A woman has admitted to the 2019 homicide of her best friend after being offered a staggering sum of money to carry out the slaying.
Denali Brehmer, 22, pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Cynthia Hoffman, 19, on Wednesday, the Alaska Department of Law said.
She murdered her friend after a man who was apparently catfishing her offered Brehmer $9 million to kill someone and send footage of it.
In agreeing to the plea, the Alaska native had the five other charges against her dropped, KTUU reports.
"She was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, solicitation to commit murder in the first degree, two different theories of murder in the second degree, and tampering with evidence," State Prosecutor Patrick McKay said, per KTUU.
The charges arose from June 2019, when Hoffman - who had developmental disabilities - vanished during a hike with Brehmer and a different friend at Thunderbird Falls in Chugiak, Alaska.
Two days later, she was found dead on the banks of the Eklutna River, having been tied up using duct tape and shot in the back of the head.
Law enforcement discovered during the investigation into the homicide that Brehmer had begun a romance online with a man who introduced himself as "Tyler" and claimed he was a millionaire from Kansas, per charging documents.
According to reports, he offered her the staggering sum of $9 million to end someone's life and send him photos and footage of the killing.
It is stated in the charging documents that Brehmer, who was then 18 and Kayden McIntosh, then 16, drove Hoffman to Thunderbird Falls.
Documents further state that they duct taped Hoffman and took photos of her before McIntosh shot her in the back of the head, police said.
McIntosh and Brehmer were both charged with a count each of murder and one count of tampering with evidence, online court records state.
Two minors - a boy and girl whose names have not been shared publicly by authorities because of their age - "were involved in the planning of this homicide with Brehmer and McIntosh," according to the police report.
Caleb Leyland, who was 19 at the time of the killing, was also arrested for one count of murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder and multiple counts of sexual assault with a minor.
Leyland is believed to have told law enforcement he helped plot Hoffman's murder and lent his SUV to Brehmer so the crime could come to fruition, per charging documents obtained by local outlet The Alaska Star.
The Alaska Department of Law said in a press release on the case: "The court will determine Brehmer’s sentence at a hearing. There is no agreement between the parties regarding a specific term of imprisonment. Judge Peterson may sentence Brehmer to a term of imprisonment of no less than 30 years and no more than 99 years.
"Sentencing is scheduled to begin Aug. 22, in front of Judge Peterson in Anchorage and is anticipated to last three days.
"The charges of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, solicitation of murder in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence and two charges of murder in the second degree were dismissed."
(1).jpg_2aMd8j?tr=h-184)
