US Woman Admits Killing Best Friend for $9M; Reveals Her Motive

Photo : AP

In a tragic and bizarre case, Denali Brehmer, a young woman from Alaska, was sentenced to 99 years in prison after she admitted to killing her 19-year-old friend Cynthia Hoffman in 2019. The shocking crime unfolded after Brehmer, then 18, was reportedly manipulated online by Darin Schilmiller, a 21-year-old man from Indiana who posed as a wealthy individual offering her $9 million to commit a murder. 

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Authorities say that Schilmiller, who was living in his grandparents' basement in Indiana, connected with Brehmer online, using a fake identity to lure her into a friendship and then convinced her to kill Hoffman. He not only catfished Brehmer but also “solicited the murder of Hoffman from Brehmer in Anchorage,” investigators revealed. Under the belief that she would receive the promised money, Brehmer allegedly agreed to his request and began orchestrating a plan to kill her friend.

According to reports, Brehmer even enlisted two friends, Kayden McIntosh and Caleb Leyland, to assist with the plot. Together, they took Hoffman on a hiking trip in June 2019 to a scenic area known as Thunderbird Falls. There, under the pretense of a friendly outing, the group turned on Hoffman. The crime was captured in disturbing photos and videos, which Brehmer then sent to Schilmiller as proof of the murder via Snapchat. After her arrest, authorities uncovered the harrowing evidence on her phone, confirming the details of the crime.

In 2023, Brehmer ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and she was given the maximum sentence for her role in the killing. Her co-defendants, McIntosh and Leyland, were also charged in connection with the crime, and Schilmiller, who instigated the entire plot, was sentenced to 99 years as well. He had previously admitted to federal agents that he targeted Hoffman as the victim after hearing from Brehmer about a recent fight between the two friends over a boy named Zack.

In a recent interview, Brehmer spoke publicly for the first time about the circumstances surrounding the murder. She stated that while she felt anger toward Hoffman over a personal dispute, she was also aware that she was acting on Schilmiller’s influence. “I’ve already admitted guilt, so now I’m ready to fully take responsibility for what I’ve done,” Brehmer said, acknowledging that her actions were both premeditated and driven by panic.

During the interview, Brehmer explained that she had initially agreed to the murder plan out of anger. She stated that she and Hoffman had fought over a boy, and she harbored resentment toward her friend. However, she also admitted to feeling remorseful, saying, “I wanted to make amends. I did want to make amends, but she needed payback for what she did with Zack.” Despite her anger, Brehmer later acknowledged that Hoffman did not deserve to die, saying, “That’s on me.”

Brehmer’s case, riddled with elements of manipulation, betrayal, and tragedy, has drawn widespread attention and serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online exploitation and the profound impact of toxic relationships formed under false pretenses.

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