Woman gets 99 years after teen was duct taped, shot in the head, and dumped in a river

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (TCD) -- A judge sentenced a 23-year-old woman to almost 100 years in prison for her role in the murder-for-hire plot of a teenager who was fatally shot and dumped in a river.

The Alaska Department of Law announced Monday, Feb. 12, that Denali Brehmer was ordered to spend 99 years behind bars with no time suspended for the murder-for-hire killing of 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman. Brehmer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in February 2023. As part of the deal, prosecutors dismissed charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and two counts of second-degree murder.

Judge Andrew Peterson called Hoffman's killing "senseless," and said Brehmer's actions were "cold, calculated, and carried out to a 'T.'"

Three other people were charged in connection with the case.

The Department of Law said one of Brehmer's co-conspirators, Darin Schilmiller, solicited Brehmer to kill Hoffman. He and Brehmer also "conspired to coerce a minor victim to produce sexually explicit images," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce child pornography in 2023.

Schilmiller reportedly "catfished" Brehmer and said he would pay her $9 million to kill Hoffman and send him videos of it. Brehmer then recruited Caleb Leyland and Kayden McIntosh to help carry out the murder. Schilmiller pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit first-degree murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison as well.

According to the criminal complaint, Hoffman was reported missing to Anchorage Police on June 3, 2019, after she failed to come home the night before. Detectives spoke with Brehmer, who said she smoked weed with McIntosh and Hoffman the night of June 2, 2019, then they went to the woods near Thunderbird Falls. The three of them reportedly "agreed to duct tape each other and take photographs."

McIntosh and Brehmer taped Hoffman's wrists, ankles, and mouth, but they eventually removed the tape from her mouth. Hoffman threatened to call police and say they kidnapped and sexually assaulted her. Brehmer was holding a gun, but McIntosh allegedly grabbed the gun and shot Hoffman in the back of the head. Then, they pushed her in the water.

Hoffman's body was found in the creek June 4, 2019.

The other co-conspirator, Leyland, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November 2023. The Anchorage Daily News reports Leyland let Brehmer and McIntosh drive his car to kill Hoffman in exchange for $500,000. He faces a maximum sentence of 75 years with 25 years suspended. McIntosh is awaiting trial.

Brehmer's sentencing hearing lasted three days. Anchorage Assistant District Attorney Patrick McKay Jr. said while arguing for the maximum sentence, "The Court should find that Miss Brehmer engaged in one of the most serious crimes that we have in Alaska. She executed Cynthia Hoffman in a murder-for-hire plot. She conspired with numerous other individuals in and outside of Alaska, including juveniles, forever altering everybody’s life."

McKay added, "She may not have pulled the trigger, but this never would have happened it if it weren’t for Denali Brehmer."

MORE:

• Denali Brehmer Sentenced to 99 years for Murder of Cynthia Hoffman at Thunderbird Falls - Alaska Department of Law
• Alaska woman pleads guilty to killing friend in catfishing scheme involving $9 million, 2/21/2023 - TCD
• Darin Schilmiller Sentenced to 99 years for Murder of Cynthia Hoffman at Thunderbird Falls, 1/11/2024 - Alaska Department of Law
• State of Alaska v. Kayden McIntosh
• Indiana Man, Anchorage Woman Plead Guilty to Child Pornography Charges, 7/19/2023 - U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska
• Caleb Leyland Pleads Guilty to Murder of Cynthia Hoffman at Thunderbird Falls, 11/22/2023 - Alaska Department of Law
• After 4 years, Thunderbird Falls murder case inches toward resolution, 11/28/2023 - Anchorage Daily News