.

Investigators said they hoped to have photographs on Wednesday showing the clothing that the three missing people may be wearing.

"Hopefully we'll have photographs of the clothing that were worn by Kody, Tina, for sure, and hopefully Stephanie, the last time anyone saw them," Barber said.

Kody A. Maynard is 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Sprang is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Herrmann is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office at 740-397-3333 or the tip line at 888-363-8477.

I'm pretty sure they said there would be another press conf. today at 3 PM. Link in case there is.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html

Thanks, Suzie. Looks like it is about to start.  ::MonkeyAngel::

Here we go, new conference.

Clothing description of victims:

Tina- white cap, tan hoodie, tennis shoes
Kody- black shoes, jeans, grey shirt, blue hoodie

No clothing description of Stephanie.
Children rode bus home.
Well being check done on Wednesday between 6-8 pm first time lights, on truck in driveway, returned after 11pm, nothing had changed at 11pm. Next day truck gone (thursday)
Sarah providing info.

Investigation progressing. No cellphone activity, no credit card activity of victims.

Sounds to me like the perp could of been at the house when the "well being" check was made since the truck was gone on Thursday. What is the criteria to do a forced entry? They could have been alive in the house at the time the officer showed up! Ugh.....just venting-sorry.

Add to Tina's clothing description-
Dark sweatpants

Disclaimer: hearsay

Also I wanted to mention that early on, on the facebook page "someone" claimed they knew where the 13 year old girl was because Kody had text someone......
Of course, just hearsay and not a confirmed fact by LE. Could just be some "local" rumor, so please take that with a grain of salt.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-The-Maynard-Kids/174173612594279 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-The-Maynard-Kids/174173612594279)


Praying for closure for the families and friends  ::MonkeyAngel::

Thank you for keeping us updated on this case, cartfly.  I'm glad one of the four has been rescued and I hold out hope for the other three, even though it's probably against statistics they are alive.  This case is just horrible  ::MonkeyNoNo::

(http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/inc/video/news/images/homepage_stopimg.jpg)

http://www.abc6onyourside.com/

...and...



Based on that description, either the purple sweatshirt, white jeans, tennis shoes and a hair clip does not belong to them, or maybe belongs to Stephanie Sprang.

Well, according to reports this morning, the sweatshirt recovered is not purple, it's blue. It is said that it may belong to Kody, or not.

(http://www.10tv.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/10tv/local/stories/2010/11/18/image-sweatshirt-280.jpg)


http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/18/story-mount-vernon-knox-county-missing-search.html?sid=102

Not sure how true this is:


http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/18/story-howard-knox-county-missing-bodies-found.html

I have not found anything else on the other news outlets, but there is a PC scheduled for 4:00pm.

How tragic if it's true.

I can't help to wonder how can they have discovered the bodies yesterday without a media commotion?

Hopefully the PC will offer answers.

More sources

Bodies Of Missing Boy, Women Found

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/18/14/bodies-missing-boy-women-found-ar-295449/

Press conference set for 4 p.m.

http://www.dispatch.com/local_news/stories/2010/11/18/1-searchers-fan-out-in-knox-county.html

Oh, Gosh....so so sad. I just saw on CNN. Thank yall for the updates. This is just so sickening.

Rest in peace sweet ones.... ::MonkeyAngel::

live video of the area:

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html   (http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html)

Looking at the video of the area you realize how difficult this search has been.

It looks like the helicopter live feed has been temporarily disabled for some reason. TV 10 says it will be up shortly. Very rural area, lots of woods and fields.

Another live video feed for NEWS Conference at 4 pm about 10 minutes

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/breaking_live_stream/  (http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/breaking_live_stream/)

This live feed is back up:

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html  (http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/breaking.html)

For those without a fast internet connection, CNN is suppose to carry the press confer when it starts. Still waiting for it to begin.

 ::MonkeyShocked::

I just heard.  The report was breaking news on HLN.

Janet

According to Mount Vernon News, the PC has been postponed, and the Knox County Coronel Jennifer Ogle has confirmed bodies found in the area of Yankee Street and Waterford Road, Northwest of Fredericktown.

wonder if it was a hunter that found the bodies

Yankee Street and Waterford Road knox county ohio
http://tinyurl.com/2ezpsqc

Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area is in Knox County, 1.5 miles northwest of Fredericktown
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/wild_resourcessubhomepage/WildlifeAreaMaps/CentralOhioWildlifeAreas/KokosingLakeWildlifeArea/tabid/19701/Default.aspx

tv 4 live feed is showing the crime area again.

Three white hearses just pulled out of the wildlife refugee area.

Gosh the site of the 3 hearse's  leaving the scene is heart wrenching

Press Conference:

The 3 bodies were found based on information given by Matthew.

Did the sherrif say found in trash bags in a hole of a tree?  ::MonkeyWaa::

Yea I heard that too but I questioned it so I didn't post it. Makes you wonder the size of the tree?

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/18/28/bodies-missing-boy-women-found-ar-295449/

**snipped**

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio --
Eight days after being reported missing, the bodies of a boy and two women have been found in a hollow tree in Knox County Thursday.

The bodies were found in the area of Yankee Street and Waterford Road northwest of Fredericktown, sources told NBC 4 Thursday.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said at a news conference, "Today this investigation took a major turn. We have the discovered and recovered the remains of Kody Maynard, Stephanie Sprang and Tina Herrmann. The discovery of these bodies was as the result of information provided by Matthew Hoffman. The bodies were located in a wooded area inside garbage bags in a hollow tree off of Yankee Street, which is west of Fredericktown in Knox County. Mr. Hoffman remains in jail on a kidnapping charge."

**snipped**

I wonder if the news stations put out a transcript of the news conference. the audio was terrible!

oh my gosh, this is horrible!  Thank goodness Ohio has the death penalty!!

HLN has a reporter on that said there is talk about Hoffman telling where the bodies were in exchange for taking the DP off the table.

If this is true, I am so angry.

But I guess if it were my family I would want them found regardless of what deal is/was made....sigh

LE may have taken the DP off the table but other prisoners may not. One can always hope.

 ::MonkeyNoNo:: I knew it...I am so glad they have been found. Not the outcome anyone wanted, but they can now go home and the family will not have to suffer with wondering where they are. May the young girl be safe and get the help she will need to go on with the rest of her life. This man ruined so many lives........ ::MonkeyNoNo:: take back the plea bargain and  ::MonkeyHang:: him. Useless waste of oxygen.

I just can't see how a single man took down four people, even with his size and strength.

Then the thought of that other devil, Dennis Rader, murdering the Oteros comes to mind. He must've used a gun to intimidate them into cooperating, telling them that he wouldn't harm them to prevent them from escaping.

But, how do you transport THREE BODIES and a teenager in a truck without raising suspicion?

I can only imagine what this "man" could've done next, had he gotten away with murdering the family. It was obvious he planned on killing Sarah as well, after maybe taking advantage of her.

And, to all this I know the boyfriend is supposed to be innocent, but I still find it unusual that he was absent from the home he shared with Tina for the time it took for the man to do his thing. It could've been a coincidence, but... it's unusual.

About Mathew cooperating, maybe he did it without a formal agreement, kind of a goodwill gesture to maybe get "Brownie points."

What a psycho!!!
 

Because they were in trashbags he could have transported them in the bed of the pick up truck without arousing suspicion. ::MonkeyNoNo::

Ummmm....help. Mods, where are we suppose to move this to? 3 dead and 1 alive. ?

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - 5:10 Update : Knox County Sheriff David Barber has confirmed that the bodies of the three missing people missing have been found in a wooded area.

The sheriff announced that the bodies were in garbage bags that were put in a hollow tree in a wooded area off Yankee Street near Fredericktown, about 20 miles northwest of their home in Howard. He confirmed the bodies are 32-year-old Tina Herrmann; Herrmann's 10-year-old son, Kody Maynard; and her 41-year-old friend, Stephanie Sprang.

“The discovery of these bodies was a result of information provided by Matthew Hoffman," Barber said. Hoffman, 30, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping after 13-year-old Sarah Maynard was found bound and gagged in his basement.

“There’s a lot more to be done in this case," Barber said. “This is a homicide investigation now, and it’s the homicide of three individuals.”

“In my entire law enforcement career, I have never experienced anything like this," Barber said.

Keep checking newsnet5.com for more information.
http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/new-developments-in-case-of-3-missing-in-knox-county

I'm grateful we have this dilemma, in that there is at least one survivor.  It's very sad there are three of the 4 deceased.  I would say move to "missing found deceased" with the notation of one survivor.  OR it could go to "solved"?  Or check with Klaas? 

I'm thinking missing found deceased.

 i just feel so bad for the little girl, she prob will be asking, why me for the rest of her life
and maybe the monster will say, but doubtful
25min of pc from 10tv, turn up the volume on the player in your browser, and your speakers

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?videoUrl=/sites/10tv/videos/2010/11/18/sheriff-speaks.xml

Thank you for your advice, Klaas.  I'm moving this to "Missing Found Deceased". 

whoops forgot a link, news coverage with more details about hoffman
click news and missing found,playing now,might replay
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?videoUrl=/sites/10tv/videos/2010/11/18/sheriff-speaks.xml

I have great sympathy for LE individuals who have to go to the scene of something like this---three bodies in a hollow tree.  It must be a dreadful thing to have to go through, like finding partial remains of Zahra Baker in several locations.  I'm very grateful that there are people who will do this for the public.

Each of the four has lost something precious.  The daughter who is still alive has had her family taken from her, he has also taken her security from her forever.  No one should have to go through her life looking over her shoulders the way this girl will be doing.  God bless all of them, especially the one who lived.  The other 3 are with the Lord, she will be going through hell on earth.  It is just not right.

 ::MonkeyAngel::

Okay...that is what I figured...just wasn't sure.

I am thinking it is possible he took care of the women during the day while the children were at school and was waiting for them when they got home. 

I really hope they didn't take the DP off the table, but totally understand if they had to do that.

WBNS is reporting that Hoffman's mother visited him in jail Wednesday night.  Maybe that's why he gave up the whereabouts of the bodies. 

That is what I was thinking. I have to say that I have never heard of three bodies murdered and placed in a hollowed out tree, just can't even comprehend how someone would even come up with that idea. I could be wrong, but without this monster's help, I doubt if anyone would have found the three people in that tree  ::MonkeyNoNo::

I read yesterday that he himself had hollowed the tree where he placed the bodies. He had experience with trimming trees. Can't find the article now to provide the link, but I believe it was on the Mount Vernon News site.

I again shiver at the thought that if he had gotten away with the crimes, he would've continued to do the same to others in the community in the future.

Great work was done by LE in the area, congratulations to them. They may have been a little lucky, as well... spotting Hoffman near the truck found in the park, and maybe finding the receipt that lead them to his whereabouts.

The teenager will surely have "survivor's syndrome", guilt for having survived while the others didn't. I hope she receives therapy for now and for a long time, since she will need it.

As painful and horrific as it is to have found the three bodies, at least the families will have closure and move forth sooner than if they had to wait years to find out the victims' fate.

I pray for the girl, that she finds her way through life and be happy and successful in all her future endeavors.

:D

p.s.
I wonder what is served in prison at Thanksgiving these days.
Whatever it is, I'm sure that Matthew Hoffman would rather take, instead of glazed turkey, a juicy red squirrel or maybe some rattlesnake... with skin on.

New details released:

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/19/story-fredericktown-knox-county-missing-found-tree.html?sid=102

Golldarnitall, wouldn't he have to be awfully strong to be able to use a harness to haul the bodies to the hollow of the tree and drop them in? 

Like an animal, he dragged his victims up to a tree and stuffed them in there, including the family dog!!

Cases like this remind me that some of us still have vestiges of our animal ancestors more than others. He's just an animal, no human in him.

I saw pictures of cars and trucks drive very close to where the victims were retrieved, so it's possible that he drove very close to the tree, used harnesses to raise the bodies up to the hollowed tree.

The article yesterday said he hollowed the tree, but the pictures today show a tree that seems that it's been hollow for a very long time.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/11/18/Bodies-found-are-3-missing-Ohioans/UPI-84811290126303/

The bodies of Tina Herrmann, 32; her 11-year-old son, Kody Maynard; and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, were found dismembered "in a wooded area inside of garbage bags in a hollow tree" near Fredericktown, about 12 miles from where the three disappeared eight days ago, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said.
 ::MonkeyShocked::

They need to take him off suicide watch and encourage him...maybe even supply the means. ::MonkeyMad::

::MonkeyShocked:: OMG not only dismembered but put in a hole up high in a tree. For some reason I was picturing the hole in the tree was at the bottom of the tree.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/19/story-mount-vernon-knox-county-missing-family-mourns.html?sid=102
Family, Community Mourns Knox County Tragedy
Friday,  November 19, 2010 6:05 PM
WBNS-10TV
HOWARD, Ohio — Family and friends of Tina Herrmann, her son Kody Maynard, and family friend Stephanie Sprang said they have been overwhelmed by an outpouring of community support.

A memorial has been growing at Herrmann's home, the scene of the crime, with balloons, teddy bears and flowers, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported on Friday.

The bodies of Tina Herrmann, 32; her son, Kody Maynard, 11; and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, were found Thursday afternoon in a wooded area of the Kokosing Wildlife Preserve.

The Licking County coroner was performing autopsies on Friday to determine how the three were killed, while investigators worked to build a case against the only suspect in the slayings, Matthew Hoffman.

Hoffman, 30, has not been charged with murder, but was being held on $1 million bond, accused of kidnapping Herrmann's daughter, Sarah Maynard.

Sarah Maynard, 13, was found alive on Sunday, bound and gagged, inside Hoffman's Mount Vernon home.

Sprang's eldest son, Michael Kupiec, said nothing could have prepared him for the discovery of his mother's body stuffed inside a hollow tree.

"It was just a shock," Kupiec said. "I was speechless that day. I was searching and searching and come to find out we weren't even looking in the right spots."

Herrmann's boyfriend, Greg Borders, said he is overwhelmed by the support.
It's been amazing, honestly, everybody has been involved in the search just showing that they care about us and thinking about us our family and everything that has happened, it has been amazing," Borders said.

Borders said it is hard to walk in the home he shared with Herrmann and her two children after investigators said the three died there.

"I just hope they pray for Sarah and not remember how Tina, Stephanie and Kody, how things ended with them, but how they lived their lives," Borders said.

Kupiec said while he is not angry with Hoffman, he wants to see him brought to justice.

"Our family and Tina's family, we're all thankful and appreciate everything. And we show our support for the gratitude for all of the support we have out here," Kupiec said. "We're not saying it's a closure until we know who did it. We know who did it but we want to know the specifics."

The search began on Nov. 12 after Valerie Haythorn called to tell sheriff's deputies what she found inside Herrmann's Apple Valley home.

Haythorn, Herrmann's friend and boss, was worried after she missed two days of work at a Mount Vernon Dairy Queen, 10TV's Andy Hirsch reported.

She went to Herrmann's home and climbed through a back window to check on her friend. She said from the amount of blood she found inside, she knew deep down that she would never see her friend again.

"From what I saw, we still had a lot of hope and faith and we prayed every day, but I had to reconcile myself with the fact that she was gone," Haythorn said. "We have closure and I know now that she's not suffering because, if she were alive and she were suffering that would be worse."

Cards and other donations for the family will be accepted at the Dairy Queen where Herrmann worked. The staff will donate $1 from every sale of a Blizzard on Saturday to the family, Hirsch reported.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said Hoffman revealed information that led investigators to the remains of three missing people.

Neither Barber, nor Knox County Prosecutor John C. Thatcher, would say whether Hoffman confessed to the slayings, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported.

Ohio State University law Professor Doug Berman said there probably was not time to hammer out a formalized deal in this case, but it is likely prosecutors used the threat of the death penalty to pressure Hoffman.

"Certainly there might have been conversations that said, "Look, it's going to be harder for us prosecutors -- to have any sympathy for your client if it turns out he's done these things and we're spending weeks and months still searching for the bodies," Berman said.

Thatcher said Friday that because this is an ongoing case, he could not comment on any statements Hoffman may have made.

Hoffman is scheduled to be in court on Tuesday.

Watch 10TV News HD and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

   
WTF is wrong with people? ::MonkeyShocked::

WTH are all the insane,crazy bad guys trying to out do each other
like its some contest or something, do they think, chit i can top  that
crime, and i bet i can get away with it.
i think that is what hoffman thought, no one would ever find these
people, and would keep on  killing , except they found the girl, and
stopped him in his tracks
thank you LE

New Monkey, where in that article do you see that they were dismembered?   If it was there, they must have taken it out.

Sorry, I've been out tonight.  The dismembered part was there earlier.  I'm 100% on that.  No way would I have added that word in myself.

Good evening all,

I had been looking for this thread since day one, I must not know how to search correctly. 

I live in Ohio, just a few counties over,, same county as Sarah's father, my family still lives in the Newark, Mt. Vernon area.  I have never seen anything hit so many people so hard in all my life.   To say this community is in shock is an understatement.  Tears, pain, anger, and rage....emotions are running the gambit.  Many people literally felt as if they had been kicked in the stomach when the bodies were found...we all knew but....

We have all followed this case closely and been active in the online forums in town.  I have not read they were dismembered.  I could have missed it, there has been so much pain.

The way I understand it, not only was the man quite strong and adept at working in the trees, he worked out at an area gym. 

As for the people wondering how in the world he decided to hide the bodies in the tree, a few people voiced the theory before the bodies were found.  They felt it was common sense given the situation...strange,  I would have never thought of it.

There are just so many unanswered questions...LE has held daily press conferences, they have been so wonderful through out all of this.  The way they spoke most think they knew from day one...they just could not disclose all the info.

The one question I really have is how did they know Sarah was in his home?  Someone had to have known something and informed. But again, this investigation has been so tight lipped.  And I guess that's good.  Given that Sarah and other family members are hearing all of this, they deserve privacy.  LE has been so professional and caring for the family.  These are small town officers and they have been incredible.  They also gave full credit to every agencythat came in to help.    I have been so impressed.

I'm rambling...I know.  I have been trying to process this.  This has totally taken any sense of safety I have ever had.  These people did not know him, they did not do anything wrong, they were not involved in anything illicit,  they were not even in the wrong place at the wrong time.  They were just small town people going about their daily lives. 

Thank you for letting me vent. 



Terri

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/19/story-fredericktown-knox-county-missing-found-tree.html?sid=102
New Details Released On Discovery Of Bodies
November 19, 2010
(http://www.10tv.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/10tv/local/stories/2010/11/15/image_threemissing.jpg)
Stephanie Sprang, Tina Herrmann and Kody Maynard.

FREDERICKTOWN, Ohio — Investigators continued to piece together the case against Matthew Hoffman on Friday as more information was released about where the bodies of two women and a boy were recovered.


The bodies of Tina Herrmann, 32; her son, Kody Maynard, 11; and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, were found Thursday afternoon in a wooded area of the Kokosing Wildlife Preserve, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported.

The Licking County coroner was performing autopsies on Friday to determine how the three were killed.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber said that investigators went to the site, located near Fredericktown, based on information they received from Hoffman.

Neither Barber nor Knox County prosecutor John C. Thatcher would say whether Hoffman, 30, confessed to the crime.

The bodies were found inside a hollow tree that was nearly one mile into the woods. Investigators said the area is so densely wooded that they believe Hoffman dragged the bodies to the tree.

Detectives believe that Hoffman, an experienced tree trimmer, used harnesses to haul the bodies up to a hole at the top of the tree and dropped them down to the base, Ramos reported.
The bodies were found lodged near the bottom of the tree and investigators had to cut a hole to remove them, Ramos reported.

Herrmann's dog was found stuffed in the tree, 10TV News reported.

Hoffman has not been charged with murder, but was being held on $1 million bond, accused of kidnapping Herrmann's daughter, Sarah Maynard.

Sarah Maynard, 13, was found alive on Sunday, bound and gagged, inside Hoffman's Mount Vernon home.

Hoffman's mother told 10TV News on Thursday that she visited her son in jail for the first time on Wednesday night, and that the visit may have played a part in his decision to reveal the location of the bodies.

She said that her son told her that he was "relieved" when authorities raided his home because "Sarah would be able to go home."

Thatcher said additional charges are expected to be filed in the coming weeks, after autopsies are done and the investigation is complete.

The tree where the bodies were found was cut down on Friday afternoon.

Watch 10TV News HD and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Just another thought...I was past digusted with Nancy Grace.  I could not even watch ten minutes of her bull chite reporting on this case.  She took half info and twisted it to be sensationalism.  I do not even recall what she was saying exactly, I  just knew she was so far off with her yelling and ranting, that I had to turn the channel.

It makes me sick that any members of the family might have seen or heard her craziness.   I had lost all respect for her long ago, but now that I see fist hand how she twisted the local info that everyone was given, there is no reason to watch her ever again.  It is not justice when family members hear her rants on half truths.  They have enough to contend with. 

I can honestly say, if Nancy Grace had logged onto wbns or nbc4 online forums she would have known more facts than the drama she played.  While there was speculation on the forums, there were also friends and people in the community able to give out some info as well as voice the truth about the victims. 

The families deserved so much more than for their pain to be fodder for her sensationalism. 
MOO

Terri

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/19/timeline-missing19-art-gqfaklru-1.html?sid=101
Knox County abduction timeline
November 19, 2010

Nov. 10

• Tina Herrmann's ex-boyfriend, Greg Borders, who lives at her home, leaves for work at 3:40 a.m. He talks to Herrmann an hour later and receives a text from her at 11:30 a.m., saying she fed their dog. At some point, family friend Stephanie Sprang arrives at the Herrmann home.

• Kody and Sarah Maynard, Herrmann's children, attend classes at East Knox Middle School and return home on the school bus that afternoon.

• Herrmann doesn't show up for her 4 p.m. shift at the Dairy Queen in Mount Vernon. Her manager calls the Knox County sheriff's office. A deputy knocks on the door of the home at 481 King Beach Drive in Apple Valley about 8 p.m. and again at 11 p.m. Both times, nobody answers the door and nothing appears wrong. Herrmann's Ford F-150 pickup truck is in the driveway that night.

Nov. 11

• Herrmann's manager at the Dairy Queen enters the King Beach Drive home to check on her and finds blood. Herrmann's pickup truck is gone.

• A deputy sheriff gets permission from Borders, Herrmann's ex-boyfriend, to enter and finds an "unusual" amount of blood. The family dog also is missing.

• Herrmann's truck is found that evening, 7 miles away near Gambier. Sprang's Jeep is found in the garage of the King Beach Road home.

• Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, is seen in his parked car near where the truck was found. He speaks to a deputy.

Nov. 12 and Saturday

• Investigators continue the search for evidence at the King Beach Drive home while volunteer searchers fan out throughout the county.

Sunday

• A SWAT team from the sheriff's office enters Hoffman's home at 49 Columbus Rd. at 8 a.m. and finds Sarah alive, bound and gagged in the basement of the house near Mount Vernon. Hoffman, who offers no resistance, is placed in jail.

Monday

• Investigators search the lakes and woods of Mount Vernon's Foundation Park, a former gravel-pit area converted into a recreation area. Other searchers concentrate on Apple Valley and the Gambier area.

• Hoffman is formally charged with kidnapping.

Tuesday

• Hoffman appears in a video arraignment from the jail. He is appointed a public defender, and a judge orders him held under a $1 million bond. Searchers continue to comb the woods and fields.

Wednesday

• Sheriff David B. Barber reports it is likely that the missing are dead. Search efforts continue as hopes dwindle of finding the three alive.

Yesterday

• Attorneys for Hoffman give authorities information about the location of the bodies. The bodies of the three victims are found in a hollow tree in the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area north of Fredericktown, more than 12 miles from Herrmann's home and miles away from where searches were concentrated.

Terri, I am so very sorry for you and for your community.  There just are no words. . .

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/video/10tv.html?videoUrl=/sites/10tv/videos/2010/11/19/knox-co--mourns.xml

The families were told when the bodies were found, they were NOT intact.


He did dismember them! The monster!

video of the tree being chopped down  - before/after
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuvPDqcu7W8

terie, my mom was totally freaking out, she called me 3 days after the fam went
missing, said she was afraid,she is visiting in utica 10 miles south of mt V, i was going
to go get her, then they found the girl and the arrest, mom says utica was on pins and
needles, rumors were some crazy person is out and about, its not even safe in the daylite
it has shook my mom up pretty bad, she is from clev, and is use to crime, just not that
type, where people get taken, she said its not like the drug crime activity, its just a lone
monster  on the loose, she still doesnt understand how 4 people ,could be takien at one
time. im going down sat afternoon, to see her, im thinking she might want to come back
early, moms GG niece dosent get it ethier, such a small place why here, and how did
the monster get here

Not graphic, but powerful video of the tree before and after.

Made by someone who was there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuvPDqcu7W8





Case archive album for the Herrmann-Maynard-Sprang case:

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Herrmann-Maynard-Sprang%20Murders%20%20-OH-/

Oops, sorry I should have looked first, pinkangel posted the same vid.

Not sure if you all had the crankycrankerson link though.

 ::MonkeyNoNo::

Wow.  I wonder how long it took him to do the unthinkable.  I wonder if he was in that house when the deputy came by both times.  I wonder where Sarah was while he did these things.  Wow.

Terri first off we are almost neighbors. I live in Fairfield County.

I read in one of the news articles that he was questioned early in the case because he was sitting in his car in the same parking lot the truck was found and very close to the truck.
I really think that he did not kill them all at once. I think he killed the women first and then got to the kids when they got off the bus from school.

Just horrific and my prayers go out to the families.

Pink, 

thank you for the video...I think :)  The ba.....

This just makes it more surreal.  Who in the he...does this stuff?   MOO but this cannot have been his first time. 

And just as this is a small community for the Maynard/ Sprang family, Hoffman's parents are living in a glass bowl.  I cannot blame these people for anything...at this point there is nothing to suggest they were anything but the average family.

I think one noticeable, is that for such a small town is that there has been limited gossip about any of the people involved.  I am sure it is going on, but it is not being plastered all over the forums.  There seems to be much respect for everyone.

CW,  I have family in Homer, just outside of Utica....such a small world.  I am in Canal Winchester just outside of Columbus. Suburb really.
Seeing how small and personal everything can be in such small communities make this all the more shocking to me.  You pass each other, shop at the same stores, etc.  I know people who have moved to these areas to raise their children away from all the nonsense in Columbus.

My little five year old loves to run through the house sans clothing...I have stopped it out of fear someone can see him through a window. 

I am thinking your mother's sense of trust has been totally shifted. 


One thing someone pointed out very early in the investigation, is that when questioned if the the people were presumed dead,  the sheriff responded with a verbal "no" while shaking his head yes.  I am paraphrasing.

I am glad this is over and the healing can begin for all involved.  I am praying and crying for a day when there are no new threads on SM and no major headlines in any town.

Terri

Lenie,

I am almost literally on the border of Franklin and Fairfield.  Canal Winchester is located in both counties.  We are neighbors.  My family is mostly from Licking. If we research our families, most of us from the counties were inter related at one time or another :).

I tend to agree with you...the sheriff said Sarah was in the home but he would not elaborate on what she saw or knew other than she likely knew some were dead very early on.   If I remember right, the mother did not go to work on Wednesday but the children were in school. 
Have you heard any rationale for Hoffman lining his walls with leaves?

There is such a large part of me that does not want to know...does not want this info provided to the public.  I just want it to all go away.  But realistically, it did happen and we will all know soon enough.... someone is likely to write a book.   This is the first time I have felt with every cell of my body that the family should have total privacy.  This is just too close and I cannot stand to think anyone would gain attention or money out of this.  I think my strong feeling is because of the averageness of the family...like the Pettit family in Conn.     I hate that  the details and their pain are public.   Too much for the average person to take in.

Terri

Lenie,

I have wanted to comment on your avitar for some time now...I love it.  I want everyone to be held safely in loving hands.

Terri

I can't even imagine what all of you and the community are thinking about this horrific crime. My thoughts and prayers with the families, friends and community  ::MonkeyAngel::  I have followed a great number of cases, but this has got to be one of the most disturbing and horrific that I have read. I gave up even trying to figure why, how can anybody not only kill, but to dispose of the remains in a tree the way he did  ::MonkeyNoNo::

I have heard he was without electricity and was lining his walls with leaves for insulation.


I am sorry for the pain this has caused your community. Sorry for all the family and friends.

This has got to be one of the more horrific crimes I have ever heard of. A man kidnapping a family,a dog,  dismembering them and stuffing them inside a hollow tree.

It's a miracle that Sarah is alive! I can't image the horror she has lived through and I hope her family and community will wrap her will support and love as she tries to learn to live with her new reality. It's a reality no one should have to live with, much less a child.

I hope she has a good victim advocate assigned to her and her family and they get and keep her in counseling as long as she needs it. She will need it. I almost wish Elizabeth Smart would reach out to her, at sometime in the future. I think she could be a great help to her.

Sarah has a long journey ahead but she is a strong girl, surrounded by love. She is going to continue to be a survivor.

second will = with

I didn't read that about leaves for insulation, never even heard of such a thing before. I've been wondering from the beginning if Sarah was his main target for sexual reasons?  ::MonkeyNoNo::  But then why would you take three people and the family dog?  ::MonkeyNoNo:: There is absolutely not one ounce of sense in this. What a wonderful idea, about Elizabeth Smart, she is such a brave and courageous woman  ::MonkeyAngel::

Terri and Lenie, just want you to know I have a son living in Columbus, and at one time I had relatives living in Mount Vernon. Other relatives living all over Ohio. One of my favorite states.

Hoffman grew up in that area and I bet he knew where all the out of the way places were. I'm like you, I wonder if this is his first time. If he hadn't told them, they would never have found that tree.

He collected leaves at a park across the street from his home and would stuff them into trash bags to hang on his walls for insulation.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/17/national/main7063984.shtml

Family friend says bodies of 2 Ohio women, boy were not intact when found inside hollow tree
Pal: Bodies of 2 women, boy not intact when found

By MEGHAN BARR | Associated Press | 8 minutes ago in US


The bodies of two Ohio women and an 11-year-old boy were not intact when they were found in the base of a hollow tree, a family friend said Saturday.

Joe Pejsa, 45, said investigators told him the bodies were found inside the tree along with the remains of the family dog. Authorities have not released a cause of death; preliminary autopsy findings were expected to be released Saturday afternoon.

The bodies of Tina Herrmann, her son Kody Maynard and her friend Stephanie Sprang were found in a wildlife preserve in central Ohio on Thursday, a week after they disappeared from Herrmann's blood-spattered home.

Pejsa, the uncle of Herrmann's former live-in boyfriend, said the family believed someone was watching them before they were killed. He described a man in camouflage sitting on a stump across the street several months before the slayings.

Matthew Hoffman, an unemployed tree-trimmer, is accused of kidnapping the girl and keeping her for nearly four days in the basement of his home in Mount Vernon, about 10 miles west of Howard.

Hoffman gave information that led investigators to the bodies of the others, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said, and he is the only suspect in the killings. His attorney has declined to comment.

Baker has said all three were killed in Herrmann's home in Howard, about 40 miles northeast of Columbus, though he did not say how.
It's not clear how someone managed to put the bodies inside the tree, which has since been cut down. Gary Ludwig, a supervisor with Ohio's Division of Wildlife, described it as an American beech, about 60 feet tall. Beech tree trunks are typically hollowed out, he said.

Authorities have not said why the four were targeted. The sheriff has suggested that Hoffman, who spent six years in a Colorado prison on arson and other charges, had been watching them for some time.

In Mount Vernon, where just about everyone has some small connection to the killings, the grieving process has begun.

Sprang's son Michael Kupiec told WBNS-TV that he has no hatred and is eagerly waiting for investigators to tell his family about what happened to his mother.

"Until we find out more, on if they knew him _ if he knew them, we don't really know anything," Kupiec said.

http://www.newser.com/article/d9jk164o0/family-friend-says-bodies-of-2-ohio-women-boy-were-not-intact-when-found-inside-hollow-tree.html

::MonkeyNoNo:: 
Pejsa, the uncle of Herrmann's former live-in boyfriend, said the family believed someone was watching them before they were killed. He described a man in camouflage sitting on a stump across the street several months before the slayings.  ::MonkeyShocked::  I just have the chills thinking about that.

Coroner: 2 Ohio Women, Boy Stabbed And Dismembered

A coroner says two Ohio women and an 11-year-old boy were stabbed to death before they were dismembered.

Knox County Coroner Jennifer Ogle released the autopsy results Saturday. She says Tina Herrmann, her son Kody Maynard and her friend Stephanie Sprang were attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times in the back and chest.

There were no signs of sexual assault.

Ogle says the bodies were later dismembered, placed inside plastic garbage bags and lowered into the hollow of a large tree in a wildlife preserve in central Ohio.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/25863112/detail.html

I figured the manner of death would be stabbing or beating.  This is such a "personal" crime and when the info came out about dismemberment it didn't make sense that he would have shot them and then dismembered them, imo.

Stabbed in the back...there really are no words. 

New Monkey,  what made you think this was a "personal" crime?  My mind is so full and convoluted just now, that I don't seem to be making sense of this.

How have people come to the point that they could dismember someone?  And in Zhara's case, it was a woman that was involved.  I couldn't watch when my little one cut his hand and had to have stitches.  I can't watch those horror movies or violent video games.  And now, with all of these horror stories being played out on innocent people, I think it is wrong to have violence as a form of "entertainment".

I really have become jaded since Caylee.  it is so nice to know there are others who are cut to the quick just knowing these evil beings exist.  I'm so sorry for all of the innocent victims.

Terri

IMO the reason for dismemberment may be to get them in the bags/easier to get them up into the tree, etc. Sorry....I know this is all very disturbing to most people.

Easier to remove, transport. All anyone sees in a bunch of garbage bags.

in = is

The preliminary autopsies are complete for Tina Herrmann, Stephanie Sprang and Kody Maynard.

The most challenging and heartbreaking thing I have had to do as coroner is discuss these findings with the families of the deceased victims.  The truth is often unspeakable, and I sincerely feel for their loss and commend them for their strength and dignity moving forward in this tragedy.


On November 18 (Thursday) , 2010 at approximately  3:30 p.m. the bodies of Kody Maynard (11), Stephanie Sprang (41), and Tina Herrmann (31) were discovered on the Kokosing Lake State Wildlife Area in Knox County, Ohio.  The bodies were carefully removed from a hollow tree by investigators where they had been placed inside large plastic garbage bags.

The preliminary autopsy results conducted at the Licking County Coroner's Office indicate:

"On Wednesday November 10th, all three were attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times in the back and chest causing fatal exsanguination of blood from their chest cavities.  Smaller non-fatal wounds were also noted.  Pending further tests, there were no signs of sexual assault.  Sometime after death, the bodies were dismembered.  They were then placed inside large plastic garbage bags and later lowered into the hollow of a large tree.  The location of the deaths is pending further tests."

Our entire community has been wounded in this tragedy and words can't describe the sorrow felt by all.  However, I have seen this community rise up and challenge itself to greatness since the beginning of this ordeal.   Although I am biased, Knox County is one of the warmest, kindest, and most beautiful communities I have ever witnessed, and I firmly believe that no one person can ever steal that away from us.

The final coroner’s report from the Knox Coroner's Office will be completed once the full forensic autopsy report is completed by Dr. Jeff Lee of the Licking County Coroner’s Office - with much appreciation.  This usually takes six to eight weeks.  I would also like to thank all of law enforcement for their incredible and heroic work on this case. The story of Sarah Maynard's rescue will forever be remembered as an example of extraordinary detective work and bravery.  They deserve our continued support and admiration.  Our community and the grieving families should know that the Knox County Coroner’s Office will be working diligently to ensure justice is served and the deceased are treated with dignity and respect.

No further information regarding this case will be released at this time. 

Dr. J.F. Ogle

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/20/knox-county-victims-stabbed-dismembered-ar-297803/

I guess I should have said "hand's on" rather than "personal".  It doesn't seem as though someone capable of dismemberment would use a gun.  I felt as though the manner of death would be something more hand's on (I don't like to put it that way, but can't think of a better way to say what I mean), like stabbing or strangulation.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/20/ohio.family.autopsy/index.html

Coroner: Ohio women, boy were stabbed to death, dismembered

By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
November 20, 2010 5:59 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Two women, boy died of blood loss from multiple stab wounds, coroner says
Bodies were dismembered, hidden in garbage bags, placed in hollow of tree

Man suspected of kidnapping victim's daughter allegedly guided police to remains

Final autopsy report expected in six to eight weeks


(CNN) -- Preliminary autopsy results indicate that a missing woman, her son and friend were stabbed to death and dismembered last week, the Knox County, Ohio, Coroner's Office said Saturday.

The remains of Tina Herrmann, 31, her son, Kody Maynard, 11, and Stephanie Sprang, 41, were found in garbage bags in the hollow of a tree in Kokosing Lake State Wildlife Area in Knox County, Ohio, authorities said Thursday.

The three had been missing since November 10, along with Herrmann's 13-year-old daughter, prompting a weeklong search throughout the rural region. The girl, Sarah Maynard, was found alive last Sunday, bound and gagged in the basement of a Mount Vernon residence, about 20 miles from the Herrman's central Ohio home.

The man who lived in the home, Matthew Hoffman, was arrested and faces a kidnapping charge in her abduction. He allegedly directed authorities to the missing people.


"His information led to the location of the bodies," Knox County Sheriff David Barber said Thursday, while announcing the discovery of the remains.

The three were attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times in the back and chest, causing them to bleed to death, Knox County Coroner J.F. Ogle said in a statement Saturday.

There were no signs of sexual assault and the location of the deaths is pending further tests, she added. The final coroner's report will be released in six to eight weeks, after a full forensic examination by the Licking County Coroner's Office.

"Our entire community has been wounded in this tragedy and words can't describe the sorrow felt by all. However, I have seen this community rise up and challenge itself to greatness since the beginning of this ordeal," Ogle said. "Knox County is one of the warmest, kindest, and most beautiful communities I have ever witnessed, and I firmly believe that no one person can ever steal that away from us."

Herrmann failed to report to work at a Dairy Queen in Mount Vernon on November 10, Barber told CNN affiliate WBNS. A deputy twice went to her home in Howard, about nine miles east of Mount Vernon, and saw her pickup there. No one answered the door, though lights were on in the home.

Later in the week, blood was found in the home, leading authorities to suspect foul play.

Sarah Maynard was found in an early morning raid involving a SWAT team. She was released from the hospital Monday, after being evaluated and treated for injuries, the sheriff said.

Hoffman, her alleged captor, is in custody, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 23 on the kidnapping charge.

The incident was not a home invasion, the sheriff said, adding that "either they knew Hoffman or Hoffman made himself known to them."

When asked earlier this week if officials took the death penalty off the table in order to find the bodies, Knox County prosecutor John C. Thatcher responded that he could not say whether Hoffman confessed to the killings.

He said he expects to take the case to the grand jury in four to six weeks.

VIDEO LINK
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2010/11/18/bts.ohio.bodies.found.WBNS

Autopsy: Ohio Family Stabbed, Dismembered
Updated: Saturday, 20 Nov 2010, 5:00 PM CST
Published : Saturday, 20 Nov 2010, 5:00 PM CST

(NewsCore) - The Knox County Coroner said Saturday that the deaths of Tina Hermann, Kody Maynard and Stephanie Sprang -- whose remains were found hidden in garbage bags inside a hollow tree on Thursday -- were the result of stab wounds and that they were dismembered after their deaths.

The trio went missing Nov. 10 along with Hermann's 13-year-old daughter Sarah Maynard.

On Nov. 14, Sarah was found bound and gagged in the basement of a home belonging to 30-year-old Matthew J. Hoffman of Mount Vernon, Ohio. He was arrested on one count of kidnapping for detaining the girl against her will.

Hermann, Kody Maynard and Sprang “were attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times in the back and chest causing fatal exsanguination of blood from their chest cavities,” Dr. J.F. Ogle said in a press release after preliminary autopsies were completed.

“Sometime after death, the bodies were dismembered. They were then placed inside large plastic garbage bags and later lowered into the hollow of a large tree,” he added.

Ogle said the victims had some smaller, non-fatal wounds and showed no signs of sexual assault.

The Knox County Coroner’s Office will issue its final reports on the family’s deaths after a full forensic autopsy report is completed, which typically takes six to eight weeks.

Authorities would not comment on whether Hoffman had confessed to the murders.

The prosecuting attorney confirmed that Hoffman is currently being held on a $1 million bond and that a preliminary hearing for Hoffman is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. local time at Mount Vernon municipal court.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpps/news/autopsy%3A-ohio-family-stabbed,-dismembered-dpgonc-km-20101120_10718473

Has it been revealed how authorities knew that Sarah was being held at the Hoffman home?

Janet

They have not given those details yet...only that a receipt was found which connected Hoffman to them somehow.

Thanks Leroy.

Janet

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/10/11/20/ogle-releases-preliminary-autopsy-report

Ogle releases preliminary autopsy report
November 20, 2010 3:15 pm EST

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Coroner Jennifer Ogle said today Tina Herrmann, 32; Kody Maynard, 11; and Stephanie Sprang, 41, died after being stabbed multiple times.

"On Wednesday, Nov. 10, all three were attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times in the back and chest causing fatal exsanguination of blood from their chest cavities. Smaller non-fatal wounds were also noted. Pending further tests, there were no signs of sexual assault. Sometime after death, the bodies were dismembered. They were then placed inside large plastic garbage bags and later lowered into the hollow of a large tree. The location of the deaths is pending further test,." Ogle said.

"Our entire community has been wounded in this tragedy and words can't describe the sorrow felt by all. However, I have seen this community rise up and challenge itself to greatness since the beginning of this ordeal. Although I am biased, Knox County is one of the warmest, kindest, and most beautiful communities I have ever witnessed, and I firmly believe that no one person can ever steal that away from us," she added.

The final coroner’s report from the Knox Coroner's Office will be completed once the full forensic autopsy report is completed by Dr. Jeff Lee of the Licking County Coroner’s Office. This process could take as many as eight weeks.
-----------
http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/places/three-bodies-recovered-in-northwest-knox-county
Get audio from the press conferences, see images of the investigation and search, a map of key events and related stories

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/10/11/16/neighbors-hoffman-eccentric-troubled
Neighbors: Hoffman eccentric, troubled
By Melissa Raines
November 16, 2010 11:27 am EST
MOUNT VERNON — 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.

Maynard’s 11-year-old brother Kody, her mother Tina Herrmann, and family friend Stephanie Sprang, remained missing Monday.

Those who said they knew Hoffman, paint a picture of a man with many eccentricities, whose behavior showed troubling changes over recent weeks.

“It’s crazy,” said Davis. “He seemed like a decent guy at first.” She is one of three mothers in the room who say their young sons have been to many sleepovers at Hoffman’s house.

“He told me ‘he [Hoffman] jumped with us on the trampoline and made popcorn
 said mother Leanda Cline

Cline and Davis, along with Shara Davis of Mount Vernon, all have boys who played football with the eight-year-old son of Hoffman’s former girlfriend, a Mount Vernon woman the group declined to identify. Davis, who said she remains close friends with Hoffman’s former girlfriend, said the woman moved out about three to four weeks ago after an alleged domestic violence incident.

“He choked her,” Davis said. “And she warned us to keep our kids away from him.”

Davis said after months of sleepovers, accepting rides from Hoffman and spending time with him socially, his behavior became disturbing.

“His two dogs disappeared,” said Donna. “I believe in my heart that he killed those dogs,” she said tearfully, explaining that Hoffman’s explanations for what happened to the dogs while his girlfriend was out of town did not make sense.

“That’s when we started pulling back,” she said of her family’s relationship with Hoffman.

Before they believed his behavior became more erratic, she said her daughter, 14-year-old Sarah Fisher, accepted a ride home from Hoffman last winter after a movie.

“I let my daughter ride home alone with him,” she said regretfully.

“It was weird,” Fisher said of the ride. “We didn’t take the main roads back, we took the back roads. I came home and told my mom he made me uncomfortable.”

Ron Fowler, Donna’s live-in boyfriend, said he witnessed Hoffman setting squirrel traps in his backyard.

“We were feeding the squirrels, and he killed them,” Fowler said.

Donna said Hoffman’s ex-girlfriend reported he took the squirrels inside to eat them.

Shara Davis, Donna Davis, and Cline all grew up on Columbus Road, but admit they no longer feel safe there, citing many changes to the neighborhood.

They said several weeks before this incident they feared for Hoffman’s girlfriend’s safety.

“She always had to be real quiet when she came over, so he wouldn’t hear her,” Fisher said.

Donna said Hoffman was skilled with computers, and spent many hours on his before the electricity and gas were shut off to his house.

She said Hoffman told her he had served five years for a “robbery gone bad” in Colorado.

“I had asked him if he’d ever been locked up because he was so observant like people from prison are,” Donna said.

The neighbors describe Hoffman as a “very athletic” man who was often seen climbing trees by hoisting himself up with his arms.

The neighbors interviewed said they are hoping for the best, but fearing the worst for the people still missing.

“I’m so sorry for that family,” Donna said tearfully.

She said she is thrilled Sarah was found alive, but her biggest regret is that she did not know the little girl was being held captive only a few yards away from her home, and she could do nothing to help.

“I feel so bad that I was right here and didn’t hear anything,” Donna said emotionally.

She said she last saw Hoffman before his arrest, in the backyard Wednesday night, at his fire pit, poking into the flames as he watched the fire.

Fowler said he saw Hoffman on Friday in the late afternoon or early evening.

“I saw him Friday with his backpack walking towards the gravel pit,” Fowler said.

While search crews could be seen heading towards the old gravel pit at Foundation Park, Fowler said it is an area he believes Hoffman knew well.

“My son’s been swimming at the gravel pit with him,” Fowler said with concern.

Fowler and Donna both noticed a large silver pick-up they had never seen before was parked in front of Hoffman’s house since Wednesday. The truck was removed by law enforcement Sunday.

Many of the neighbors believe the story will end sadly. Donna said she has not slept since the sound of an explosion sounded next door to her home Sunday morning as SWAT crews entered Hoffman’s home.

She said she has many regrets.

“I kept my door unlocked so [Hoffman’s girlfriend’s son] could go back and forth,” she said. “I let him drive my daughter and I took rides from him. My son slept at his house.”

But Donna said what is troubling her the most right now, is knowing Sarah Maynard was being kept hostage next door while she and her family did not have any inkling something was wrong.

“That basement where she was, it was so dark and dirty she [Hoffman’s ex-girlfriend] wouldn’t let the dog down there,” she said sobbing.

She said while she never knew Maynard was trapped in the basement, she believes the young girl may have heard the many people coming and going from Donna’s house between Wednesday and Saturday.

She said whenever she stepped outside to shout her daughter Sarah’s name to call her inside, she is worried she may have given Maynard false hope.

“Every time I yelled for my daughter she [Sarah Maynard] probably thought someone was going to help her,” she said through tears.

melissa.raines@mountvernonnews.com

http://www.examiner.com/trumbull-county-conservative-in-youngstown/services-set-for-murdered-mom-and-son

Services set for murdered mom and son
Mt Vernon, OH - Memorial services have been set for an Ohio mother and son who were murdered on Wednesday, November 10.

The memorial for Kody Maynard and Tina Herrmann will be held at the Peace Lutheran Church-Gahanna located at 455 Clark State Rd, Columbus, OH 43230  614-337-1000 on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 from 2-4 PM and 6-9 PM.

Sarah Maynard, sister of Kody and daughter of Tina, is the lone survivor.

Donations for Sarah Maynard can be made at any 5th-3rd Bank location. The name on the account is 'Benefit of Sarah Maynard.'

On Saturday, November 20, the local Dairy Queen will donate $1.00 from each Blizzard sold to benefit the Sarah Maynard Fund.

Donations for final expenses are being taken at Killbuck Savings Bank, Apple Valley Branch, 21841 Plank Road, Howard, OH 43028, 740-397-4352. The accounts are "For the Benefit of Tina Herrmann and Kids" or "For the Benefit of Stephanie Sprang."

Donations for the Stephanie Sprang funeral fund can also be made at CES Bank, 400 West Chestnut Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 740-397-1136.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/22/story-howard-three-slain-community-coping.html?sid=102

Knox Co. Community Reeling From 'Evil Personified'
Monday,  November 22, 2010 6:17 AM
Updated: Monday,  November 22, 2010 8:36 AM
WBNS-10TV
 
HOWARD, Ohio — Two slain Knox County women and a boy will be laid to rest this week as their accused killer prepares to face a judge and a community continues to cope with the tragedy surrounding the case.

The family of Tina Herrmann and her son, Kody Maynard, will receive friends on Tuesday at Peace Lutheran Church in Gahanna, from 2-4 p.m, and from 6-9 p.m.

Their funeral will be held Wednesday.

The family of the third victim, Stephanie Sprang, will receive friends and family from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Flowers-Snyder funeral home in Mount Vernon.

The mother of three will be buried during a private ceremony on Wednesday.

The weekend brought little solace for a community trying to cope and understand why the three were killed, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

"We're hurting," said Rev. Todd Miller of the Amity-Apple Valley Baptist Chapel.  "We're hurting as a group, we're hurting as community."

Miller and his members were familiar with Kody Maynard, who attended services at the chapel.  The fact that the boy is now referred to in the past tense was tough for everyone to absorb, especially for friends and classmates.

"My heart breaks for our young people. Our church has an abundance of middle school and elementary school kids, and it's a shame that they have to be exposed to such a thing," Miller said. "But as a church and an outreach, we need to be able to comfort them and let them know we're here for them."

Miller said his community as come face-to-face with "evil-personified."

"That is evil in the light of one person, evil in the light of sin, and sin, when it's fully magnified and fully developed equals death, and that's what we've seen," he said.

Still, Miller said the community of Apple Valley would heal in time.

"It's still raw for a lot of people," Miller said. "Can healing start now? Yes, it can start. With Christ all things are possible."

 The suspect in the three slayings, Matthew Hoffman, remains in custody, facing a charge stemming from the kidnapping of 13-year-old Sarah Maynard.

He was expected to face a judge on Tuesday, when it will be decided if there is probable cause to move forward with the case, 10TV News reported.

Prosecutors said last week that they were working on additional charges against Hoffman.  Those charges could come in 4-6 weeks, prosecutors said.

Fire Causes Minor Damage To Home Of Slain Knox Co. Woman
Tuesday,  November 23, 2010 1:59 PM
WBNS-10TV

HOWARD, Ohio —  Investigators were trying to learn more on Tuesday about a fire at the home of Tina Herrmann, one of the three people slain in Knox County.

The fire was reported Monday at about 11 p.m.

Firefighters said the blaze appeared to have started under a pile of clothing beneath the home's front porch, causing some damage to the porch and siding, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

It was not clear what sparked the fire and authorities would not say if it was considered suspicious.  No one was home at the time.

The state fire marshal's office was involved in the investigation, McEntyre reported.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/11/23/story-howard-fire-at-tina-herrmann-home.html?sid=102

It could be accidental, but very suspicious.

The first thought is someone so callous who wants to add insult to injury - the neighborhood arsonist.

Besides that, I can think of two reasons why a fire would start in a home that is unoccupied in a middle income neighborhood.

One would be insurance purposes? Maybe someone wanted to burn it down so the insurance would pay the mortgage, etc... etc...

Two would be... to destroy any possible evidence that exists in the home that could tie someone to the crime.

Be that person the accused, or someone else.

Possibly like the Baker home being vandalized because of the horrible crime committed there. People want the house taken down as evil. Perhaps this community feels the same way.

Well, at least the culprit was caught quickly, and at least one person was found alive.

Of course, there are questions that still remain unanswered. Like why? and how did the police find the teenager so quickly, and how did they know she would be in the guy's basement. Was there any other victims that we don't know about?

Personally, I would like to know how does the guy's room looks like, and if it is full of gory pictures and art, or weird books and movies.

I tell you, this case can make for a good X-Files or Fringe episode. Too sick and weird to be true, and yet... it's true.

 ::MonkeyNoNo::

Attorney: Ohio slayings suspect off suicide watch
(AP) – Dec 8, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The only suspect in a kidnapping and triple-slaying in a rural Ohio community is off suicide watch and maintaining a positive attitude in jail, his lawyer said Wednesday.

A grand jury that met this week did not indict Matthew Hoffman, but additional charges could come soon, defense attorney Bruce Malek said.

"I would certainly hope and expect that any indictment be brought at the earliest opportunity," Malek said. "It serves no purpose to delay that grand jury."

State and national media descended on the small Ohio city of Mount Vernon, about 50 miles east of Columbus, for a week as authorities searched for four people who disappeared from a nearby home Nov. 10. On Nov. 14, one of the missing people, 13-year-old Sarah Maynard, was found bound and gagged but alive in Hoffman's basement.

Four days later, using information provided by Hoffman through his attorneys, authorities found the dismembered bodies of Maynard's mother, Tina Herrmann; her brother, 11-year-old Kody Maynard; and Stephanie Sprang, a friend of Herrmann.

The county coroner said the three were stabbed multiple times, and their dismembered remains put in garbage bags and lowered into a hollow tree. The remains of the family dog were also found in the tree.

Malek said he expects Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher to either call a special grand jury because of the complexity of the case or present it to a regularly scheduled grand jury early next month.

Malek said investigators are still obtaining reports and awaiting lab testing on various pieces of evidence.

Thatcher said that grand jury proceedings are secret under Ohio law and he therefore could not comment.

Hoffman had been placed on suicide watch soon after his Nov. 14 arrest. A doctor associated with a local counseling center examined Hoffman the day before Thanksgiving and determined that he could be taken off suicide watch, Malek said. The move was made a few days later.

Hoffman remains in a segregated cell but can wear a regular jail uniform, has access to books and television and isn't under constant observation, Malek said.

"Under all the circumstances I think he's doing as well as one can," Malek said. "He's maintaining a positive attitude."

Sheriff David Barber did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Malek wouldn't comment on whether, if Hoffman is charged with the slayings, he would ask that a trial be held elsewhere because of publicity. He acknowledged the high interest generated by the killings and Hoffman's arrest.

"I'm not sure there's venue that doesn't have some knowledge of the case," Malek said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5huXCYvev3XyjMdK0L_r3IsRzjkiA?docId=9b36c15002404cf29bd8901bcfa5746f


Hey Matt -- there is a cord on the back of that television...do us all a favor please!

This doesn't even look like the same guy....apparently his lawyers have already started the "clean-up" process on him for his court appearances

(http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/12/08/PH2010120803689.jpg)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120803318.html

No, it really doesn't. What a difference.  ::MonkeyEek::

(http://mobth844.photobucket.com/albums/ab6/fannymae66/th_hoffman.jpg?t=1292700739) (http://mobth844.photobucket.com/albums/ab6/fannymae66/th_PH2010120803689.jpg?t=1292700758)

OOPS! A little small..  ::MonkeyNoNo::

(http://mob844.photobucket.com/albums/ab6/fannymae66/hoffman.jpg?t=1292700739) (http://mob844.photobucket.com/albums/ab6/fannymae66/PH2010120803689.jpg?t=1292700758)

That's better!

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/01/04/Knox-County-murder-indictments.html?sid=101

Knox County grand jury indicts Hoffman on murder, rape charges
Prosecutor won't seek death penalty
Tuesday, January 4, 2011  10:36 AM
By Allison Manning

The Columbus Dispatch
 
Matthew J. Hoffman, the man accused of killing three people and raping and kidnapping a 13-year-old girl in November, was indicted on murder charges last night by a Knox County grand jury.

Hoffman, 30, was indicted on 10 counts, including three counts of aggravated murder, according to a release by Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.

He will not face the death penalty, in accordance with the wishes of the victims' families, according to Thatcher. More information about the decision not to include death penalty specifications will be released after Hoffman's arraignment in Knox County Common Pleas Court later this week.

Hoffman is accused of killing Tina R. Herrmann, 32, her 11-year-old son, Kody Maynard, and family friend Stephanie L. Sprang, 41. Herrmann's daughter was found bound and gagged in the basement of Hoffman's home, at 49 Columbus Rd. in Mount Vernon.

 The Dispatch previously published the girl's name but is no longer identifying her because of the rape charge filed against Hoffman. The newpaper generally does not identify victims when sexual crimes are alleged.

The children's father said the past few months have been overwhelming for their family, but he wanted to thank the law enforcement and residents of Knox County and those nationwide that have sent cards, donations and prayers.

"When something like this happens, your faith in people kind of dwindles," Larry Maynard said. "And with the support of the community, it kind of brings back your faith that most people are good people."

He said that his daughter is in school, and living with him, his wife, and her two younger half-brothers. The family has taken advantage of counseling and other services from the county victims assistance program.

"She's doing as good as can be expected," Maynard said. "Our family's strong and we'll get through this. Our faith in God is pretty strong. I know my son's in heaven."

He would not say when prosecutors had spoken to the families about removing the death penalty as an option for Hoffman.

The murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life without parole.

He is also charged with one count of aggravated burglary, as the indictment alleges Hoffman was burglarizing Herrmann's home at 481 King Beach Dr. in Howard. Hoffman allegedly removed some clothing and bedding from the King Beach Drive home, and faces a charge of tampering with evidence, carrying a one to five year prison term.

Because the bodies were found dismembered and in a hollow tree in the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area north of Fredericktown on Nov. 18, Hoffman is also charged with three counts of gross abuse of a corpse, which carry a maximum of three years in prison.

In addition to the possibility of being sentenced to life in prison without parole on the murder charges, Hoffman could also face a maximum of 10 years in prison on the burglary charge, 10 years for the rape charge, and 10 years on the kidnapping charge.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/01/05/hoffman-charged-in-knox-county-deaths.html?sid=101
TRIPLE SLAYING
Hoffman charged in Knox County deaths
Indictment includes rape, kidnapping counts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011  02:54 AM

While reading the charges against a Knox County man accused of three murders, rape and kidnapping, Larry Maynard said his body shook as he considered the horrors his children experienced.

Maynard's son, 11-year-old Kody Maynard, was one of three people killed on Nov. 10, along with Kody's mother, 32-year-old Tina R. Herrmann, and family friend Stephanie L. Sprang, 41. Their dismembered bodies were found more than a week later in a hollow tree.

His 13-year-old daughter was found bound and gagged in the basement of the man held in the case, Matthew J. Hoffman, 30, of 49 Columbus Rd., in Clinton Township just south of downtown Mount Vernon. Prosecutors say she had been raped.

Hoffman, who is being held in lieu of a $1 million cash bond, was indicted on Monday by a Knox County grand jury on charges that include three counts of aggravated murder, rape and aggravated burglary, according to a release by county Prosecutor John Thatcher.
"I wake up every morning and think that it's going to be a bad dream," Maynard said yesterday. "Every day, it sinks in that it's a reality. This is life now ... People say things will get better in time, but I say to them, 'You've never lost a child.'"

The Dispatch previously published the girl's name but is no longer identifying her because of the rape charge filed against Hoffman. The newspaper generally does not identify victims when sexual crimes are alleged.

The murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life without parole. Thatcher said in the release that the indictment did not contain death-penalty specifications in accordance with the wishes of the victims' families.

Thatcher would not comment further. The date and time of Hoffman's arraignment have not been set, but authorities will release more information regarding the death-penalty decision then, he said in the release.

Maynard said the past few months have been overwhelming for his family, but he thanked the law-enforcement officers and residents of Knox County and those nationwide who have sent cards, donations and prayers.

"When something like this happens, your faith in people kind of dwindles," he said. "And with the support of the community, it kind of brings back your faith that most people are good people."

He said that his daughter is in school and living with him, his wife and two younger half-brothers. The family has taken advantage of counseling and other services from the county victims-assistance program.

"She's doing as good as can be expected," Maynard said. "Our family's strong, and we'll get through this. Our faith in God is pretty strong. I know my son's in heaven."

He would not say when prosecutors had spoken to the families about removing the death penalty as an option for Hoffman.

With information from Hoffman and his attorneys, authorities located the bodies of Herrmann, Kody and Sprang on Nov. 18 inside a hollow tree in the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area north of Fredericktown.

Because of the number of charges and their seriousness, a special grand jury was convened to hear the case, Thatcher said. Jurors heard testimony for about six hours before handing up the indictment.

Hoffman's public defender, Bruce J. Malek, did not return a call seeking comment.

In addition to life sentences on the murder charges, Hoffman faces 10-year sentences on each of the aggravated burglary, rape and kidnapping charges.

Prosecutors say Hoffman burglarized Herrmann's home at 481 King Beach Dr. in Howard.

He also is accused of removing clothing and bedding from Herrmann's home, and faces a charge of tampering with evidence, carrying a one- to five-year prison term.

And because of the conditions of the bodies, Hoffman faces three counts of gross abuse of a corpse, which carry a maximum of three years in prison on each count.

horrible...
I am glad to hear that the girl is getting counseling..what a nightmare ....

This is another horrible murder case that will never leave me. I am shocked every time I read more about the crime. It is still mind boggling what was done to these families. God bless them all, and the ones left behind trying to deal with it on a day to day basis.

agree Fanny..

Matthew Hoffman, Ohio Killer Who Hid Bodies in Tree, Pleads Guilty

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20027794-504083.html

This is almost anti-climatic. I don't guess we will ever hear the facts of when and how this all happened. Or how he got them to the wooded area, or how he got the mother's car to where he abandoned it. Maybe it's not for us to know anyhow. But it still feels like there are a lot of loose ends.

Fanny, I think the horror of it all is so overwhelming the families just want to shut that door and move on as best as they can.  I am so grateful they are receiving counseling, yet even with that, it will take a long time for trust to be restored.  I am glad too they are a family of faith.

Yes, I am sure they know a lot of things we are not privy too. And I can't say as I blame them for wanting all of this to just go away. I would probably feel the same way too.  ::MonkeyNoNo::

Case archive album

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Herrmann-Maynard-Sprang%20Murders%20%20-OH-/

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=13987699


OH killer says Mount Vernon house was random target


Posted: Feb 08, 2011 4:14 AM EST
Updated: Feb 08, 2011 4:21 AM EST

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio man who killed two women and an 11-year-old boy during a home burglary and dropped their dismembered bodies down a hollow tree confesses the house was a random target, picked because no neighbors were close and the garage door was left slightly open.

The Columbus Dispatch obtained 30-year-old Matthew Hoffman's confession through a public records request.

Hoffman is serving life in prison. Prosecutors told him they wouldn't seek the death penalty if he revealed where the bodies were and explained in detail what happened.

The newspaper says most of the four-page confession focuses on four days Hoffman spent at his Mount Vernon home with a 13-year-old girl he kidnapped. He describes how he cooked her hamburgers, slept with his arm around her and bound her hands and feet.

just...dam a tough read
Excerpts from Matthew Hoffman's confession
Given on Nov. 19, 2010
Monday, February 7, 2011  04:23 PM
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/07/hoffman-confession.html

Knox County killer of 3 says burglary was intent
In confession, he says he treated teen hostage well
Tuesday, February 8, 2011  02:51 AM
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Matthew Hoffman chose the house he wanted to burglarize, and then he waited.

Just before he took three lives and changed a teenage girl forever, Hoffman spent the night in the woods across from Tina Herrmann's isolated Knox County home. Bundled in a sleeping bag to ward off the cold of the November night, he watched the split-level house.

He dozed. Sometime after 9 a.m. on Nov. 10, a Wednesday, he saw Herrmann leave. Hoffman sneaked across the road and slipped under the overhead garage door, which wasn't completely closed.

more
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/08/knox-county-killer-of-3-says-burglary-was-intent.html?sid=101

That really is a tough read, all the Hoffman articles in all the midOhio news are today.

He tries to gloss up his murders by explaining how "good" he was to keep the little girl alive.

I hope someone tortures him in prison. Do we know where he was sent?


Also, case archive updated.
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Herrmann-Maynard-Sprang%20Murders%20%20-OH-/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ12

HLN Primetime is covering it right now...."process"  OMG  Wow, chilling to say the least.

MATTHEW J HOFFMAN
Number: A645571
DOB: 11/01/1980 
Gender: Male 
Race: White 
Admission Date: 01/07/2011
Institution: Correctional Reception Center 
Status: INCARCERATED

AGG MURDER Counts: 3 ORC: 2903.01 4   
  Committing County: KNOX Admission Date: 01/07/2011 Degree of Felony: AM
 
AGG BURGLARY Counts: 1 ORC: 2911.11 4   
  Committing County: KNOX Admission Date: 01/07/2011 Degree of Felony: First

KIDNAPPING Counts: 1 ORC: 2905.01 4   
  Committing County: KNOX Admission Date: 01/07/2011 Degree of Felony: First

RAPE Counts: 1 ORC: 2907.02 4   
  Committing County: KNOX Admission Date: 01/07/2011 Degree of Felony: First

TAMPER W/EVIDENCE Counts: 1 ORC: 2921.12 4   
  Committing County: KNOX Admission Date: 01/07/2011 Degree of Felony: Third

ABUSE OF A CORPSE Counts: 3 ORC: 2927.01 4   
  Committing County: KNOX Admission Date: 01/07/2011 Degree of Felony: Fifth

http://www.drc.ohio.gov/offendersearch/search.aspx

forgot to add his sentence........

 Indefinite Sentence Min:Life Sentence

Indefinite Sentence Max:Life Sentence

Expiration of Max Sentence: 01/01/8888

Should be long enough (what I bolded)

I listened to this and also Nancy G..
chilling it exactly what I thought as well..
very cold blooded..

http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Leaves-Filled-Home-of-Man-Who-Killed-Dismembered-3/_6naQ03bNkGWcIX2nfSirg.cspx
Leaves Filled Home of Man Who Killed, Dismembered 3
February 9, 2011

Records show that leaves filled the home of a former Bazetta man who admitted killing two women and a boy and stuffing their remains into a tree.
     
The first two officers who entered the Mount Vernon home of Matthew Hoffman on Nov. 14 found a three-foot pile of leaves on the living room floor.
 ::snipping2::
When officers initially went to Hoffman's home and he was taken away in handcuffs, the detectives found Sarah Maynard alive in the basement, bound on a bed made of leaves.

Back upstairs, they discovered bagged leaves hanging on a living room wall and a bathroom lined with more than
110 bags of leaves.

One detective said the leaves may indicate Hoffman planned to set fire to the house.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/11/02/08/hoffmans-confession-includes-details-of-murder
Hoffman’s confession includes details of murder
Februa8, 2011

That or he's just plain stupid!

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/23/girl-13-tells-how-i-could-survive.html?sid=101

Knox County captive tells 'how I could survive'
Girl, 13, held for 4 days by killer Matthew Hoffman
Wednesday, February 23, 2011  02:51 AM
By Allison Manning

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH SNIP SNIP
'Today' Show
Sarah Maynard stayed strong by "just hoping someone would find me."The sole survivor of the November kidnappings and mass murder in Knox County spoke publicly about the ordeal for the first time yesterday on NBC's Today show.

Sarah Maynard, 13, said she wanted "to let people know how I could survive" after being kidnapped from her home, held for four days and sexually assaulted.

Sarah and her father, Larry Maynard, spoke to Today show host Meredith Vieira in New York.

She was rescued from the basement of Matthew Hoffman's house, just outside Mount Vernon, on Nov.14. It was four days after her mother, Tina Herrmann, 32; brother, Kody Maynard, 11; and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41, disappeared from Herrmann's Apple Valley home.

more at above link

video Today Show Interview With Sarah Maynard
http://www.wlwt.com/video/26951772/detail.html