3 replies to this topic

[Lori Davis]

https://www.findthem...n/cases/9555/2/

MISSING PERSON
Todd William Hofflander


MISSING SINCE: September 27, 2010
LAST SEEN: Riggins, Idaho
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 73.0 in
WEIGHT: 185.0 lbs
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Brown

TATTOOS: Small circle tattoed on the web between his thumb and first finger on his right hand. Large tattoo on his right pectoral muscle which is a picture of the head of Jesus Christ, with text "SAVES" underneath. Left pectoral a buffalo skull picture. Right bicep a picture of Wylie Coyote. Picture of eagle on his left bicep. A text arch of "KING" in all capitals across
his back and shoulder blades. A similar text arch all across his stomach spelling, "THUG LIFE".

 

SCARS/MARKS: Back surgery. scar along backbone. also scar in his groin pubic area. As a result of cranial surgery two scars up forehead to hairline.
 

Contact Idaho County Sheriff's Office at 208-983-1100 with information.
Case #: 1009563 NamUs MP #: 9555

[Lori Davis]

The Charley Project: Todd William Hofflander
http://www.charleypr...ander_todd.html

[Lori Davis]

2010 article

http://www.klewtv.co.../105210879.html

Missing hiker's dog found
Ruby was found on the opposite slope of the Seven Devils from where Todd Hofflander was last seen.

By KLEW Web Staff
Story Published: Oct 18, 2010 at 10:13 PM PST Story Updated: Oct 18, 2010 at 10:13 PM PST

RIGGINS - The search for missing hiker Todd Hofflander of Lucile was briefly re-initiated on Saturday after his Black Labrador Ruby was found by hunters on Friday.

According to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office, Ruby was found on the opposite slope of the Seven Devils from where Hofflander was last seen. The dog appeared to be in good health and was positively identified by Hofflander's wife Julie.

Early Saturday morning, search teams responded to the area where Ruby was located. Ruby was also taken to the location in hopes she might lead searchers to Hofflander.

Searchers were unsuccessful in locating any sign of Hofflander and the search was again suspended.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.idahocoun...hy-they-matter/

 

Cold cases: why they matter

By David Rauzi As of Wednesday, September 17, 2014

 

You would hope that someone has not forgotten, that someone is searching for answers, that justice is being sought.

 

Cold cases are of great interest to the public, and it doesn’t matter whom it involves or how long ago the incident occurred. This is evidenced in the recent news that the identity of Jack the Ripper may finally have been determined by DNA evidence. But many cases continue to draw our fascination: The Black Dahlia murder, the Cleveland Torso killer, and the revisiting of where notorious labor leader Jimmy Hoffa may be buried.

 

But there is always something closer to home, such as Mr. Bones.

 

I came across this cold case (featured on page 7A in this issue) in 2007 while researching the backstory of the Lankford brothers’ case regarding the 1983 Bravence murders. Cold cases, historic mysteries, these have been a fascination of mine, and I was excited to find something close to home that I could revisit in the newspaper.

 

Partly, it was the fascination of the mystery. Also, it was knowing this person has largely gone forgotten, his incident revisited by law enforcement as limited time and scant information seldom allowed. Someone needed to be his advocate, to give this death a voice that maybe this time it will lead to some kind of resolution; at the least, identification.

 

That path started in 2007 and through a file folder of county records that told of a thorough search based on the limited leads available. But there the story stopped halfway as those involved more than two decades prior were gone, moved on, or did not respond to inquiries.

 

Then a few years later, a letter to the editor by a California man struck a chord: Why was that name familiar? Turned out it was Kevin Reynolds, a former Idaho County Sheriff’s deputy who had first investigated the case. That chance connection re-energized the story, and when spare time finally allowed, I was able to connect with him and conduct an e-mail interview for his insight and reflections into the case.

 

It took a while, but with his help and great cooperation from the sheriff’s office on follow-up information and documents, the story pulled together. And I rebuke myself by saying, “Finally!”

 

I’m pleased to have pulled it together, especially knowing this coverage will have extended reach through the search engines of the Internet. And maybe this time, it will be solved.

 

But the mystery continues, and not just in this case.

 

This year marks the 20th that Grangeville’s infamous double-homicide/arson goes unsolved: Twenty years ago – Saturday, April 2, 1994, the bodies of Bruce and Lynn Peeples were found in the bedroom of their South Florence Street home. The couple had been strangled and their home had been set on fire intentionally, apparently to destroy evidence of the crime.

 

What’s the update in this case? The same as it’s been: unsolved, awaiting new information and leads to justify a fresh inquiry into a case frigidly cold. While TV detectives can solve a case in an hour (or 45 minutes minus commercials), real police work is much more time-consuming and often less rewarding.

 

Idaho County literally has a book (Over a Century of Murder in Idaho County) covering its crime and murder mysteries, and the region has also seen a slew of strange disappearances through the years, such as 1984’s Ricky Barnett vanishing, and more recently, Todd Hofflander of Riggins, last seen Sept. 27, 2010, while backpacking with a friend in the Seven Devils area. These are among at least eight cases, dating back to 1978, of individuals who disappeared in Idaho County.

 

And there are more. In my search for feature items for our summer historic special section, I came across more mysterious incidents, crimes and disappearances, extending as far back as microfilm records would provide. And those are just the ones we think we know about.

 

Whether my story on Mr. Bones leads to any sort of resolution is just part of the reasoning behind researching it. It’s also because this unknown person was someone’s son, and this person’s story has value as much as any of ours do. And we’re going to give this one another shot for whoever may be waiting for news on him out there, and the hope that others would do the same for us if – God forbid — we’re the ones playing the waiting game for word on someone – our children, a parent, a friend — who one day never came home.