Tentmate Sells "Home" And Gives Money To Good Cause

It seems that while Ted Williams was in rehab for a few days and since leaving he has been informed that while he was away his tentmate sold their home! It went to a good cause, though.

January 29, 2011

LIMA, Ohio -- The tent in which Ted Williams, the golden-voiced homeless man who became an overnight media sensation, used to live sold for $355 Saturday in an online auction.

Victor Houston, who shared the dwelling with Williams before he became famous, put it on eBay on Jan. 23 with a starting price of $100. It attracted 16 bids before ending at $355.

The website listing stated, "This is your chance to bid on a piece of web history. Much could be said about Ted Williams, but one thing is for sure, he has had historical success overnight from the web ... This story will be remembered as the defining moment for viral video.

The money raised from the auction will go to Houston and the Lima Rescue Mission, a homeless charity in Lima, Ohio

Williams became an overnight sensation after a Columbus Dispatch reporter discovered him panhandling on the side of a highway in Ohio with a sign saying he had the God-given gift of a radio voice. He was inundated with freebies, bookings and voiceover gigs but made headlines for the wrong reasons when he was detained by Los Angeles police following an alleged Jan. 10 shouting altercation with his daughter.

Williams entered rehab on Jan. 12 for drug and alcohol dependency after admitting on the "Dr. Phil" TV show that he struggled with addiction. But after 12 days at the facility he left against medical advice and headed for an unnamed airport

On Friday, Williams returned to the Ohio street corner where he used to live and located Houston. Williams gave Houston a wad of cash and promised to help Houston get off the streets once he himself gets his life in order.

www.foxnew.com

Ohio Ex-Convict Charged With Murder

An ex-convict who was already charged with kidnapping a 13-year-old girl has been indicted on charges of aggravated murder in the deaths of her mother, her little brother and a family friend, whose dismembered remains were found in a hollow tree.

The victims' bodies were found in central Ohio nearly two months ago after suspect Matthew Hoffman allegedly told police where to look.

The indictment returned today by a Knox County grand jury charges Hoffman with aggravated murder, burglary, kidnapping, rape, tampering with evidence and abusing a corpse.

Matthew Hoffman is charged with the murders of Tina Hermann, left, her son Kody Maynard, center, and family friend Stephanie Sprang.

If convicted, the 30-year-old unemployed tree trimmer could face life in prison without parole. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, because of the wishes of the victims' families, The Associated Press reported.

The bodies of Stephanie Sprang, 41, Tina Herrmann, 32, and Herrmann's 11-year-old son, Kody Maynard, were located in a wooded area in mid-November. The remains were stuffed inside garbage bags that had been placed in a hollow tree. The victims had been missing for a week before the bodies were discovered, police said.

The indictment alleges Hoffman murdered the victims during a Nov. 10 burglary at Herrmann's home in Howard, about 60 miles northeast of Columbus.
Hoffman was previously charged with kidnapping after Herrmann's 13-year-old daughter was found in the basement of his Mount Vernon home on Nov. 14. The girl was wounded, tied up and gagged, police said. The indictment alleges she was also raped.

During a Nov. 18 news conference, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said investigators found the victims' bodies based on information received from Hoffman.

Authorities have yet to offer a motive in the case. Barber previously said Hoffman had been watching the family but did not elaborate.

Hoffman, an ex-con who served prison time in Colorado for arson and other charges, is being held in the Knox County jail on $1 million bond, the AP reported.

www.aolnews.com

Search For Ohio Family Ends In Tragedy

November 18, 2010

Mt Vernon, OH - The search for an Ohio family and a family friend came to a close today as they were found dead, hidden inside a hollow tree. The discovery was made approximately 2:30 pm today in the vicinity of the Kokosing River Lake, near Waterford Road in Fredericktown, Ohio, about 20 miles from where they were killed.

Matthew Hoffman instructed Sheriff's investigators where to find the bodies, which were stuffed in trash bags. It is not known how Hoffman got the bodies into the tree.

"The tree was hollow to a point," the sheriff said, adding it would be speculation to understand how the remains were put into the tree.

Hoffman is an unemployed tree trimmer, who has been observed by neighbors sitting in trees spying on people and also collected bags full of leaves while walking around near a local lake. Hoffman has been described as strange and scary.

Hoffman has been charged with kidnapping after a SWAT team found 13 year old Sarah Maynard, bound and gagged, in his basement.

Knox County Sheriff David Barber advised that Sarah's mother Tina Herrmann, brother Kody Maynard and family friend Stephanie Sprang were murdered on Wednesday, November 10, inside Herrmann's home. Sarah was also kidnapped at this time.

Exactly how the three were killed has not been released, but Barber advised that Hoffman is the only suspect.

Knox County Prosecutor John C. Thatcher advised that an indictment against Hoffman was being prepared and that the case would go to a grand jury. Neither he nor Barber would comment on whether, or not, Hoffman confessed.

Hoffman is scheduled to appear for a preliminary court hearing on Tuesday. An indictment against him could come within 4 to 6 weeks, Thatcher said.

Hoffman is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

www.examiner.com

Mother Made Son Eat Feces And Vomit (excuse me- ALLEGEDLY

WHAT A BEAST THIS MOTHER IS!!

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland woman has been indicted on 12 counts for allegedly beating and cruelly treating her two 14-year-old sons, prosecutors say.

According to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason's office, Talthina Jackson, 37, of Cleveland, was indicted on charges of felonious assault, endangering children, domestic violence, and aggravated menacing for assaulted one of her 14-year-old sons by choking him, biting his face, and striking him in the head with an iron.

Prosecutors say Jackson attacked the teen because he was playing on the computer in her bedroom without permission, and she thought he was stealing from her.

A neighbor that called police reported the teen had blood running down his head as he ran from the family's home on Crenell Avenue. Authorities say the teen has multiple scars over his body from being beat with a pole by Jackson.

Prosecutors alleged that Jackson abused her other 14-year-old son on several occasions this year, making the teen lick up urine from the floor, eat cat food and eat his own vomit and feces.

Jackson was arraigned on the charges on September 8th and has posted a $35,000 bond. She has a pre-trial hearing set for September 14th.

www.wtkr.com