Bodies of missing trio in Ohio abduction case found stuffed into garbage bags in hollow tree
The bodies of an Ohio woman, her young son and a family friend have been discovered by police, wrapped in garbage bags and stuffed in a hollow tree, authorities said today.
Knox County Sheriff David Barber said they were told where to find the victims by lawyers for Matthew Hoffman, who is in custody for kidnapping 13-year-old Sarah Maynard.
The victims included Sarah's mother Tina Herrmann, 32, her younger brother Kody Maynard, 10, and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41.
'The discovery of these bodies was the result of information provided by Matthew Hoffman,' Sherif Barber said.
'We were optimistic a few days ago that there was a remote chance these persons were still alive. This is is a homicide investigation now.'
Authorities said they had been contacted by Hoffman's lawyer, but would not characterise the information as a confession. The county prosecutor would not say whether officials had cut a deal to encourage him to talk.
Sheriff Barber said there were no other suspects involved and would not speculate on a motive.
The bodies were found near Apple Valley, Ohio, miles away from Hoffman's home where Sarah was found last weekend by a SWAT team. The girl was bound and gagged in Hoffman's basement in rural Mount Veon, Ohio.
Herrmann, Sarah, Kody and Sprang all disappeared from a house in Howard, Ohio, on Wednesday November 11.
Survivor and victim: Sarah Maynard, 13, was discovered bound and gagged in a Mount Veon basement. The body of mother Tina Herrmann was found today
Killed: The bodies of Kody Maynard, 10, and 41-year-old family friend Stephanie Sprang were found wrapped in garbage bags and stuffed into a hollow tree
Herrmann was reported missing by her boyfriend Greg Borders. When she did not show up for work at a Dairy Queen the following day, her co-workers went to her Howard home looking for her and soon after called the police.
They say there was blood spattered around the house.
Ms Sprang's car was found outside Herrmann's home. She was living with the family.
Herrmann's pickup truck was at the home on the Wednesday when the boyfriend reported her missing, Sheriff Barber said, but it was found abandoned then next night at nearby Kenyon College.
Sheriff Barber said Sarah, 13, was found on Sunday - four days after she had disappeared, bound and gagged in the basement of a home in Mount Veon.
Secluded home: The wooded property where Herrmann, 32, lived with her 13-year-old daughter Sarah Maynard and her 10-year-old son Kody Maynard
Hoffman was arrested shortly after the girl's discovery and there was some initial hope that the other three would be found alive.
Sheriff Barber said the surviving teenager had been helping police in their investigation, and was released from hospital and reunited with other family members.
Sheriff Barber said: 'Physically, she is fine. Obviously she has been through a lot.
'She's a very brave little girl. Not only is she assisting in the investigation, under the circumstance - a 13-year-old being held captive for days - I'd call her the epitome of bravery.'
Admission: Knox County Sheriff David Barber had admitted earlier in the investigation that hope had run out fir the missing trio
Police had searched the woods and fishing ponds of a former gravel quarry tued into a park near Hoffman's home in Mount Veon, Ohio. Boats and helicopters were brought in to aide the investigation. But nothing had been found.
Sheriff Barber said investigators were trying to determine the family's relationship to Hofmann, adding: 'At this time, whether he's connected to the family or whether he connected himself to the family... a lot of that remains to be seen as the investigation continues.'
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