David Francis Hoffman (born 1946)[1] is an American criminal known for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his wife, Carol Stebbins, in 1980.
The murder occurred after the relationship between the married couple began to deteriorate and the introduction of Hoffman's mother, Helen Ulvinen, into their home.
Hoffman was found guilty of murder by the first degree under the pre-1990 Minnesota law, and given a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 17 years.
Whilst living in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, Hoffman eventually met his wife Carol Stebbins; the pair had two daughters, the first being born in 1971 and the second in 1977.
The relationship deteriorated further upon Hoffman's mother, Helen Ulvinen, coming to live in their home as a permanent babysitter for the children.
Returning home, Hoffman told his mother to clean all the sheets whilst he washed the bathroom to clear away the evidence.
In his testimony, Hoffman admitted to the fact that he had told his friends and his mother that he had been planning on killing his wife for months or years.
Ulvinen was also charged with first degree murder, as under Minnesota law, criminal liability can rest on someone who "intentionally aids, advises, hires, councils or conspires with or otherwise procures" to commit a crime.
[2] In the letter denying parole, then corrections commissioner Sheryl Ramstad Hvass outlined that Hoffman still had no ability to see that his actions were wrong.
[2] She further stated that due to his inability to recognize the enormity of the injustice, it would have been very much possible that when released to the outside world a similar crime would be committed.
[2] In both of these original parole enquiries, Hoffman's daughters testified against their mother's side of the family, saying their father should be released from prison.
[7] The family felt the release is extremely unjust,[2] with father Rodger Stebbins stating that "when he [Hoffman] got sentenced to life, that's what it should mean.
The petition gained 578 signatures before the parole meeting but eventually failed as Hoffman was granted his release in April 2018.