Wednesday, September 27, 2000
Killer sentenced to 15 to life
Proffitt confessed to shooting Greenhills woman 20 years ago
By credit
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A confessed killer was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years to life in prison, ending a Winton Woods murder mystery that nagged police for two decades.
Michael Proffitt of London, Ky., called police six months ago and told them he shot Betty Hoff mann in July 1980 as she walked her Great Dane in the woods.
For years, police and family thought the Greenhills mother of three had been shot by a stray bullet fired by children in the area.
But Mr. Proffitt in April revealed the truth — that he intended to sexually assault the 55-year- old secretary but shot her instead when she tried to run.
He decided to tell the story, he said, because he wanted to clear his conscience.
Mr. Proffitt, 40, was sentenced by Hamilton County Judge Fred Cartolano, who also ruled that he will be classified as a sexual predator.
The judge's finding means that Mr. Proffitt will be required, after his release from prison, to regularly tell local authorities where he lives. Mr. Proffitt said Tuesday he plans to challenge that finding.
Mrs. Hoffmann's youngest daughter, Margaret Casserly of Chicago, said at a court hearing two weeks ago that the confession brought unexpected closure for the family.
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