Ohioan pleads guilty in deaths of 3 found in tree

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — An unemployed tree-cutter pleaded guilty today to killing three people, stuffing their bodies in a hollow tree and raping a 13-year-old girl two months ago in a case that drew national attention and included a massive air and ground search in the days after the victims disappeared.

Matthew Hoffman, 30, entered the plea to 10 counts, including aggravated murder, burglary, kidnapping, rape, and prosecutors recommended a sentence of life without parole. Hoffman formerly lived in Trumbull County.

"This is so sickening, Matthew, to know you even had the guts to do this," the girl said in a statement read aloud in court by a prosecutor.

An indictment alleged Hoffman killed Tina Herrmann; her 11-year-old son, Kody Maynard; and neighbor Stephanie Sprang while burglarizing Herrmann's home Nov. 10.

He also was charged with kidnapping the teenager during the crime and raping her at his home in this small central Ohio city. She was found alive but bound and gagged in his basement.

"This has changed my whole life and my family's life, too," the girl, a relative of Herrmann's, said in the statement. The Associated Press generally does not identify victims when sexual crimes are alleged.