Three Bodies Located: Questions Still Remain in Knox County, Ohio
Out of respect for the victims and their families, it was necessary to remove the side of the hollow tree to recover the bodies of the victims. The bodies recovered were stuffed inside garbage bags within the tree.
Tina Herrmann, her son Kody Maynard and family friend Stephanie Sprang have been missing since November 10. Family members were informed early in the day of the possibility that the bodies of their loved ones may have been found.
The location where the bodies were discovered is near Knox Lake, about 10 miles from the King Beach Road residence in the Apple Valley area of Knox County where the three victims were last seen along with Tina Herrmann's 13 year old daughter, Sarah Maynard. Sarah was rescued Sunday morning when she was found bound and gagged in the basement of the home owned by Matthew Hoffman, 49 Columbus Road, near Mount Vernon, Ohio.
During a media briefing, Knox County Sheriff David Barber stated that the discovery of the bodies was a result of information obtained from suspect Matthew Hoffman. The information was relayed to the families of the missing persons and then confirmed once the bodies were located.
When asked if Sarah Maynard was present in the King Beach Road home when the murders occurred, Barber said "Yes, she was."
Now that the case has turned to homicide instead of a missing persons case, the residents of Knox County still have many questions. Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher indicated that it may take four to six weeks to finalize the evidence for presentation to a Knox County grand jury for additional charges against Matthew Hoffman.
Prosecutor Thatcher said "This is probably the saddest day in Knox County history." Sheriff Barber added that in his 18 years as sheriff of Knox County he's never seen a case like this.
Although splintered by what now seems to be petty differences, the community came together in force to support the victims' families, law enforcement and to pray for a positive outcome to this ordeal. If there can be a bright spot to this whole tragedy, it is showing that a community can gather together regardless of differences.
Published by Debbie Henthorn - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Debbie has been blessed with an incurable wanderlust. Former jobs included extensive travel throughout the United States, making it possible for this self-proclaimed "food/beer/wine geek" to taste the countr... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentPetty differences? Unclear.
This is such a sad story. Prayers to the family.
such tragedy...I'll be adding their families to my list of prayers :)
Words can not say how I feel for the families of the victims.
Be strong, pray that justice will prevail, know that you are in our prayers and thoughts. I give you all the strength I have, all the peace that is within me. I know it is not enough but maybe it will help just a little.
Tears are shed for the lose of gentle spirits, for loss of what could have been. There is nothing else to say but we grieve with you. Nuff said.
This is such a shame. My prayers to the families. It used to be that living in a small town protected you from things like this tragedy.