Overview of Casefile Archives 3: Tina Herrmann, Kody (Cody) Maynard & Stephanie Sprang
This episode retells the November 2010 abduction, murders and aftermath in Apple Valley, Knox County, Ohio, where intruder Matthew Hoffman broke into the home of Tina Herman (appears in records/transcript also spelled Herrmann), murdered Tina and family friend Stephanie Sprang, killed Tina’s 11-year-old son Cody Maynard, kidnapped 13-year-old Sarah Maynard, then hid the three victims’ remains in a hollow beech tree. Sarah survived and was rescued from Hoffman’s house; Hoffman was arrested, confessed in part, later pleaded guilty and received life without parole. The episode covers the crime scene, investigation, Hoffman's arrest and confession, community reaction, and Sarah’s recovery.
Key facts & timeline
- Victims: Tina (Herman/Herrmann), her children Sarah (13) and Cody (11) Maynard, and family friend Stephanie Sprang.
- Perpetrator: Matthew Hoffman, 30, of Mount Vernon, Ohio.
- Date of attack: Mid-afternoon Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (incident likely began earlier/later that day).
- Discovery: Missing persons report and a bloody, ransacked home on King Beach Drive; multiple bloodstains, drag marks, motor oil poured over blood, gloves and cleaning supplies found.
- Vehicle clues: Tina’s blue 2004 Ford pickup found abandoned at Kekosing Gap Trail parking lot; CCTV from Walmart later showed a man buying tarps and garbage bags in the early hours of Nov 11.
- Arrest: Hoffman stopped in a silver Toyota Yaris by a parking lot days later; subsequent searches of his home and car produced key evidence and led to his arrest.
- Rescue: Sarah was found tied and gagged in Hoffman’s basement and rescued on Sunday, Nov 14.
- Remains recovered: Bodies of Tina, Stephanie and Cody (and family dog Tanner) were recovered from garbage bags stacked inside a hollow beech tree on Nov 18 after Hoffman led police there as part of a deal.
- Legal outcome: Hoffman pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to life in prison without parole within two months.
Crime scene and physical evidence
- King Beach Drive home:
- Multiple large bloodstains, drag marks from living room to bathroom, and heavy blood concentration in the bathroom (smeared on bathtub, shower walls and toilet).
- Motor oil poured over bloodstains (possibly to conceal evidence or as an attempted accelerant).
- Garbage bags, Clorox and cleaning supplies present; gardening gloves (Suregrip) and other gloves found.
- Two distinct shoe-print patterns: one believed to be the perpetrator, one matching a child’s shoe (size ~7.5).
- Stephanie’s Jeep found in Tina’s garage.
- Walmart purchase:
- Tarpaulins, heavy-duty garbage bags and other supplies purchased ~12:09 a.m. Nov 11; paid in cash.
- CCTV captured a white male (camouflage shirt, glasses, ~6'1") getting into a silver Toyota Yaris with dented rear passenger side.
- Hoffman’s home/car:
- Camouflage shirt matching CCTV, digital camera with photos of Sarah at Hoffman’s house, duct tape, ropes, $1,000 cash, weighted blackjack, SOG serrated knife (ordered recently).
- Receipts for Suregrip gloves and duct tape bought shortly before/after the crime.
- Home in disarray with disturbing leaf-stuffing (hundreds of bags of dead leaves), strange wall drawings and a hoarding-like fixation on leaves.
- Hollow beech tree:
- Garbage bags with bloodstained towels, clothing, and human remains of Tina, Stephanie and Cody; remains had been dismembered consistent with the serrated knife.
Investigation & arrest
- Initial leads: Missing persons reports, blood in the house, abandoned pickup truck.
- CCTV from Walmart narrowed suspect; local vehicle records led to Matthew Hoffman (license photo, store surveillance match).
- Deputy encounter: Deputy found Hoffman in a Yaris near the parking lot where Tina’s truck was found; Hoffman gave his mother’s Apple Valley address (half-mile from victims).
- Search warrants executed at Hoffman’s home and his mother’s; no-knock entry; Hoffman arrested asleep on couch.
- Evidence seized from Hoffman’s property and car corroborated presence at the crime scenes and possession of tools used in the crime.
- Hoffman initially mostly silent, later negotiated to disclose burial location (in exchange for removal of death penalty), leading investigators to the hollow tree where remains were recovered.
Hoffman's confession vs. survivor’s account
- Hoffman’s stated sequence:
- Broke into the house intending to burglarize it; Tina returned and he attacked her with a blackjack then stabbed her.
- Stephanie surprised him and was stabbed to death; he claimed panic escalated, he killed the dog, dismembered Tina and Stephanie, then encountered returning children.
- He killed Cody, bound and kept Sarah alive, transported remains and later hid dismembered bodies in the tree; he admitted burning some items and carrying out post-crime cleanup attempts.
- Contradictions and doubts:
- Sarah’s first-hand account differs on several points — Hoffman’s claims of care (food, shower, movies) are false per Sarah, and Hoffman’s claim that Stephanie ran into Sarah’s bedroom as an escape is implausible given the house layout (would trap Stephanie).
- Investigators and some commentators suspect Sarah may have been a premeditated target (Hoffman had prior strange behavior around young girls).
- Hoffman's mental state, leaf obsession, and prior violent/criminal history suggest deeper pathology; he refused some psychiatric medication and made suicide-oriented statements during interrogation.
Victim & community impact
- Survivors and losses:
- Sarah Maynard survived but suffered severe trauma, PTSD, and long-term effects; she later became involved in advocacy and memorial work and spoke publicly about her experience (including appearing on a lifetime special).
- Families and community held vigils and created memorials (tree near Tina’s home, floating candle vigil on Apple Valley Lake).
- Memorials and community response:
- Public made tributes (toys, ribbons, notes) and voiced shock and grief; the case left lasting fear in the small community.
- Aftermath for Sarah:
- Struggled with school, social situations, and grief; adopted a dog (Elsa, a police dog from the case) and has worked with a charity (Healing Hearts Memorial Fund) in memory of her family.
Motive, profile & analysis
- Motive: Hoffman framed the murders as a burglary gone wrong, but inconsistencies and his prior behavior suggest possible targeted interest in Sarah or other psychological drivers.
- Profile notes:
- Criminal history includes arson in Colorado (condo fire) and theft; served prison time and was paroled to Ohio; documented domestic violence incident with ex-girlfriend.
- Eccentric and disturbing behaviors: killing/eating squirrels, leaf hoarding, strange wall art, isolation.
- Forensic psychologists and journalists point to possible mental health disorder or obsessive/compulsive/ camouflage-related behaviors, but official diagnosis is not confirmed publicly.
- Investigative strengths:
- CCTV/walmart receipt + vehicle registration provided the decisive lead.
- Thorough processing of crime scene, follow-up on minor details (Walmart bag in garage), and coordinated searches led to rescue and recovery.
Legal outcome
- Charges: Multiple counts including aggravated murder (3), gross abuse of a corpse (3), aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, kidnapping, sexual assault, etc.
- Plea & sentence: Hoffman pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole less than two months after the crimes.
- Victim impact: Family and friends delivered statements at sentencing; Sarah’s victim impact statement highlighted grief, fear and resilience.
Notable quotes & moments
- From Sarah’s victim impact statement (abridged sentiment): grief for her mother and brother, memories of Cody as a talented left-handed pitcher and Tina as a caring mother; closing: she is a survivor and aims to be strong for her child.
- Investigative turning point: CCTV footage of the Walmart purchase of tarps/garbage bags and the vehicle match to Hoffman.
Content warnings & support (as noted by the show)
- The episode contains graphic descriptions of violence, murder, sexual assault, child abduction, dismemberment and other disturbing material.
- If you feel distressed, contact local crisis support services or national hotlines (the show’s notes list specific numbers and resources).
Main takeaways
- A small-community burglary escalated into a brutal triple homicide and child abduction; timely investigative work and a critical CCTV lead resulted in the rescue of Sarah and recovery of remains.
- Forensic detail matters: small items (Walmart receipt, shopping bag, vehicle details) led investigators to the perpetrator.
- The survivor’s testimony and later public advocacy illustrate long-term consequences and resilience after severe trauma.
- The case underscores how offenders with prior criminal and disturbing behaviors can escalate to extreme violence, and the role of thorough police work in resolving complex, emotionally devastating crimes.
Further reading / media
- The case is the subject of the book The Girl in the Leaves by Robert Scott and has been discussed on true-crime programs and documentaries referenced in the episode.