Dakota Van Patten, Cedar Rapids, Iowa man on trial for murder of Melody Hoffman is alleged to have taken over 200 selfies wearing her glasses hours after killing Marion woman who had intellectual capacity of 14 year old

An Iowa teenager on trial for murder for allegedly assisting his friend in killing his girlfriend is said to have snapped over 200 photos wearing the victim's glasses after ruthlessly beating and stabbing her before strangling her to death.

Dakota Van Patten, 19, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on February 21, 2024, in connection with the death of Melody Hoffman, 20, who was discovered three days earlier, according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

Prosecutors disclosed in court Tuesday that Van Patten took more than 200 pictures while wearing Hoffman's clear-framed glasses between 2:30 p.m. on February 18 and 8:30 p.m. on February 19, 2024.

The selfie-tranche found on Van Patten’s phone included pics of the suspect shirtless in bed, wearing the sweatshirt he is accused of donning the night of the killing, and vaping — all while equipped with the eyewear of the woman he allegedly strangled to death, prosecutors alleged in court.

Also on Van Patten’s phone was a photo of Hoffman’s four-digit iPhone passcode and snaps of him posing with a realistic BB gun on Feb. 17, the day before the killing, authorities claimed.

Melody Hoffman, 20, was killed on Feb 18

 

Van Patten and Louisma are alleged to have bound Hoffman’s wrist and ankles, stabbed her multiple times, and strangled her — then ditching her by Lily Pond in Amana where they further mutilated her corpse, Linn County prosecutors charged.

Van Patten faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.

Louisma, 24, who has already been sentenced to life in prison for the homicide, retrieved a snapshot on his phone at 4:05 a.m. on February 18 that showed Hoffman with duct tape over her lips, screaming, and bleeding from her nose, according to The Gazette.

According to authorities, on February 17, 2024, Lousima, Van Patten, and a third alleged accomplice, Logan Kimpton, 19, enticed Hoffman into sneaking out of her home, duct taped her wrists and ankles, and put her into the trunk of Louisma's car.

The three suspects were witnessed purchasing machetes and other alleged murder supplies at a Cedar Rapids Walmart the day of Hoffman’s killing. Court TV

All three men were seen buying gloves and machetes from a Cedar Rapids Walmart shortly before the death — but Kimpton allegedly backed out before the torturous murder, authorities alleged, KCRG reported.

Dakota Van Patten, 19, snapped 200 selfies wearing the glasses of Melody Hoffman, who he allegedly tortured and
strangled to death

 

Iowa law enforcement recovered a trove of evidence from Louisma’s car, including a pocketknife with stains on it, machetes, a rope, a role of duct tape, pink HeyDude shoes, and a cut up pink shirt that had duct tape stuck to it, CBS Iowa reported.

DNA evidence showed Van Patten is a match for samples lifted from the duct tape, a glove, and glasses, according to that report.

Hoffman was overly trusting and had an “intellectual disability,” according to Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks, who said she was mentally closer to a 14-year-old girl than a 20-year-old woman, the Gazette reported.

Associate State Medical Examiner Dr. Kelly Kruse further revealed in court on Tuesday that Hoffman tested positive for hormones that indicated she could have been pregnant, according to People.