The new episode of Crimes of the Beyond, hosted by journalist Roberto Belmont and promoted by QuéOnnda and Nueva Network, reconstructs one of the most shocking cases in recent U.S. criminal history: the murders committed by Matthew Hoffman in Apple Valley, Ohio, in 2010, and the unexpected strength of the only survivor, Sarah Maynard. HERE you can listen to the episode.
Through official documents, forensic reports and police testimonies, the episode takes the listener on an accurate, respectful and deeply human journey through a story that marked an entire community.
A case that rocked Ohio
The disappearance of the Maynard-Herrmann family in November 2010 set off alarm bells in Knox County.
What began as a routine search turned into a macabre discovery.
A house covered in blood, signs of extreme violence and traces pointing to an apparently harmless individual.
Matthew Hoffman, a tree trimmer known to his neighbors as a loner, but never before considered a threat.
The episode details how Hoffman led a seemingly normal life, while hiding disturbing behaviors that would later be revealed as signs of his level of dangerousness.
The killer’s lair and the finding that horrified investigators
One of the most shocking moments of the episode is the description of Hoffman’s so-called “lair.”
It was a basement full of accumulated leaves, which he used as part of an obsessive behavior.
Remains were found there, crucial evidence and proof of the horror that had occurred in that house.
Belmont recounts precisely how investigators discovered the scene, what forensic analysis revealed, and how the killer’s movement before and after the crimes was reconstructed.
Sarah Maynard: the voice that survived the monster
The heart of the episode is the story of Sarah Maynard, only 13 years old at the time of the crime.
Her testimony, presented in a careful and non-sensationalistic manner, reveals not only the terror she experienced, but also the incredible fortitude that allowed her to survive while the rest of her family was murdered.
The production highlights how Sarah later helped in the reconstruction of the case, her recovery process and the importance of honoring the victims from a place of memory, not morbidity.
Crimes of the Beyond: Narrative Journalism in the Service of Truth
Roberto Belmont, renowned for his trajectory in police chronicles and criminal analysis, conducts this episode with his characteristic style: rigorous, empathetic and deeply human.
His work for Nueva Network and QuéOnnda has managed to connect with a Hispanic audience that seeks clear, serious and contextualized information about cases that have marked the United States.
This episode does not glorify violence. It aims to dismantle the myth of the “monster hidden in the ordinary”, to present verified facts and to remind us that even in the darkest stories, there is a light: resilience.
“The Apple Valley Monster: the true story of Matthew Hoffman and Sarah Maynard’s survival” is now available on Crimes of the Beyond, via all audio platforms such as Apple Podcast and Spotify.
