A teen homicide suspect took 200 selfies whereas carrying the glasses of the 20-year-old Iowa girl with an mental incapacity he’s accused of torturing and strangling to demise, prosecutors alleged.
Dakota Van Patten, 19, is alleged to have helped his pal McKinley Louisma kidnap and kill Louisma’s ex-girlfriend Melody Hoffman, who was murdered round midnight on Feb. 18, 2024, in line with Marion County investigators, The Gazette reported.
Prosecutors revealed in courtroom Tuesday that Van Patten ghoulishly snapped over 200 selfies whereas carrying Hoffman’s clear-framed glasses between the hours of two:30 p.m. on Feb 18 and eight:30 p.m. on Feb. 19, 2024.
strangled to demise, in line with prosecutors. linnsheriff
The selfie-tranche discovered on Van Patten’s cellphone included pics of the suspect shirtless in mattress, carrying the sweatshirt he’s accused of donning the night time of the killing, and vaping — all whereas geared up with the eyewear of the girl he allegedly strangled to demise, prosecutors alleged in courtroom.
Additionally on Van Patten’s cellphone was a photograph of Hoffman’s four-digit iPhone passcode and snaps of him posing with a sensible BB gun on Feb. 17, the day earlier than the killing, authorities claimed.
Van Patten and Louisma are alleged to have certain Hoffman’s wrist and ankles, stabbed her a number of occasions, and strangled her — then ditching her by Lily Pond in Amana the place they additional mutilated her corpse, Linn County prosecutors charged.
trusting, who girl had an mental incapacity, was kidnapped and killed by
Van Patten and her ex-boyfriend McKinley Louisma. Stewart Baxter Memorial Providers
Van Patten is charged with first diploma homicide, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.
Louisma, 24, who has already been sentenced to life in jail for the killing, accessed a photograph on his cellphone at 4:05 a.m. on Feb 18 that confirmed Hoffman with duct tape over her mouth, crying, and bleeding from her nostril, The Gazette reported.
On Feb. 17, 2024, Lousima, Van Patten, and a 3rd alleged confederate Logan Kimpton, 19, coaxed Hoffman into sneaking out of her residence — after which duct taped her wrists and ankles and shoved her into the trunk of Louisma’s automobile, prosecutors charged.
All three males had been seen shopping for gloves and machetes from a Cedar Rapids Walmart shortly earlier than the demise — however Kimpton allegedly backed out earlier than the torturous homicide, authorities alleged, the KCRG reported.
Iowa legislation enforcement recovered recovered a trove of proof from Louisma’s automobile, together with a pocketknife with stains on it, machetes, a rope, a job of duct tape, pink HeyDude footwear, and a reduce up pink shirt that had duct tape caught to it, CBS Iowa reported.
DNA proof confirmed Van Patten is a match for samples lifted from the duct tape, a glove, and glasses, in line with that report.
Hoffman was overly trusting and had an “mental incapacity,” in line with Linn County Legal professional Nick Maybanks, who mentioned she was mentally nearer to a 14-year-old woman than a 20-year-old girl, the Gazette reported.
Affiliate State Medical Examiner Dr. Kelly Kruse additional revealed in courtroom on Tuesday that Hoffman examined optimistic for hormones that indicated she may have been pregnant, in line with Individuals.
