True Crime with Kimbyr - Part 1: Catfished to Kill: The Chilling Betrayal That Ended Cynthia Hoffman’s Life

Episode Date: November 3, 2025

What happens when friendship turns fatal? In this episode of True Crime with Kimbyr, Kimbyrleigha unravels the heart breaking story of Cynthia Hoffman — a young woman deceived and lured to her death through a cruel catfishing scheme. Betrayed by someone she trusted most, Cynthia’s murder exposes the dark power of manipulation and online deceit. With meticulous research and compassion, Kimbyrleigha explores how a fake online persona led to real-life horror, questioning just how far people will go for acceptance, attention, and control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The internet is a dangerous place, but maybe not in the way that you think. It's not just the hackers or the viruses or the shady pop-ups that we get while scrolling, even though we know those can lead to our privacy and even our bank accounts being compromised. But the real danger? The people. Because if you think about it, behind all of those scams are people who pretend to be someone they're not. People who slide into your DMs with sweet words and promises. But behind the screen, they're spinning a web of lies. The scariest part is that people fall for this every single day.

We've seen it happen. Recently, there was a story going viral about a widow who thought she was dating Brad Pitt. And I'm being serious, the real Brad Pitt, the actor, had fallen in love with her online, and she sent him thousands of dollars, convinced that they would be together forever, only to realize too late, that Brad was just another scammer. Own it all. Pay off your home, travel for life, drive a Ferrari. In celebration of the world premiere of the Monopoly, big board buck slot machine by aristocrat gaming,

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Please gamble responsibly. Monopoly is a trademark of Hasbro. Hasbro is not a sponsor of this promotion. laughing at her in all of her desperation. It's cruel. And I think a lot of times we think, oh, I'll never fall for that. And I get it. I don't think I would either.

But there are other schemes that aren't as obvious. There was a guy who thought he landed his dream job. A recruiter from a huge company messaged him offering a six-figure salary. They even sent him a signing bonus. And they let him order a company laptop. But the day before he was supposed to start, the emails just stopped. This new company, it didn't exist.

And that signing bonus, it was actually a scam that drained his entire bank account. If that's not bad enough, there are cases that don't just ruin lives, but they end them. Sadly, I recently talked about one of those cases, the case of Sidney Loof, who matched with a woman on Tinder, they planned a date, they hung out, they hit it off, and everything seemed normal until their second date. This time, Sydney never came home because her date wasn't who she claimed to be. The woman was actually working for a killer, and Sydney was never meant to survive. She was targeted and trapped for the mere desire of wanting to find love, and that is heartbreaking. We like to believe that we wouldn't fall for these tricks. We like to think we're too smart to be deceived.

But the truth is, anyone can be fooled. And that's what makes today's case even more terrifying. Because the victim never knew that someone she never even met and never would meet was sitting behind a screen hundreds of miles away and had already decided that she was going to die. And all it took was a few messages. This is a story of how an online stranger convinced someone to do the unthinkable. It's a case of catfishing to the extreme, a scam so twisted it actually turned into a murder. And trust me, by the time you hear this full story, you're going to start to question every single

person they've ever talked to online. Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel. I'm Kimberlea, and if you've never been here before, it's nice to finally meet you. I think you can tell by now this case is going to revolve around the dangers of the internet. I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but I've had my personal data stolen,

you probably have two, and you know what? I didn't even know it until about nine months later. You'll finally just get an alert, and according to IBM, companies take an average of 277 days, to report a breach. That means that criminals have 277 days ahead of you before you even know what hit you.

And by the time that breach notification lands in your inbox, your identity could already be on sale on the dark web. Hackers, fraudsters, and identity thieves, they have free rein over your sensitive data. We all share our personal information. It's unavoidable. But with the data breaches happening every single week, our private details are constantly at risk.

and what do companies offer when they finally come clean? Free credit monitoring. And weeks ago, I personally received an email just like that, that my information was taken, and they extended me that same offer. That's like installing security cameras after someone already broke into your house and stole everything and changed locks.

What would you be willing to do for $9 million? I mean, you'd at least think about it, right? Because that's a lot of money. If someone just came up to you right now and offered you $9 million, no strings attached, what would you do? Would you take it? Would you even believe them that someone could just give away millions of dollars? Now tell me, how much is a human life worth?

Would you be willing to take a life for $9 million? Imagine you're 18 years old, you're broke, you've had a very traumatic childhood and you're desperate for attention, approval, and love. love and then you meet this rich guy and he seems obsessed with you. He slides into your DMs. He promises you millions if you just do one thing, just one thing. You have to take someone's life. I remember there was a movie like this back in the day.

There was like this box and you could open it and something great would be inside waiting for you, kind of like Pandora's box, but the other side of Pandora's box, like the good things. But the thing is, when you did it, it would kill it. a random person. Well, this is not a movie. It's not a made-up horror story that I'm telling you today. I wish it was because this really happened. And I'm going to warn you, the details of this case are disturbing, but they also expose something terrifying about the internet. And once you hear what happened, I promise you, and I said this before, you're never going to look at online strangers

the same way ever again. Let me introduce you to Cynthia Hoffman first. She was never the kind of girl who saw the bad in anyone. If someone smiled at her, she smiled back. If someone needed help, she offered it. And if someone told her they were her friend, she believed them. She'd always been this way. She was kind, trusting, and eager to fit in. Born on October 8th of 1999 in Anchorage, Alaska, Cynthia, known as Cece, to those close to her, grew up as the middle child in a big, loud, loving family with her mother, Barbara Jean and her father, Timothy Hoffman. She had three sisters, Samantha, Kimberly, and Rhea, and three brothers, Timothy Jr., Alex, and Jared. But the person she loved the most in the world was her father. To Cynthia, her dad was everything. While other kids spent their

weekends scrolling through their phones or hanging out at the mall, Cynthia was helping her dad fix things. Their bond was built in wood and metal, screws and sawdusts because Timothy was a handyman, and Cynthia was his right-hand girl. If he was repairing a fence, she was holding the tools. If he was fixing a broken cabinet, she was right there beside him eager to help. She could outwork any of us, he would say. She was always there working and learning and just happy to be with me. There wasn't a single person of the world. Cynthia trusted more. And Cynthia's loving upbringing instilled in her values of compassion and empathy. She was a loyal friend and was always there to support those who needed her. Tim had always been very protective of his daughter. A lot of dads are. But Cynthia,

especially, because Cynthia was developmentally delayed. It made her see the world with childlike innocence, and Tim knew that not everyone had good intentions. People take advantage of girls like my daughter, he would say. They see someone who trusts too easily, and they use that. But Cynthia didn't believe this. She believed in people. Her trust in others had often made her a bit vulnerable, but it also highlighted how genuine she was. The Hoffman family made their home in Anchorage, Alaska, a city where urban life meets the wild, untamed beauty of the last frontier.

It's known for its charming coffee shops, diverse restaurants, and tight-knit communities. Anchorage offers a unique balance of comfort and adventure. But just beyond the city's bustling streets, a different world unfolds, one of towering mountains, dense forests, and vast wilderness, stretching as far as the eye can see. Summers and Anchorage are a time of near endless daylight, where families like the Hoffmans took full advantage of the sun-drenched days, hiking rugged trails, fishing in crystal-clear waters, and savoring the warmth before winter returned. But when the seasons would shift, so does the landscape.

Winters in Alaska are long, dark, and unforgiving, with temperatures that can plummet to deadly lows. The wilderness, as beautiful as it is, demands respect. Because in Alaska, nature doesn't just surround you, it really dominates you. And for Cynthia's family, this was home. They loved it. They embraced the contrast of the seasons. They love both outdoor activities and the quiet everyday

moments that made up their lives. And as a teenager, Cynthia loved being outdoors. She loved being active, but she was also dedicated to her education. She was exploring different paths for her future. She attended Robert Service High School, and then she expanded her skill set by taking even more courses at King Tech High School. And then after she graduated, she took a transitional program where you learn hands-on skills to prepare young adults for the workplace. And it was there that she developed a keen interest in welding, which would be great because she was gaining practical skills, that could help in her future with her dad's business. She was determined to also build a life of independence.

Cynthia quickly secured a job at a local restaurant, and she really was proud of herself. She enjoyed the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to learn new skills and meet people. But as independent as she was trying to be, Cynthia's dad was still her rock. He ensured that she felt safe and supported and valued in every aspect of her life.

And given her developmental delay, his protective instincts were even stronger. He wanted to shield her from the harsher realities of the world, while still encouraging her to embrace her potential. And Cynthia in turn leaned heavily on her father as a mentor and a confidant. She would text him multiple times an hour just to check in, sharing her thoughts and her feelings and her daily experiences. She knew that he would always be there to listen. More than anything, she wanted him to be proud of her, and her determination to succeed was evident in everything she did. She was looking forward to another big milestone, getting her driver's permit. To her, it was more than just a piece of plastic. It was

another step towards independence. It was a sign that she was growing into the person she wanted to become. But as much as Cynthia cherished her relationship with her father, she really longed for something more. She wanted to build connections outside of her family and find friendships with people her own age, which is totally understandable. People who truly understood her, like everyone else, she craved acceptance, companionship, and a sense of belonging. She just wanted to find someone who saw her for who she was and embraced her wholeheartedly. And it seemed this teenage dream of finding a BFF had finally come true. It started like any other normal high school friendship. Two teenage girls meeting up at the mall. It seemed like fate when Cynthia met Denali Bremer.

The two clicked instantly. They bonded over shared experiences, inside jokes, and the simple joy of having someone who just got them. Both girls were attending Robert Service High School. And for Cynthia, this friendship wasn't just to have someone to talk to. It was a lifeline. It gave her confidence, a sense of belonging, and happiness that comes from knowing that you are not alone. Donali, whose birth name was Alexandria Baker, had a complicated story of her own. She was actually adopted as a child, and she was essentially born into violence. Her life was forever shaped by a tragedy that occurred when she was just two years old. According to Denali, her biological mother, Nicole house had twin little girls, a girl named Cori Ann and Gabrielle. While they were newborn babies,

her mother's boyfriend at the time was just really frustrated that they were crying. And he made this unthinkable decision that resulted in the death of one of those babies. He bashed them together and threw Gabrielle on the ground. Cori Ann barely survived and sadly Gabrielle did not make it through this horrific event. It shaped in Ellie's life in ways that she would never talk about. After growing up with foster parents, she knew what it was like to be different, to feel like an outsider, like you didn't belong. So these two girls really understood one another. Social media posts painted a picture of two inseparable best friends, laughing together, celebrating milestones and capturing moments that made their bond look effortless. Cynthia's Facebook page was filled with snapshots of them side by side, their arms wrapped around each other at school events, including a dance where they smiled for the camera, and a caption read, My BFF.

But we know all too well. What we see online isn't the whole truth. Like many friends, they had their arguments, which were simple teenage disagreements, mostly about boys. Both Donali and Cynthia craved love and attention, and they often competed for it, especially with the boys in their social circle and the crushes. A lot of times they would have crushes on the same boys. This was still typical high school drama. They'd work it out, and soon they would be laughing and smiling together again. And I hope I'm not about to confuse you. But in case you see the name Angel, Denali went by that nickname online. So most of her posts and accounts had that name on it. It seemed like she liked to take on other identities, like she was kind of shedding her past by going by any name that wasn't

her birth name or any given names. She was given the name Denali Dakota Sky Bremer after she was adopted. But she preferred to be called Angel at this phase in her life. And that's how Cynthia's dad, Tim knew her, but I will continue calling her Denali. She was a regular visitor at the Hoffman residence, often spending a lot of time with Cynthia, whether it was watching movies or working on an art project. Tim appreciated this friendship, and he knew how important it was to Cynthia. She considered Denali her best friend. She was one of the cool kids.

She was loud, confident, always had something funny to say. And Didali may have been Cynthia's best friend, but I'm going to be real with you. Denali didn't always treat Cynthia like she was her best friend. She talked over her. She made fun of the way that she spoke. And sometimes she would even tease her. I'm kind of doing air quotes here. Tease her for being slow.

Those were her words. And then laugh it off like it was just a joke. But it never stopped. Even when she knew that this wasn't nice. But Cynthia, it seemed like she never noticed. Or maybe she just didn't want to because she didn't want to lose her friend. That risk was just too much for. her. Plus, every time Denali made her feel bad, she would flip a switch and say something nice to

Cynthia, like it would cancel it out. Maybe she would compliment her hair or tell her she was beautiful and made Cynthia feel special again. Are you seeing any red flags? Because I was when I was reading this. Cynthia, she was sweet, she was trusting, and she would cling to those moments because she just wanted to be accepted. And Denali knew that. And that vulnerability can be very dangerous. Just like, like Timothy had always thought, Dinelli knew exactly how to control people and get her way. She learned a lot of defenses and coping mechanisms, and this is the kind of person that Timothy was scared for his daughter to be friends with and to be close to because she might fall victim of some kind of trap or some kind of lie or just overall mistreatment.

That was his biggest fear, that someone would take advantage of his daughter. Sometimes people like Dinali who have these learned defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms, they can sometimes use it for good, but with Donali, they were self-serving. Cynthia functioned at a seventh grade level despite being 19 in 2019. Looking back, there were many warning signs that Danali did not have Cynthia's best interest in mind. She was hot and cold. She made Cynthia chase after her approval time and time again, and it went something like

this. One day, she would say, Cynthia, you're my best friend. I love you. And then the next, she would ignore her text messages. pretend she wasn't there, and then suddenly, oh, I don't know what I would do without you. It was a game. And Cynthia didn't even realize that she was playing along.

Denali held all the power. She decided when Cynthia felt included and when she felt like an outsider. And Cynthia just kept trying harder and harder to be liked. She would do anything to keep Danali happy. And it seemed like Danali wondered just how far she would go. And then something changed. Denali started acting different.

She was always on her phone, she was always giggling at something, but never telling Cynthia what it was. She started talking about a boy. But not just any boy, the perfect guy. He was rich, she told Cynthia, like crazy rich. And then she showed Cynthia his profile picture, handsome guy, maybe in his 20s, standing in front of a fancy car. He's obsessed with me, Denali would say.

He says he's in love with me. And Cynthia never questioned it. Because why would she? If Danali said it was true, then it was true. But remember, they would get into little arguments about guys, and as Danali would spend more time talking to her dream boy, Cynthia would feel left out, but she still considered Denali her best friend. Cynthia still thought they were going to graduate together, get jobs, and be lifelong friends.

But it's heartbreaking that that would only be true for one of them. So let's jump to June 2nd of 2019. It should have been an ordinary summer day. It should have been. Tim was expecting his daughter Cynthia to stop by that evening because it became a normal part of their routine. She would come over to pick up her share of the money from a recent job they had worked on together. They'd chat about their next project, but Cynthia never showed up. And at first, Tim brushed it off.

Maybe she lost track of time. Maybe she was out with friends. But when the minutes stretched into hours, he tried calling her over and over. and he got no answer. That wasn't like Cynthia. She always picked up when you called no matter where she was or what she was doing. It was an unspoken family rule. Answer the phone. No matter what, whether they were at church, school, or in the middle of something, every Hoffman family member had a cell phone. And they knew to pick it up when Tim called. They never ignored him. They always made sure to respond. But with every text, the where are you, the call me, are you okay? Tim got no response. Still, he tried to

assure himself. She's 19. She's an adult trying to establish her independence. She's going to call back soon. But as the night wore on and the silence grew heavier, the fatherly instinct, the one that guided him through every stage of Cynthia's life, it really began to nod him. He felt like something just wasn't right. But he decided to get some rest, hoping that by the next morning his phone would be buzzing, it would light up with messages from her. But deep down, he just had this really unsettling feeling, and he just really couldn't shake it. And when the next day came, June 3rd, and Cynthia still hadn't returned any of his calls or his texts, his worry only got more intense.

It was unlike her not to reach out, and Tim began to fear for her safety. Then he called Donali, who he still knew as Angel, because if anyone knew where Cynthia was, it would be her best friend. Denali picked up right away, and she was helpful when Tim asked if she knew what Cynthia had done the day before. She was like, oh yeah, we hung out. And then Tim felt relieved for a moment until Denali said something else. She told me to drop her off at the polar bear playground. He was like, the polar bear playground? Sure, this was a familiar place somewhere Cynthia enjoyed as a child, and she did sometimes go to that park with friends. But why would Cynthia leave Denali and get dropped off there

alone? Now that did not sound like his daughter. Who was she with? Because she hated being alone. so she had to be there with someone, had to be meeting someone. Because knowing his daughter, he knew, she would never go anywhere alone because she was so afraid of getting lost. His gut was screaming at him now that something was wrong. He hung up with an alley and he started calling everyone you could think of and no one had seen her. He wasn't going to sit around though.

He was going to find his daughter, so he jumped on his motorcycle and he started looking. He went to Russian Jack Springs Park where the polar bear playground was located. It spanned 300 acres. And one of its features was this polar bear playground. This was an area where children could climb and slide on a massive polar bear-shaped structure, hence the name. Tim searched the trails. He called out his daughter's name over and over again, and there was nothing. And during the search, Timothy stayed in contact with Denali, who expressed her concern for Cynthia in her messages.

She wrote, I hope she comes home safely. She's my best friend. And while Tim appreciated everyone's concern, that alone wouldn't bring his daughter back. So he went to Anchorage Police Department and he filed a missing person's report. He couldn't believe that his daughter was just gone, just nothing, just vanished out of nowhere. And you also have to realize that this was his father's biggest fear. We all fear for our children, but because of Cynthia's special characteristics, it intensified this fear, which is now a reality for him.

And this poor man, he was frantic. He organized search parties. he was rallying family and friends around and anyone willing to help and the desperate effort to find Cynthia. He refused to just sit back and wait for answers. He took to the streets on his motorcycle again, covering as much ground as possible. He scoured the winding roads. He checked the hidden corners of the city. He combed through the dense woods and trails calling out her name, hoping for any sign or any clue that will lead him to Cynthia. He was prepared to search until he could bring her home. That same day, the Anchorage Police knocked on the door

of Nicole House. Now this was Denali's biological mom's house. Apparently ever since Denali became an adult, she got in contact with her biological mom, and they had just recently reconnected about six months earlier. Nicole actually called the police over to her house, telling them, she thought she might have some information pertaining to Cynthia's disappearance. And since Denali seemed to be the last person who saw or spoke to Cynthia, this piqued the officer's interest. And what Nicole told them changed everything in this investigation. She proceeded to tell the police that her daughter had come over to her house the day before with a boy that she thought might be named Anthony, but she wasn't sure. But it was what Donnelly said to her mom that was more than just

strange. A joke, she thought. One that wouldn't be like ha ha funny, so I've no clue why she would consider this a joke. Maybe because it was that crazy. But Denali showed up hysterically crying. So hard, her mom couldn't even make out what she was saying, but once she calmed down, Dianelli said that this boy that she was with, this Anthony person, shot Cynthia, and then pushed her body into the river. Now, Nicole didn't believe any of this. She thought it was just teenagers being facetious, like blowing things out of proportion because they were mad at each other, but I don't know about you. I don't joke about shooting someone or killing my best friend, even if we're in a fight. But Nicole said she just chalked it up to teenagers being stupid.

and saying messed up things. I mean, the guy was even laughing. But when she woke up the next morning and she saw the news that Cynthia was officially missing, Nicole realized, maybe this wasn't a joke. So she had to tell the police. Nicole also agreed to assist them in any way that she could.

And as for Janali, it starts to become crystal clear that her text to Tim that said, I hope she comes home safely. She's my best friend. That was a lie. because there was no hope. And Denali already knew where Cynthia was. She knew what had happened to her when she sent that message.

It was a lie that was so cold and calculated, it would actually haunt Cynthia's family forever when the truth was exposed. Because Cynthia was never coming home. And Denali knew that. On June 4th, homicide detectives brought 18-year-old Denali Bremer into the police department for formal questioning. The detective started by reading Denali her Miranda rights,

of rights, ensuring that this woman, because she's a woman, she's 18, but she's an adult, understood her rights before they began questioning her. And I know that 18 seems awfully young and immature to find herself in this position. That will become even more apparent when you hear what she said. They asked her what happened. And just like that, without any hesitation, she confessed. It all started with a simple text on the morning of June 2nd from Denali to her supposed best friend. She texted an unsuspecting Cynthia, hey, do you want to go on a hike? However, in their friend's circle, hike was actually a code word for getting high. Cynthia agreed.

But when Danali picked her up, she wasn't alone in the car. She brought along her friend, Caden McIntosh, who was 16. She had just shared some pot with him in the valley, another one of their local hangouts. He sat in the back while Cynthia sat in the front and Denali was driving. The atmosphere was relaxed at first as they drove through the scenic landscape of Alaska. and as they traveled, they decided to stop at a parking lot near Thunderbird Falls. This is a stunning 200-foot waterfall surrounded by a picturesque birch tree forest. It seemed like the perfect backdrop for some fun and, of course, to smoke together.

Initially, the mood was light, filled with laughter and fun, just the three friends hanging out together. However, Dinelli explained that things took a dark turn, kind of chalking it up to being high and stupid, that their conversation shifted to it being such an isolated location that they could imagine being kidnapped. And with that thought, they were like, you know what would be funny? Again, more jokes that are not actually amusing to the normal person, but if they pretended to be tied up and duckedaped each other and took photos so they could later use them to prank people.

Now, already the story seems kind of far-fetched. But okay, let's think about it. Teenagers, they're high. They might also have dark. humor. Investigators are still listening, trying to make sense of it all. Dinelli said that Cynthia went along with the plan. They tied her up first. Dinelli and Kaden. They tied Cynthia's ankles together, and then all of a sudden she started freaking out. She got upset and she told them to untie her and she was crying and threatening to call the police to report that they were

actually trying to kidnap her. When I first started listening to this, I thought to myself, how would it switch so fast? If something else wasn't actually happening in this situation, and why would she go along with this to begin with? Why would this girl all of a sudden be screaming at the top of her lungs, turning this into chaos and drawing attention to them and threatening them? It just sounded unrealistic. However, a part of me did think that Cynthia would of course follow along. She wanted her best friend's approval.

She was looking to make her friend happy all the time, so I can imagine her not wanting to say no. That part I kind of believed in the beginning, though. But let's continue. Denali then explained that things were getting scary. She felt like Cynthia was truly blowing things out of proportion and now threatening to get them arrested. Plus, Denali had substances on her and in her car, which would get her into even more trouble. And that's when she said she pulled out her gun, a Caltech 9mm pistol that she had in her hip holster.

Now, if you're thinking, why? Does this 18-year-old girl carry around a pistol? Well, it is questionable. We'll get to that in just a moment. Danali said before she knew what was happening, Kaden, in the heat of the moment, he was feeling scared and threatened. He grabbed her gun, and he just shot Cynthia in the head.

A 16-year-old. Just did that. Just like that. Cynthia then fell to the ground, and Danali said she watched in horror as her friend panicked, and she was trying to reach for her phone, and that is when Kaden grabbed the phone as Cynthia was lying there twitching on the ground

in dire need of medical attention. But instead, Kaden made a devastating decision. He kicked her into the river. She was still tied up, bound, and shot, but still alive at this point. And you're probably thinking, why didn't Zinnelli call the police? She had a phone. Instead, she expects these investigators to not only believe that story,

but that she just walked back to the parking lot with Kaden, got into the car, and drove away. And then later texted Cynthia's dad, like everything was fine. For what reason? It sounded completely fabricated. I mean, this could not be the whole story. She even lied about dropping Cynthia off at Polar Bear Playground. And that was to essentially cover her tracks and divert suspicion away from her and Caden. And not only that, they tried to cover everything up by going to another location, Lions Park, in Mountain View, and they burned Cynthia's cell phone, her purse, her clothing, her identification, and the gun that they used

in the shooting because they really thought that destroying these items would help them from not being able to get caught. I know there are probably a lot of questions swirling in your mind. My first question was you call this girl your friend, but you can sit there and watch this happened. And if you're thinking the same thing, it's probably because you don't know the backstory yet. I didn't either. And when I found all of this out, it's exactly why I wanted to do this story. I wish I could say that police figured it out right away. But they didn't. First, they called Kaden in. Because of course, they wanted to hear his version of events. And everything sounded exactly the same, that it was a joke at first, it went too far.

But according to him, he blacked out. Now, that's very convenient. He's 16 years old, just want to remind you. But he's sitting there, insisting that he doesn't even recall the moment he shot Cynthia. But he, like Denali said, he remembered her twitching on the ground before he kicked her body, into the river. His main concern was that Angel, which is how he referred to Denali, wasn't going to get in trouble for any of this. It seemed like this poor boy had been so manipulated by Denali. He was obsessed with her. He wanted her approval. He did have a romantic interest in her that was becoming very clear in this interview, and he was in a very vulnerable position age-wise. Not that that's an excuse, but it seemed to lean towards Denali having way more to do with this. Now this

missing person's investigation turned into a recovery mission because they needed to find Cynthia's body. As the search was on, the police went to Timothy Hoffman's door to give him the heartbreaking news that they believed his daughter was dead, and the prime suspect was her best friend. No parent could have expected something so terrible to happen, but Tim always worried about Cynthia, and this was his worst nightmare coming true. Earlier that day, before a connection had been made, the body of a young female was washed ashore in the area where Denali and Caden had claimed Cynthia went into the water. The victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was bound with gray duct tape. Timothy had to identify Cynthia's remains.

I can't imagine as a parent, not only knowing that your worst nightmare has now come true, but having to be the one to go to the morgue and say, yes, that is my daughter. But it was later confirmed by the medical examiner that the body belonged to 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman. Timothy had spent days searching for his daughter, and now he was bringing her home in a box. And following this discovery, Denali Bremer, 18 years old, and Caden McIntosh, who was 16, faced charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. But if you think this case is over, you would be wrong, because there is so much more to this. Right away, Cynthia's dad did not think the story that

Danelli and Caden were telling was the truth. He was overwhelmed with grief, and he could hardly even get through his day. He relied on his emotional support Chihuahua named Bruiser for comfort and companionship, which is at the same time sweet, but also really heartbreaking that this father had to go through all of this. But he didn't believe that this was some kind of spur of the moment decision made by two friends, and he wanted Caden to be held without bail and was really upset when the judge decided to set bail at $100,000 instead. I could see how frustrating that would be. Then in one of her court appearances, Dinalli expressed remorse for her actions. acknowledging that she understood what she did was wrong.

She said, I know that I probably could have done something different. You think? I mean, yeah, you could have, you know, not agreed, not brought a gun, called 911 about your friend being shot. She even expressed her concern for her daughter. Now, her daughter. She had to put her daughter up for adoption. We'll get into more of this later.

But Denali worried about how her daughter would view her as she got older and began to know the details of the case. And I think she was trying to get sympathy by saying, all that, like, oh, I'm worried, you know, I have a daughter. I'm not really sure. But during the hearing, Denali stated that she could not afford an attorney, and she requested a public defender. The judge said her bond at $100,000 just like Hayden's. And then a few days later on June 9th, someone else was arrested, a 19-year-old named Caleb Leland, and he faced charges of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. There were also two juveniles that were arrested

in connection to this crime, but their identities were sealed due to their age. and their cases were held by the Division of Juvenile Justice, so I will not be going into all that. I only wanted to add that to say they also disclosed information that implicated Denali. But when 19-year-old Caleb gets into court, he looks like he's completely confused about what's going on. The judge also set his bail at $100,000,

and it was a confusing time for Cynthia's family to say the least because they were in the dark about what really happened. They're seeing all these arrests, they're seeing all these people have bail set, and get out, but they're not aware of what happened to their own loved one. To backtrack, right after Denali's story was told, the investigators did a full forensic search on her electronics, and that is when they uncovered a lot of information, social media posts, videos, things that she thought she had deleted. And it was painting a much deeper and darker

motive than anyone imagined, and I'm not even trying to be dramatic. So let's start with the more public-facing videos. People online, the cyber sleuths, they were recording screenshots and they were sending them to police as evidence because right after all of this started to unfold, Dunalli's already on Snapchat, where I guess she might have felt like she was safe. Recall how Snapchat's are deleted after a certain time. She went on there and she shared her emotions, the way that she felt about what was going on in her life, and how sad she was that everything was happening to her.