From Deseret News archives:
Hofmann shuns spotlight, keeps mostly to himself
Now 50, he is even listed among entries of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, as a disaffected member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a murderer and a prolific counterfeiter.
Almost 20 years ago — on Oct. 15, 1985 — bombs killed Steve Christensen and Kathleen Sheets. Hofmann was charged with the bombmaking and the killings and also with forging documents related to history of the LDS Church. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges in January 1987 to avoid the death penalty.
Hofmann's relatives visit frequently — all four of his children come, and his mother is a regular visitor to the maximum security cellblock in the Salt Lake Valley's southernmost end.
He buys a few items from the commissary, but Hofmann stays mostly to himself, says Jack Ford, spokesman for the prison.
"We've had no trouble with him," Ford said.
There are a couple of "minor" write-ups on Hofmann's record, but the most recent was 10 years ago, Ford said.
Dozens of local and national journalists have tried to interview Hofmann, but he has denied every request.
"He absolutely will not talk to anyone," Ford said.
Even Hofmann's cellmate, Dan Lafferty — who is interviewed occasionally because of his own heinous crimes — protects Hofmann's requests for privacy.
On July 24, nearly 21 years ago, Dan Lafferty and his brother, Ron, were accused in one of Utah's most infamous double murders. They eventually were convicted of slashing the throats of sister-in-law Brenda Wright Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter Erica in a "quest for truth" and as part of "understanding God."
Dan Lafferty is serving a sentence of life without parole.
Lafferty now believes he is the prophet Elijah and will declare the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Both Lafferty and Hofmann have studied the Bible and the Book of Mormon thoroughly, and the two apparently talk about Lafferty's extreme religious beliefs. Lafferty has told Ford and others, "I like to bounce some of these things off Mark."
National newsman Tom Brokaw spent two days at the prison to interview Lafferty after his case was detailed in a book.
Ford sat in on all those interviews and also watched Brokaw quiz Lafferty about Hofmann.
"Lafferty just told him, 'I'm honoring Mark's request. I won't talk about him,' " Ford said. "They seem to get along pretty well together."
Hofmann was sentenced to life in prison in January 1987. He did not receive a life sentence without possibility of parole, but in January 2000, the Utah State Board of Pardons ordered him held for his "natural life." No parole hearing is scheduled, Ford said.
E-mail: lucy@desnews.com
