Man linked to Cynthia Hoffman’s murder receives lighter sentence than 2 other defendants

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A judge has sentenced the man who prosecutors say admitted to giving the two teenagers his SUV so they could kidnap Cynthia Hoffman and kill her near Thunderbird Falls in 2019 has been sentenced to serve 30 years in prison, with the eligibility for parole in 10 years.

Caleb Leyland, 24, who along with Denali Brehmer and Kayden McIntosh, was catfished and offered money by Darin Schilmiller to commit the murder, showed little emotion as his sentence of 40 years with 10 years suspended was read in an Anchorage courtroom.

Leyland is set to serve less time behind bars than Brehmer and Schilmiller, who were previously sentenced to 99 years for their roles in Hoffman’s murder.

McIntosh, who like Leyland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, is slated to be sentenced this fall.

During the second day of a sentencing hearing for the 24-year-old, Hoffman’s family members provided victim impact statements.

Thursday and Friday, Hoffman’s uncle Donald Hoffman and his loved ones sat waiting to hear Leyland’s sentencing.

“Got a lot of anxiety going on right now,” Hoffman said. “We’re really not sure what’s going happen in here [Friday] for the sentencing.”

“We want [Leyland] to get the max,” he continued. “I mean, they were all involved. They all knew about it. They are all just as guilty. Anyone of them could have stopped it, but they didn’t.”

The sentencing comes as the Hoffman family is grieving again. For the first time, they are attending court hearings without Cynthia’s father, Tim, who was killed in June while riding in a motorcycle memorial honoring his daughter.

“Tim did everything to make sure that justice was served for Cynthia,” Hoffman said. “We swore that we would see this all the way through, be at every court hearing, and make sure justice is served for Cynthia.”

In court Thursday, the prosecution and defense called their final witnesses, including a person referred to as “L.B.”

Saying they felt as though they could have a panic attack, L.B. testified they heard Schilmiller wanted someone to be killed for money, while also saying they did not “really remember anything.”

Additionally, Dr. Kaichen McRae, who holds a PhD and is an expert in risk assessment, testified for the defense, saying while Leyland appeared to have no mental or personality disorders, she said he struggled to make friends.

“Despite some risk factors ... he does display some pretty strong rehabilitative potential,” McRae said. “There’s a reasonable likelihood that he could rehabilitate and re-enter fairly well.”

Alaska’s News Source has requested comment from Leyland’s defense attorney.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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