Accused of thrill killing, Schilmiller, Brehmer now indicted for child porn

In addition to being accused of planning and executing a vicious, cold-blooded murder, there’s the child porn issue.

Federal investigators have now pinned those charges on Darin Schilmiller and Denali Brehmer.

U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that the two have been indicted on federal child pornography and child exploitation charges, arising from the investigation into the murder of Cynthia Hoffman, age 19.

According to Schroder, Darin Schilmiller sometimes went by the aliases of “Babe, or “Tyler.” He is 21 and lives in New Salisbury, Indiana, a small town in Harrison County. Schilmiller attended North Harrison High School and graduated in 2017.

In texts to Schilmiller, Denali Brehmer, 18, sometimes went by the name “Angel.”

Both are named in the federal indictment charging them with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor.

Their porn exchanges came to light after June 3, when Anchorage Police received a report that Cynthia Hoffman had not returned home the night before. The 19-year-old was missing. The next day, police found her body in a creek at Thunderbird Falls in Eagle River. She had been executed with one bullet hole to the back of her head.

A search of Brehmer’s telephone for evidence relating to Hoffman’s death revealed child pornography embedded in text messaged that occurred between Brehmer and Schilmiller from June 2 to June 4.

The text string included Brehmer and a contact listed as “Babe.” During an interview with Brehmer, police learned that “Babe” is also known as “Tyler.”

Detectives used phone records to link the number to Schilmiller in Indiana. The federal charging documents allege that, at Schilmiller’s direction, Brehmer produced videos depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a minor and sent them to Schilmiller.

[Read: Who is Darin Schilmiller and how is he connected to the murder of Cynthia Hoffman?]

If convicted, the two face a minimum of five years and up to life in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, “if any.”

Of course, the “if any” part is still to be prosecuted.

Police say the evidence shows that texts between Schilmiller and Brehmer contain messages that show Schilmiller asked for Hoffman’s murder and video evidence of that murder. It appears to have been a thrill killing, with Schilmiller accused of offering an extraordinary sum of $9 million for the murder — more than an average 21-year-old could likely manage to acquire legally.

[Read: Investigators: Indiana man offered $9 million for death of Cynthia Hoffman]

[Read: Alaska is ‘catfishing’ capital of America]

According to the court records, Brehmer recruited four of her friends: 19-year-old Caleb Leyland, 16-year-old Kayden McIntosh, and two juveniles. She promised them a huge chunk of cash for their part of the murder.

Brehmer’s “best friend” Cynthia Hoffman was to be the victim. As the five took Hoffman to Thunderbird Falls, duct taped her, McIntosh shot Hoffman in the back of the head, and dumped her in the river, while Brehmer was sending Schilmiller SnapChat photos and videos.

Court records say Schilmiller told investigators he and Brehmer also planned to murder someone else, and that he blackmailed Brehmer into raping people. Brehmer is also accused by authorities of rape and child sexual assault.

Last Friday, a grand jury indicted Schilmiller and five others in Hoffman’s murder. Schilmiller will be extradited to Alaska to face those charges.