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Cedar Rapids man faces life in prison for kidnapping, strangling Melody Hoffman last year
Hoffman family reacted with tears and hugs as verdicts were read
Sep. 25, 2025 4:36 pm, Updated: Sep. 25, 2025 5:41 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — A Linn County jury Thursday convicted Dakota Van Patten of kidnapping, beating and strangling 20 year-old Melody Hoffman in February of last year.
The jurors, who deliberated about three hours, were individually polled by 6th Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros to confirm the guilty verdicts for first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony were unanimous.
As the verdicts were read, the Hoffman family reacted with tears, then hugs after the jury left the courtroom. Melody’s mother, Megan Hoffman, hugged her mom for a long time at the back of the courtroom. Both cried and held each other.
Van Patten, 19, of Cedar Rapids, didn’t show much reaction as the verdicts were read, or when he was handcuffed by Linn County Sheriff’s deputies and led out of the courtroom.
He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole on the first-degree murder conviction. His sentencing is set for Nov. 14 in Linn County District Court. The judge could run the convictions consecutively or concurrently.
“Today we stand in solidarity with the family of Melody Hoffman,” Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks, in a statement, told The Gazette after the verdict. “They have endured unspeakable loss and grief, but they showed up in full force to honor her during this trial just as they did for the trial of McKinley Louisma. We were proud to fight for them and for Melody.
“We are grateful to the Linn County citizens who saw this case for what it was, a heinous and depraved act of terror and violence. Justice has been served, again,” Maybanks said.
Prosecution closing argument
During closing arguments earlier on Thursday, Maybanks said the evidence showed Van Patten and McKinley Louisma, who was convicted last year and is serving a life sentence, were partners in this “heinous real life horror story” in which Hoffman suffered “unspeakable atrocities.”
She was “beaten, tortured, strangled and mutilated,” Maybanks said in his closing argument. There is “no conceivable way” Van Patten could have done it without Louisma and no way Louisma could have done it without Van Patten, he said.
Maybanks said there isn’t a “single piece of evidence to suggest” Van Patten was an “innocent bystander,” as his defense implied throughout the trial.
“That is fiction,” Maybanks said. “Van Patten didn’t even say it. That assertion isn’t based on evidence. Quite frankly, it’s ridiculous. He assisted and was directly involved.”
Hoffman was a “vibrant and energetic” young woman, Maybanks told the jury. She was “caring, loving and compassionate.” Hoffman wasn’t a typical 20-year-old because of a mild intellectual disability, which made her mind more like a 14-year-old’s.
The young woman was “susceptible to manipulation and control at times” and Louisma took advantage of this, Maybanks said. The two broke up in January 2024, but he continued to string her along, even after he got back together with his former girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time and gave him an ultimatum to choose her or Hoffman.
On Feb. 17, 2024, Louisma had arranged to secretly meet Hoffman and enlisted Van Patten, who was “more than happy” to help him, Maybanks noted.
Logan Kimpton, who also is charged in this case, told police there was a plan to kill Hoffman, but he backed out after going with Louisma and Van Patten to Walmart to purchase machetes and gloves.
Hoffman had no idea what was going to happen. She thought they were going out for a good time. She thought they were her friends.
Maybanks said the prosecution presented evidence — some minute by minute — which included cellphone location and health data and surveillance video, of what happened that night. Louisma and Van Patten restrained, assaulted and strangled Hoffman at Morgan Creek Park in Cedar Rapids and then mutilated her body as she was dying or after death, at Lily Pond in Amana.
The location information from Van Patten’s phone showed he was with Louisma and Hoffman. Van Patten also obtained Hoffman’s cellphone password, which he had in a photo, and her phone was connected to his internet hot spot.
Van Patten admitted to police that he entered his password into a phone with a “flower case” — Hoffman’s phone — because he needed to give an explanation of how that happened, Maybanks said.
Van Patten also documented Hoffman’s assault by taking a photo of her with duct tape over her mouth. She had a bloody nose in the photo, and appeared to be crying.
The prosecution also had DNA evidence of Van Patten’s involvement in the crime. His DNA was found inside a glove and on a roll of duct tape, which also had Hoffman’s blood on it.
Maybanks said a paracord, used to strangle Hoffman, had DNA from three individuals. And the bundle of cord, pieces of which were found in Louisma’s trunk, was found in Van Patten’s basement.
The knife used to stab and slash Hoffman’s back also showed DNA from three individuals.
Maybanks said Van Patten also took a “souvenir from this nightmare” — Hoffman’s glasses. They were “covered” in his DNA, and investigators found more than 200 selfies Van Patten took while wearing the glasses.
Taya Meyer testified that Van Patten came over to her apartment on Feb. 18 and told her he killed someone — “that Melody girl.” He told Meyer he was with Louisma.
Maybanks pointed out that Van Patten defended Louisma to police, saying he couldn’t kill someone, he was a “soft, chill dude.” He also wanted to know what evidence was found on his phone and what physical evidence police had.
Van Patten never told police he was present but hadn’t participated in the crime.
The evidence “overwhelmingly” showed Van Patten was involved “every step of the way.”
Maybanks said there is “no rational motive for what happened to Melody Hoffman.”
Defense closing
Erin Carr, one of Van Patten’s lawyers, in his closing, focused on reasonable doubt and said most of the evidence pointed to Louisma as the killer. He said “presence doesn’t equal participation.”
He told the jury to look at the crime, which he called “personal and brutal.” Hoffman and Louisma had the relationship. There was no connection to Van Patten. Why would Van Patten hurt Hoffman, Carr asked.
Carr said the jurors needed more than “presence.” They needed evidence that showed the actions Van Patten took, and they had to be sure — beyond a reasonable doubt — that he was aiding and abetting Lousima, which he said prosecutors failed to do.
Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
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