Sentencing begins for man charged in Cynthia Hoffman murder

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Sentencing has begun for a 24-year-old man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder last year. Prosecutors say he admitted to giving his SUV to two teenagers so they could kidnap Cynthia Hoffman and kill her near Thunderbird Falls in 2019.

Prosecutors say Caleb Leyland was part of a group of teenagers, including Denali Brehmer and Kayden McIntosh, who were framed by Darin Schilmiller and given money to commit a murder.

In a courtroom at the Nesbett Courthouse in Anchorage, Hoffman's uncle, Donald Hoffman, and his family sat Thursday waiting to hear Leyland's verdict.

“We are very concerned right now,” Hoffman said. “We are not sure what is going to happen here. [Friday] for the verdict.”

“We want [Leyland] to get the most out of it,” he continued. “I mean, they were all involved. They all knew about it. They are all equally guilty. Any one of them could have prevented it, but they didn't.”

Leyland's sentencing comes at a time when the Hoffman family is grieving again. For the first time, they are attending court proceedings without Cynthia's father, Tim, who was killed in June during a motorcycle memorial rally honoring his daughter.

“Tim has done everything he can to make sure Cynthia gets justice,” Hoffman said. “We swore that we would see this through to the end, be present at every court hearing and make sure Cynthia gets justice.”

On Thursday, the prosecution and defense called their final witnesses in court, including a person named “LB.”

LB testified that they felt like they were having a panic attack and that they heard that Schilmiller wanted someone killed for money, but at the same time they said they “couldn't really remember anything.”

In addition, Dr. Kaichen McRae, a risk assessment expert with a PhD, testified on behalf of the defense, stating that while Leyland did not appear to have any mental or personality disorders, he had difficulty making friends.

“Despite some risk factors … he shows pretty strong rehabilitation potential,” McRae said. “There's a reasonable likelihood that he can rehabilitate quite well and get back in.”

A final verdict is expected on Friday morning after family members have made victim impact statements.

Alaska News Source has contacted Leyland's defense attorney for comment.

Brehmer and Schilmiller were sentenced to 99 years in prison for their role in Hoffman's murder.

McIntosh is expected to be sentenced in November; the state has said he faces a prison sentence of between 30 and 85 years.

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