ANOTHER MURDER IN THE PARK SYSTEM
Cynthia Hoffman was reported missing by a family member on Monday. The family member said that the 19-year-old had been seen by a friend at Polar Bear Park, possibly on Sunday at 4 pm. She was in blue jeans, a hoodie, and tennis shoes.
That turned out to be partially true. Detectives now believe the family was given false information about Hoffman’s whereabouts and that she was killed — shot in the back of the head after being bound with duct tape.
Kayden McIntosh, age 16, faces multiple charges, including Murder 1.
The preliminary investigation found that the victim, her friend, who is an adult female, and a juvenile male went to Thunderbird Falls trail on Sunday.
The three walked down to the river bank where the Hoffman was bound with duct tape by the female and male. At some point, an altercation took place. McIntosh allegedly shot the Hoffman in the back of the head and pushed her into the river.
Then he and the woman took off, driving to Polar Bear Park with Hoffman’s belongings and sending text messages to the girl’s family members via her phone, stating they dropped her off at the park.
The family members used that information to file a missing person’s report the next day. McIntosh and the woman then drove to Lions Park in Mountain View and burned the victim’s belongings.
On Monday, officers contacted a family member of the adult female who provided information that the victim may have been shot and pushed into the water. She didn’t have a location or any other details.
She said the adult female told her this information and hasn’t seen her since. Meanwhile, other officers continued to investigate the Polar Bear Park circumstances with the victim’s family believing it was true.
Tuesday, detectives located the adult female and McIntosh and questioned them. That’s when detectives discovered the fake story. Officers went to Thunderbird Falls trail and discovered Hoffman’s body.
This story will be updated.
