Per the American Psychological Association, dendrophilia is sometimes characterized by sexual attraction to trees, and evidence found inside Hoffman’s home suggests he lived with the condition. Once inside the suspect’s residence, police found hundreds of bags of leaves, and dead squirrels in the freezer, but most important of all, Sarah Maynard, tied up and gagged but alive, in the basement of the dwelling, also on a bed of leaves.

Of the highly unusual evidence found in Hoffman’s house, local police detective Craig Feeney, who worked the case, said (via ABC News), “So much runs through your mind. What if someone was hiding under those piles of leaves, or in this case, I thought, ‘Is that where he’s hiding the bodies?'”

When the death penalty was off the table in case of a conviction, Hoffman agreed to lead the police to the bodies of Sarah Maynard’s family and the other victims (per Oxygen). Hoffman pled guilty and was convicted on 10 counts, including gross abuse of a corpse, kidnap, and rape, among others. According to CBS News, Hoffman was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction reports that Hoffman, now 41 years old, is incarcerated at Toledo Correctional Institution, a state prison.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue8KroKadX6y1pr7EZqCsZZOku7e1wq2cnWWdqr%2BlsdGeqWalkanBqbHWZp%2Bonpairq95zaiuaA%3D%3D