Ohio man: Deaths resulted from burglary gone wrong

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — An unemployed tree-cutter who admits killing three people whose bodies were stuffed in a hollow tree in Ohio says the violence started with “a random burglary that went terribly, terribly wrong.”

Thirty-year-old Matthew Hoffman pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday for killing a woman, her 11-year-old son and a neighbor. He also pleaded guilty to burglary, kidnapping, rape and other charges.

A prosecutor says Hoffman killed the three because they surprised him and confronted him during the burglary.

Speaking for Hoffman in court, his attorney says the burglary was random and that Hoffman did not single out one person or family. He says Hoffman apologizes for what happened.