Anthony Conchel

Editor

Donald W. Hoffman, 41, entered not guilty pleas to all charges this morning in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.

The September session of the grand jury last week charged Hoffman with eight counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of Billjack Chatman, Jerald Smith, Freelin Hensley and Darrell E. Lewis, two counts of aggravated murder per victim.

With his hands shackled, wearing orange jail attire and displaying no emotion, Hoffman sat between lead counsel Robert Whitney and co-counsel Rolf Whitney. Robert Whitney read the plea aloud.

Victims' family members and others filled most of the right side of the seating in the courtroom. A pretrial hearing date will be set in the future. Bond was continued.

Hoffman remains incarcerated at the Crawford County Justice Center on $10 million bond, $2.5 million for each of the four cases. Prosecutor Matt Crall said he would seek the death penalty if Hoffman is convicted.

The murders shocked the normally peaceful community, he said.

"The reason people want to live in Crawford County is the peace and quiet," Crall said.

He said family members are understandably upset and angry. "I can't imagine what they're going through," Crall said.

According to police records, on Aug. 30 Chatman reportedly called an ambulance for Hoffman, who said he was the victim of an assault. The emergency call to police indicated Hoffman said he was beaten by up to eight people.

Police responded initially to two calls of bodies discovered on Labor Day. The next morning, Hoffman went to the police station as a person of interest in the case. Two more bodies were found that day.

Hoffman has a history of criminal activity in both Crawford and Marion counties, including felony theft and burglary convictions in 2009 and 2010 in Marion.

aconchel@gannett.com

419-563-9225

Twitter: @anthonyconchel

Timeline of Events

Sept. 1

2:43 p.m.: Bucyrus Police do a welfare check on a resident at Bucyrus Manor on Marion Road. The body of Freelin Hensley is discovered.

3:11 pm.: Neighbors checking on Bill Jack Chatman at 1308 Fremont St. discover his body.

5:30 p.m.: Police, with help from Crawford County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, have both crime scenes secured.

Sept. 2

Midnight: Work complete at Fremont Street crime scene by BCI technicians and officers.

2 a.m.: Work complete at Bucyrus Manor by BCI technicians and officers.

9 a.m.: Police talk with "a person of interest" who came in to the station. Based on that information, officers are sent to two other locations.

10-11 a.m.: Officers go to 218 W. Mansfield St., where the body of Gerald Lee Smith is discovered.

10-11 a.m: Officers go to Bucyrus Plaza, where the body of Darrell E. Lewis is discovered. Officers must open a locked door to gain entry.

6 p.m.: Officials hold news conference to provide updates. Confirm a suspect is in custody and charges are pending.

8:30 p.m.: Work complete at both 218 W. Mansfield St. and Bucyrus Plaza by BCI technicians and officers.

Sept. 4

Donald W. Hoffman is held on $10 million bond in Crawford County Municipal Court teleconference appearance.

Sept. 8

Grand jury indicts Hoffman.

Source: Bucyrus Police Department, court records