Dakota Van Patten was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the death of 20-year-old Melody Hoffman. Her body was found on February 18, 2024, by Lily Lake in Amana, Iowa. A criminal complaint said she had been strangled and had numerous stab and slash wounds. Prosecutors say he helped his friend McKinley Louisma kidnap and kill Melody Hoffman who was Louisma's ex-girlfriend. Police say the pair killed Hoffman at Morgan Creek Park in Cedar Rapids before dumping her body off at Amana Lily Lake in Iowa County. The first-degree murder conviction carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole. In a hand-written request for a new trial, Van Patten claimed his defense counsel was ineffective. Louisma, was convicted in December 2024 and is serving a mandatory life sentence. A third suspect in the case, Logan Kimpton, is accused of going with the other two to buy weapons and gloves but told investigators he got cold feet before the actual murder and didn't participate. He is charged with conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and has a trial scheduled in December 2025.