Tempted by the false promise of $9 million from a person she met on-line, Denali Dakota Skye Brehmer lured her so-called greatest buddy into the Alaskan wilderness, the place the teenager was sure with duct tape and shot within the head as a part of a brutal homicide plot. .
What began with a weird on-line catfishing present ended with the loss of life of Cynthia “CeeCee” Hoffman, 19, a developmentally disabled youngster.
An Indiana man, Darin Schilmiller, then 21, posed as a millionaire Kansas referred to as “Tyler” on Snapchat. He shaped a relationship with Brehmer, who was 18 on the time, and supplied to ship her hundreds of thousands of {dollars} by way of PayPal for the “rape and homicide of somebody in Alaska”.
Brehmer agreed. He enlisted different pals within the plot after which, on June 2, 2019, they carried out CeeCee’s homicide close to Thunderbird Falls, a preferred path space simply north of Anchorage. His loss of life was captured in photographs and movies that had been despatched again to “Tyler” on Snapchat as proof.
In February 2023, Brehmer pleaded responsible to first-degree homicide. His pals had been additionally charged with the homicide: Kayden McIntosh, 16, who pulled the set off and Caleb Leyland, 19, who offered the car to hold out the plot.
Now, for the primary time, Brehmer speaks publicly in regards to the homicide within the third episode “Catfishing for Murder” from Court TV’s new limited series Interview with a murderer.
“I’ve already admitted my guilt, so now I’m able to take full duty for what I did,” Brehmer says within the interview at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center.
But when he’s confronted with what occurred that fateful day, his story begins to alter.
Brehmer acknowledges that the homicide was considerably premeditated, however then blames it on panic when a sure and gagged CeeCee began “freaking out” about going to the police, which led McIntosh to seize the pistol.
“I simply accepted,” Brehmer says calmly within the interview. “Because… drawback solved, proper?”
A catfish homicide
On June 2, 2019, CeeCee, who thought-about Brehmer his greatest buddy, was invited to Thunderbird Falls for what was presupposed to be a hike. Brehmer later mentioned within the interview that “a hike” meant they had been going to go get excessive.
Brehmer and McIntosh, who had been the final two folks to see CeeCee alive, had been hanging out together with her within the woods when “three of them agreed to tape one another up and take images,” McIntosh instructed investigators, in accordance with the felony criticism . . It’s unclear why they determined to do that.
But then CeeCee, whose wrists and ft had been sure with duct tape, which additionally coated her mouth, “started to panic,” in accordance with the criticism.
When they eliminated the tape from CeeCee’s mouth, she instructed them she was going to name the police and inform them they’d kidnapped and sexually assaulted her, in accordance with the criticism.
McIntosh then grabbed the 9mm pistol Brehmer was holding and shot CeeCee at the back of the pinnacle, he instructed police.
Brehmer instructed police on the time that he noticed CeeCee twitch earlier than McIntosh pushed her physique into the river, in accordance with the criticism.
But within the new interview with Court TV, Brehmer mentioned the capturing occurred all of the sudden as a result of they panicked when CeeCee threatened to name the police, although they did not have their telephone with them as a result of McIntosh had already taken it.
Brehmer and McIntosh then tried to cover CeeCee’s loss of life by burning her garments, purse and cellphone, together with the gun, in accordance with the criticism.
McIntosh then instructed Brehmer to textual content CeeCee’s sister and inform them they’d dropped her off at an area park. Brehmer instructed police she did as she was instructed as a result of she was afraid of McIntosh.
CeeCee’s sure physique was discovered within the river on June 4, a day after she went lacking.
The faux millionaire who allegedly inspired the homicide
Three weeks earlier than CeeCee was killed, Brehmer and “Tyler,” who had met on Snapchat, started speaking on the app about their plans to rape and kill somebody in Alaska.
The Anchorage Police Department later discovered that “Tyler” was truly Darin Schilmiller Indiana that he posed as a millionaire on-line with faux photographs as a part of a catfishing scheme during which he supplied to pay Brehmer “$9 million or extra to commit the homicide and ship him movies and/or images of the homicide “, in accordance with an announcement launched on the time.
Brehmer requested a few of his pals for assist and supplied them an undisclosed quantity of so-called reward cash for his or her function in planning the homicide, in accordance with police.
Police mentioned Schilmiller later admitted to concentrating on CeeCee after studying that she and Brehmer had argued over a boy.
“Initially, after we all had an concept about it, I agreed and mentioned sure as a result of I used to be mad at her and she or he was mad at me and I used to be simply on high of her bullshit,” Brehmer says within the interview in regards to the struggle that they’d for a boy named Zack. “I wished to make amends, I wished to make amends, however she wanted revenge for what she did with Zack.”
When requested within the documentary whether or not she deserved to be repaid together with her life, a defeated Brehmer sighs and says, “no,” including, “that is on me.”
Brehmer was ultimately arrested and, as soon as she realized she had been tricked or deceived by Schilmiller, in any other case often called “Tyler,” she instructed authorities she had been solicited by him.
According to the Alaska Department of Law, she was given the utmost sentence for her function within the homicide.
“She could not have pulled the set off, however this by no means would have occurred if it weren’t for (her),” Patrick McKay, an Anchorage deputy district legal professional, mentioned of Brehmer through the sentencing.
“He executed Cynthia Hoffman in a murder-for-hire plot. He conspired with quite a few different folks in and out of doors of Alaska, together with minors, altering everybody’s lives ceaselessly.
Schilmiller, who handed himself off as “Tyler” on-line, was additionally sentenced to 99 years in jail for his function within the killing.
He admitted to federal brokers and Indiana State Police that he selected CeeCee because the sufferer after listening to in regards to the struggle and instructed Brehmer to kill her, courtroom paperwork say.
He mentioned Brehmer communicated with him through the killing and despatched Snapchat photographs and movies of CeeCee whereas she was tied up and after she was killed.
Prosecutors mentioned Schilmiller had additionally solicited Brehmer to attempt to receive youngster pornography, which led to federal expenses in opposition to Brehmer.
Leyland pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide in November 2023 and was sentenced to 30 years in jail in August 2024.
McIntosh, who was 16 on the time, was charged with homicide for capturing CeeCee within the head. His sentencing is scheduled for November 14.
Another tragic loss of life
Every 12 months on the anniversary of CeeCee’s loss of life, her father organized a motorbike journey to have fun.
Timothy Hoffman, 58, was one of many attendees at this 12 months’s June 2 occasion when family and friends gathered to recollect CeeCee. However, he misplaced management of his motorcycle and was killed within the crash.
That journey was the primary time his spouse, CeeCee’s mom, Barbara “Jeanie” Hoffman, went with him to the memorial occasion.
She survived the crash however underwent a number of surgical procedures after struggling a fractured cranium, damaged again and damaged bones, a member of the family instructed the company. Anchorage Daily News.
The Hoffman household has seen its share of tragedies, however Hoffman’s brother, Donald Hoffman Jr, has vowed to proceed in search of justice for CeeCee.
In an interview with Court TV, he says Brehmer does not should get out of jail.
“No matter how a lot you information your kids, there are numerous disagreeable folks on the planet. Let’s see the ultimate end result. My granddaughter is now not right here. She died, hit at the back of the pinnacle,” he mentioned. “And for what? She was taken there, she went willingly, pondering it was all a sport. It’s similar to the wolf main the lamb to the slaughter.”
“I feel he has no conscience,” he added of Brehmer. “She’s evil. He killed my niece with out batting a watch. And if she might get away with it, she would.
Interview with a Killer airs Sunday nights at 8pm ET on Court TV.
