An Alaska lady who organized to have her finest good friend killed in 2019 after a person she met on-line promised her $9 million to take action was sentenced on Monday to 99 years in jail, state prosecutors stated.
Decide Andrew Peterson of Anchorage Superior Courtroom sentenced the lady, Denali Brehmer, 23, of Anchorage, who pleaded responsible final yr to at least one rely of first-degree homicide within the dying of the good friend, Cynthia Hoffman, the Alaska Department of Law said in a statement.
Proof introduced on the sentencing confirmed that Ms. Hoffman, 19, was fatally shot on June 2, 2019, on a financial institution of the Eklutna River close to Thunderbird Falls and that her physique was later positioned within the river, in line with the Division of Legislation. Prosecutors later discovered that Ms. Brehmer had been employed to kill Ms. Hoffman in trade for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.
Throughout the listening to, Decide Peterson described the homicide of Ms. Hoffman as “tragic and senseless,” the Division of Legislation stated.
Patrick McKay, the Anchorage assistant district legal professional, said in court on Monday that Ms. Brehmer “engaged in one of the most serious crimes that we have in Alaska.”
Ms. Brehmer had requested a sentence of 80 years with 20 years suspended, and prosecutors had requested a sentence of 99 years, the Division of Legislation stated.
In line with court docket paperwork, Ms. Brehmer met a person on-line who satisfied her that his identify was Tyler and that he was a millionaire from Kansas. The person supplied Ms. Brehmer no less than $9 million to kill somebody in Alaska and take photos and video of the homicide, in line with the indictment.
However in actuality, “Tyler” was Darin Schilmiller, 25, of New Salisbury, Ind., and he was not a millionaire, in line with the indictment. Mr. Schilmiller was “catfishing” Ms. Brehmer, the indictment stated, referring to the act of deceiving somebody on-line by making up a pretend id.
Ms. Brehmer agreed to commit a homicide for Mr. Schilmiller, and she or he enlisted 4 mates to hold out the killing. The indictment recognized two of them as Caleb Leyland, 24, and Kayden McIntosh. Two minors who weren’t recognized within the indictment had been additionally concerned, prosecutors stated. The group chosen Ms. Hoffman because the goal, in line with the indictment.
On June 2, 2019, Ms. Brehmer, Mr. McIntosh and Ms. Hoffman went to Thunderbird Falls for what was imagined to be a hike, the indictment stated. Alongside the Eklutna River, Ms. Hoffman’s palms and toes had been certain with duct tape, and Mr. McIntosh shot her as soon as behind the pinnacle earlier than she was dumped within the river, in line with the charging paperwork.
Mr. McIntosh later confessed to taking pictures Ms. Hoffman, prosecutors stated.
Mr. McKay, the assistant district legal professional, stated on Monday that Ms. Brehmer had “conspired with numerous other individuals in and outside of Alaska, including juveniles, forever altering everybody’s life.”
“She may not have pulled the trigger,” Mr. McKay stated, “but this never would have happened it if it weren’t for Denali Brehmer.”
Prosecutors stated that Mr. Schilmiller had additionally solicited Ms. Brehmer to attempt to receive baby pornography, which led to federal costs towards her. She pleaded responsible final yr to conspiracy to supply baby pornography, and sentencing in that case is scheduled for March 4, in line with court docket paperwork. A lawyer for Ms. Brehmer didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Mr. Schilmiller, who pleaded responsible to at least one rely of first-degree homicide, was sentenced in January to 99 years in jail for his position, in line with the Division of Legislation. He additionally faces federal baby pornography costs.
Mr. Leyland, who pleaded responsible to first-degree homicide in November, is to be sentenced on June 10, the Division of Legislation stated.
Mr. McIntosh awaits trial on homicide costs, in line with the Division of Legislation.
Legal professionals for Mr. Schilmiller, Mr. Leyland and Mr. McIntosh didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Thursday.
