A Hunter Vanished And Is Discovered Ten Years Later (The Todd Hofflander Story)

Date of disappearance and original plan

On September 24th, 2010, 39-year-old Todd Hofflander set out on an expedition with his friend, Jeff W, to explore the Seven Devils Wilderness in Idaho. Their primary goal was to scout the area ahead of the upcoming deer hunting season. Todd brought along his faithful black lab, Ruby, as his companion. The duo decided to camp over the weekend and walked through the rough terrains between Sheep Creek Basin and McGaffy Basin.

The morning of the 27th brought some unfortunate news as Todd began to complain of severe knee pain due to all the hiking, which had taken a toll on him. Todd and Jeff then made the decision to part ways, with Todd and Ruby taking a more accessible trail leading down to the Snake River and McGaffy Cabin. Meanwhile, Jeff continued to head toward Sheep Creek, planning to meet up with Todd later at McGaffy Cabin. The plan was straightforward: Todd would wait for Jeff to return with a boat from Pittsburgh Landing, so they could continue the trip together.

Todd's plan was simple, but things would take a turn for the worse. While Jeff was off scouting on his own, Todd was supposed to rest at the cabin. But when Jeff returned with his father later that afternoon, Todd was nowhere to be found. The initial search attempts proved unsuccessful, and Todd’s absence quickly turned into a mystery.

The search process and strange signs

The next morning, Jeff and his father Steve began searching the area along the Snake River, retracing their steps from McGaffy Cabin, hoping to find any sign of Todd. They scoured the riverbanks, calling out Todd’s name and keeping their eyes peeled for any clues that could lead them to their missing friend. They spent hours in the search but found no trace of Todd. By noon, after exhaustive attempts, they decided to turn back to Riggins and contact the sheriff’s office for assistance.

The sheriff’s department immediately initiated a full-scale search and rescue operation, involving helicopters to fly over the rugged terrain and scan the creeks and drainages where Todd might have ended up. Teams of searchers on horseback and muleback were deployed, and the US Air Force was also brought in to use their Fleer technology to scan the area. Despite the extensive efforts, nothing significant was found in the first couple of days.

As the search continued, it was noted that the Seven Devils Wilderness was a particularly challenging environment. With steep elevations, thick vegetation, and narrow, treacherous paths, it was a difficult place to search. Temperatures during the time of the search were moderate, with cool nights and warmer daytime temperatures, which made the conditions more tolerable. The search efforts were thorough, but despite all the resources deployed, there were no signs of Todd. The case was turning into one of the most perplexing missing person cases in the area.

Conflicting theories and testimonies

As the search efforts continued without any results, a new lead came from an unexpected source. On October 6th, sheriff's deputies interviewed a man named Tom Lindsay, who claimed that he had used dowsing rods to find Todd’s location near Bernard Creek. He described the location where Todd might be, but his involvement in the search and how he made contact with the authorities was unclear. His prediction about Todd's whereabouts was met with skepticism from the authorities, but it was intriguing because the area he described was somewhat near where Todd's remains would later be discovered, though the sheriff’s office didn’t take immediate action based on his tip.

Around the same time, a report came in on October 8th about a dog carcass found floating in the Snake River. The dog had been skinned, but it was unclear if the dog was Ruby, Todd’s black lab. The discovery of the dog, along with the dowsing rods prediction, did little to resolve the mystery. It only raised more questions about Todd’s fate. Meanwhile, Jeff’s involvement continued to draw attention. Deputies, suspicious of Jeff’s statements, administered a polygraph test to him. The results were concerning, as Jeff failed the polygraph, which further cast doubt on his story. Jeff claimed that the machine wasn’t accurate, but his inconsistent statements and failure to pass the test made his testimony increasingly unreliable.

During a subsequent interview with Jeff, new details emerged, such as Todd carrying a 44 Magnum revolver, which had belonged to his deceased father. This revelation added more complexity to the case. Jeff insisted that he did not harm Todd, though the situation was increasingly suspicious. Tensions were high, and Jeff’s family, particularly his father Steve, expressed anger at the suspicion falling on Jeff. The investigation was at a standstill, with the mystery surrounding Todd’s disappearance only growing deeper.

Body discovered after 10 years and unanswered questions

Nearly ten years passed before there was any breakthrough in Todd Hofflander's case. On April 27th, 2020, a hunter found human remains along with some backpacking supplies and a camera in the Bernard Creek area. The hunter took the camera and brought it to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office for analysis. Upon reviewing the pictures on the camera’s SD card, deputies were shocked to see images of Todd, which confirmed that he had been alive and well up until the time of his disappearance. The discovery of the remains was significant, as it provided crucial clues that could finally offer answers to Todd’s fate.

The search teams were immediately dispatched to Bernard Creek to recover the remains and other items found in the area. It was reported that the remains were discovered around 200 feet off the trail and across the creek from where Todd had been expected to be. The discovery of the partial skeleton, along with Todd’s personal belongings, raised further questions. It was unusual for Todd’s boots and firearm to be missing, as these items would not have decayed so completely after ten years. The fact that his holster was found but not the revolver added to the mystery.

The investigation continued, but it was impossible to determine the cause of death. While DNA analysis confirmed that the remains belonged to Todd, the lack of concrete evidence left the case unresolved. The only possible theories that remained were speculation about foul play or an accident. Despite the investigation, the circumstances surrounding Todd’s disappearance and death remain a haunting mystery. His remains were found in an area that had been thoroughly searched multiple times, but it took a decade for someone to stumble upon them. The case, with its strange leads and unanswered questions, serves as a reminder that some mysteries may never be solved.