Marion woman’s pregnancy may be motive in her kidnapping, killing in February

CEDAR RAPIDS — One of the men charged in the kidnapping and killing of a 20-year-old Marion woman wants a judge to toss out information that she was pregnant at the time of her death or had been recently pregnant.

The defense, during a pretrial hearing, argued Friday the information is irrelevant or would be prejudicial in the first-degree murder trial of McKinley Louisma, 23, of Hiawatha.

But the prosecution argued the information was relevant and could show a motive for why Louisma killed Melody Hoffman, who died by strangulation. She also had numerous stab and slash wounds to her body and was bound with duct tape during the Feb. 17 attack.

During the hearing, 6th Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros went over a motion in limine — facts or circumstances of the case — the defense wants to keep out of Louisma’s trial.

Jill Eimermann, Louisma’s lawyer, argued the pregnancy is irrelevant and, “even if deemed to have some relevance, its probative value is outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.”

She also argued the fact that Hoffman was “low-functioning” was irrelevant to the elements of the crimes. It would be more prejudicial to Louisma and invoke emotion from the jury.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks argued Hoffman’s pregnancy is a potential motive, along with the fact that Louisma was in a relationship with another woman at the same time he was involved with Hoffman.

“This evidence is prejudicial but certainly not unfair as it serves as an extremely relevant and highly probative motive for the defendant to kill Melody Hoffman — that he didn’t want to deal with two women pregnant with his child at the same time and/or that he did not want to be responsible for Melody Hoffman and their baby,” Maybanks said in his motion.

Maybanks also argued the defense doesn’t want the jury to know who Hoffman was — her personality — how trusting she was and why she got into a car that day with a man who had mistreated her.

There’s evidence Louisma had threatened Hoffman’s life when they recently ended their relationship. It also shows how “helpless” she was to defend herself in a kidnapping and assault situation.

Dakota Lyle Van Patten, 18, of Cedar Rapids, is also charged in connection with Hoffman’s slaying. Both men are charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony charges.

Maybanks argued Hoffman’s intellectual disability also makes it unlikely that she “agitated” Van Patten into assaulting, kidnapping and killing her, as Louisma told police.

Kepros said he would take the motion under advisement and provide a written ruling before trial.

Jury selection for Louisma’s trial will start Oct. 31, with testimony starting Nov. 4.

What happened

  Buy Photo

Maybanks, during an interview in February, told The Gazette that Hoffman’s mother, Megan Hoffman, reported her daughter missing early Feb. 18.

Melody Hoffman lived with her family in Marion, and her mother hadn’t seen her since the evening of Feb. 17, when Melody said she was going out with friends.

Megan Hoffman didn’t know if her daughter was with Louisma that night, but Maybanks confirmed Louisma had an “on-again, off-again” relationship with Melody. Louisma later told police he also had another girlfriend.

Authorities found Hoffman’s body Feb. 18, near the Lily Pond at 220th Trail and 38th Avenue in Amana.

Investigators from the Marion police, the Linn and Iowa county sheriff’s offices and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation worked together investigating Hoffman’s death.

They tracked activity on Hoffman’s iPhone, which was synced to her Apple Watch, and determined she had been picked up by Louisma and Van Patten, in Louisma’s vehicle, around 11 p.m. Feb. 17, Maybanks said.

Investigators learned the three ended up in Linn County’s Morgan Creek Park, just west of Cedar Rapids, because Hoffman’s Apple Watch recorded her heartbeat, which intensified and then stopped, either when she was killed or when the watch was deactivated.

  Buy Photo

Louisma interview

During a search of Louisma’s car, which was found in Hiawatha, deputies found a bag in the car’s trunk containing Hoffman’s phone case, a white Apple watchband with blood on it, a towing rope, gloves and clothing Hoffman had been wearing Feb. 17, according to the criminal complaint.

Maybanks said Louisma came to the Marion Police Department after finding out his car had been towed there, and investigators interviewed him.

Louisma told a DCI special agent that he and Van Patten bound Hoffman’s wrists with duct tape while at Morgan Creek Park and placed her in the car trunk, according to the complaint. They then drove to several different places in Linn County before they went to the pond at Lily Lake, where they ripped off her clothes and left her.

Louisma said Hoffman had been beaten while she was with him and Van Patten and that she was “begging to be let go.” He didn’t admit to doing the beating himself, Maybanks said.

He told investigators if they asked Van Patten what had happened, he probably would blame Louisma, Maybanks said.

Investigators also confirmed through video surveillance that Louisma, Van Patten and Logan William Michael Kimpton, 18, who also has been charged, were together at Walmart buying two machetes and gloves before they picked up Hoffman that night, according to Maybanks.

Van Patten’s trial is set for March 3.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros talks with lawyers Friday during a pretrial hearing for McKinley Louisma in Linn County District Court. Louima, 23, of Hiawatha, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the February death of Melody Hoffman, 20, of Marion. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

  Buy Photo

Defense attorney Jill Eimermann (left) talks to her client, McKinley Louisma, during a Friday pretrial hearing in Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

  Buy Photo

prev

next

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com