(Rightallegiance.com) – In a chilling case that shook the state of Alaska, a young woman has been incarcerated following her involvement in orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme with the expectation of receiving a $9 million reward. The central figure, Denali Dakota Skye Brehmer, engaged four accomplices to execute the murder of a friend who had disabilities, acting under the influence of a deceitful online acquaintance. This tragic incident underscores the dangerous intersections of online manipulation and real-world violence.
The origins of this harrowing story trace back to 2019 when Brehmer, then 18, encountered an individual on the internet who introduced himself as Tyler, purporting to be a wealthy entrepreneur from Kansas. This online entity, Tyler, presented Brehmer with a macabre proposition: the commission of a murder in Alaska, accompanied by photographic and video evidence of the act, in exchange for a payment of at least $9 million. Seduced by the offer and the illusion of Tyler’s wealth, Brehmer enlisted the assistance of Caleb Leyland, Kayden McIntosh, and two minors, forming a pact to carry out this heinous plan.
Their chosen target was Cynthia Hoffman, a 19-year-old considered Brehmer’s best friend, who was living with developmental challenges. The group executed their plot on June 2, 2019, during a seemingly innocent hike to Thunderbird Falls. In a betrayal of friendship and humanity, Brehmer and McIntosh restrained Hoffman with duct tape, rendering her defenseless, before McIntosh delivered a fatal gunshot to her head. Brehmer recorded the execution, fulfilling their twisted agreement with “Tyler.” Subsequently, they callously disposed of Hoffman’s body in the river, completing their grim task.
However, the anticipated fortune never materialized. The mastermind behind this scheme, “Tyler,” was unmasked as Darin Schilmiller of New Salisbury, Indiana, a 25-year-old engaged in a sinister act of catfishing. Schilmiller had fabricated his affluent persona, ensnaring Brehmer in his web of lies. His manipulation extended beyond the murder, as he also coerced Brehmer into producing child pornography. For his central role in orchestrating the murder and related criminal activities, Schilmiller received a sentence of 99 years in prison in January, with additional charges pending for the child pornography offences.
On February 12, the justice system delivered its verdict on Brehmer’s involvement. Despite her plea for a somewhat lenient sentence of 80 years with 20 suspended, the court, led by Judge Andrew Peterson, imposed a 99-year sentence, reflecting the gravity of her actions. Meanwhile, accomplice Leyland has admitted guilt and awaits sentencing, while McIntosh faces ongoing legal proceedings for his part in the murder.