Judge bumps trial for Hiawatha man charged in Marion woman’s kidnapping, strangulation

CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge agreed Friday to delay the trial of a Hiawatha man charged with conspiracy in the kidnapping, torture and strangulation of a 20-year-old Marion woman who had an intellectual disability, making her vulnerable to others.

Logan William Michael Kimpton, 18, is charged with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the strangulation of Melody Hoffman on Feb. 17, 2024. He is accused of helping his roommate, McKinley Louisma, 23, and Dakota Lyle Van Patten, 18, of Cedar Rapids, buy machetes and gloves for the deadly assault and telling others the three were planning to kill someone.

John Bruzek, Kimpton’s attorney, asked the court to reset the trial because more depositions need to be taken of witnesses. The defense might also need to find an expert to testify at trial.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros granted the continuance and reset the trial to Aug. 19 in Linn County District Court. The trial previously was set for April 8.

During the investigation into Hoffman’s killing, Kimpton admitted to investigators he had been with her ex-boyfriend — Louisma — and Van Patten at a Walmart that night when they purchased two machetes and gloves used in the killing. During Louisma’s trial, testimony and surveillance evidence of Kimpton put him with the two others in the store that night.

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Kimpton told investigators he “chickened out” of participating in the killing. “Damn right, I did,” he said, according to a criminal complaint.

Hoffman was kidnapped and taken to Morgan Creek Park in Cedar Rapids, where Louisma and Van Patten attacked her. Investigators believe she was killed at the park before she was taken to the Lily Pond in Amana, where her body was found.

A medical examiner, during Louisma’s trial, testified Hoffman died by strangulation. She also had numerous stab and slash wounds to her body and was bound with duct tape.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks, during Louisma’s trial, said Louisma and Van Patten tried to stage it as if Hoffman had been attacked, stripped of her clothing and left for dead at the pond.

Louisma and Hoffman recently had broken up because Louisma got back with his former girlfriend, who was pregnant. Maybanks said Hoffman also was pregnant or had been recently pregnant, which may have been a motive for the killing.

Louisma was convicted last November of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Van Patten, also charged with the same three offenses, had his trial reset to Sept. 15.

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