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Woman Killed While Working With Police
Family photo
Police say 23-year-old Rachel Hoffman's body was found early Friday in rural Taylor County.
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Published: May 11, 2008
Updated: 05/11/2008 06:58 pm
TALLAHASSEE - Irv Hoffman and Margie Weiss spent Mother's Day planning their only child's funeral.
"We had to go to her apartment and turn off the utilities and go through her things. This was a kid who was going to go far in life," Weiss, of Safety Harbor, said Sunday during a drive back from Tallahassee.
Police say 23-year-old Rachel Hoffman's body was found early Friday in rural Taylor County, southeast of Tallahassee, after a two-day search. Two suspects are in custody.
The Pinellas County woman, a graduate of Countryside High School in Clearwater, was cooperating with the narcotics squad in an investigation when she disappeared Wednesday.
Her father said it didn't make any sense involving his daughter in a drug and weapons investigation.
"To throw her to the lions, it's just too unbearable to think about," said Hoffman, 58, of Palm Harbor.
At press conference Sunday, lawyers representing the woman's family said Hoffman should not have been placed in such a dangerous situation.
Attorney Johnny Devine criticized Tallahassee police, saying authorities blamed Hoffman, a recent graduate of Florida State University, for her own murder.
Hoffman, who was facing several felony charges, had agreed to cooperate with narcotics officers and was posing as a buyer.
Police have said Hoffman didn't follow protocol when she left with Andrea J. Green and Deneilo Bradshaw, who are now suspects in her disappearance and death.
Green and Bradshaw both face kidnapping and armed robbery charges. Jail records show they have not made court appearances or been granted bail.
Authorities should have done a better job protecting Hoffman, who was not a trained undercover officer, Devine said.
Her parents remembered a vivacious young woman who loved life and "was a shining light whenever she walked into a room," Weiss, 57, said.
"She was the most loving, beautiful girl you could meet," her father said.
"She wanted to go to culinary school. She wanted to open a restaurant with a friend. She loved nature, music and art," he said. "I feel like the wind has been kicked out of me."
Although Hoffman majored in psychology at FSU, her passion was cooking. She wanted to attend a culinary school in Arizona, where her father has family.
"She always had room in her heart and a place at a table," said Susan Mike, a family friend.
Weiss said she wants to push for a law in which confidential informants are required to seek legal advice before consenting to undercover work. She also wants marijuana convictions decriminalized.
She said her daughter called two weeks ago to tell her she wanted to work undercover with the Tallahassee police in order to expunge her arrest record, which involved marijuana. Weiss advised against it.
"It was totally wrong. She trusted them. She put her trust in them," she said.
Officers established a safe zone in the area where Hoffman was supposed to purchase ecstasy, cocaine and a gun, Tallahassee police spokesman David McCranie said. An investigator told her not to go to another location.
Devine, who represented Hoffman on previous drug charges, said neither he nor the state attorney's office knew about the arrangement.
Department policy did not call for the state attorney's office to be notified, and it was Hoffman's responsibility to inform her attorney of the situation, McCranie said.
The funeral service for Hoffman will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Temple Ahavat Shalom, 1575 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor.
"She was an innocent, and they try to slander her," Weiss said. "It's Mothers Day, and they're trying to make my daughter sound like a criminal."
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or at rshopes@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( reptaddict ) on May 11, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Welcome to the world of drugs, Rachel.
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Posted by ( clustermonkey ) on May 11, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Oh, okay, I thought that while she was in custody, the cops killed her. Article makes much more sense, opposite of the headlines... TBO, please reword your title.
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Posted by ( TampaGirl4Ever ) on May 11, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
WoW!!!
How could this have been allowed to happen?
WoW!!!
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Posted by ( livinglife ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Title completely MISLEADING for sure! I had to read the article twice to make sure I wasn't missing something!
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Posted by ( DandV791998 ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Woman killed while working undercover" would get just as many hits while not being misleading.
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Posted by ( XTCEVERLASTING ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
OK YOUNG LADY WE NEED YOU TO PURCHASE ECSTASY, COCAINE AND A GUN FROM THE DANGEROUS DRUG DEALERS....WE'LL DROP SUM OF YUR CHARGES...YEAH YEAH WE KNOW YOUR AN UNTRAINED -NONQUALIFIED CIVILIAN FORGET ABOUT ALL THAT. NAW WE DON'T WANNA SET UP NO SURVEILLANCE CAUSE WE ALL GOING OVER TO THAR DOUGHNUT CONNECTION FOR THE ANNUAL POLICEMAN'S BALL....IF YOU GET INTO TROUBLE JUST GIVE US A HOLLAR ON THAT 911
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Posted by ( bradgeremt ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
yeah she was the perfect angel, maybe the parents should put some of the blame on themselves first instead of others oops im sorry i forgot were in america where we blame other people for causing our problems instead of taking responsibility for our own actions!!
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Posted by ( barney ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm not sure the title is misleading at all... it appears the cops DID kill her by sending her into such a situation with NO BACKUP.
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Posted by ( goodtimejim ) on May 11, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
SOLUTION! Stay the @ell away from drugs.
Will the cops use you ? Oh @ell yes.
When was the last time you were protected by a police man/woman?
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Posted by ( mleilanir ) on May 11, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
xtceverlasting, Im sorry, but that was funny!! No one likes a snitch. I do fel sorry, though, for what her parents must be going through right now.
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Posted by ( tallguy007 ) on May 11, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
tampagirl4ever do u really think the cops care the much?If they did she would have not been there!!!!!
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Posted by ( tedh1112 ) on May 11, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Poor little innocent college girl. It is terrible to lose a child, but this woman didn't get wrapped up in this stuff yesterday. She knew what she was doing when it came to buying and selling drugs, that is why she got in the car. Unfortunately they probably found the wire on her when she was testing the drugs outside of the view of police surveillance.
This wasn't some junior deputy or a police explorer, this was a druggie who turned state's evidence because she wanted to skate on the charge.
I feel for the family. But hanging out in drug circles can lead to this.
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Posted by ( hemi_girl ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The "other newspaper" says that Rachel did not follow police protocol and decided on her own to meet the thugs/murderers without the police supervision.....I'm sorry that this happened but she was no angel and if you read ALL of the newspaper articles about this tragedy it looks like she kind of caused her own problems.....just a thought!
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Posted by ( Elijah ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
A lot of ignorant comments for those who think it it her fault she died.
This is a perfect example of how cops will use a person with no regard for their safety. "ok young woman...you got busted with some pot....NOW we want you to go get us some coke and rolls...oh yeah...and don't forget the GUN!!"
That is absolutley unacceptable. Setting up some dealers to get some dope is one thing...asking to procure a firearm is MUCH different.
These cops should be investigated about their tactics and procedures. Obviously, they can't do their own job well enough and have to coerce and threaten a young woman to do their dirty work....and obviously convinced her that telling her parents or lawyer would be a bad idea....because anyone in their right mind wouldn't agree to something like that!!
What a shame!!
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Posted by ( shallownole ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
In case I am missing something, she was an adult who made her own decisions. Next story please...
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Posted by ( tampaace ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is a tragedy. But, she is an adult. She made a choice without getting any legal advise. And, possibly a criminal act by the police for putting her in that position. Bottom line. DRUGS KILL! Hope the Taylor County Commission has deep pockets. Law suit is coming.
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Posted by ( RichB ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
One less felon on the loose in Florida and two more in custody......Sounds like a win, win situation to me.
Stop your belly aching people it's not the cops fault; she was grown woman that put herself in this situation and was looking for an easy way out by giving up other people.
I'd rather see the loss of a criminal over LEO any day.
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Posted by ( mckoolisme ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
a documented drug user was killed by drug dealers she had dealt with before and it's the cops fault? Yeah the family of this 23 year old "innocent child" definitely needs several million dollars, that will make everything better.
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Posted by ( ron401k ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Apparently she wasn't that innocent as Weiss belives because she had something to expunge from her records.
It is a sad event though.
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Posted by ( Bender ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Makes for a lousy Mother's Day. Yes she was an adult but obviously young and stupid to become involved with drugs and even more foolish to unwittingly put her life in the hands of some incompetent cops. She wasn't smart enough to realize the danger of drugs and those involved in the trade. You'd like to think the police are here to protect and serve even the young and foolish. Why not use an undercover cop, someone trained and experienced to handle the situation professionally, not some naive young person?
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Posted by ( Ardisdarlene ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hello people, those of you into drugs...get out now! Those thinking of it...don't even try. Look what happens, if you don't end up a big mess from the drugs, you end up dead. Remember, when a decision is made it usually effects the rest of your life. Also, think of the people who love and trust you...please don't hurt them like these parents are hurt. This young lady's decision to ever get involved in drugs has ended up creating a damage that can never be undone.
Please kids...adults...stop and think about the future with every little decision you make about everything, think about the consequences. Make a decision to be the best you can be without help from drugs and alcohol, because neither helps, they only make terrible messes in everyones lives.
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Posted by ( memnocK ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Drug war is fun isn't it... This Child was was being slammed for the same thing over 60% of you freaks have done... 1 ounce of herb... They new these scumbags were violent and deadly before they used this Child... Hipocrits all of you, you should be ashamed to speak so harshly of the dead, in a war in the U.S. by the U.S. against the people of the U.S.
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Posted by ( RichB ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bender she failed to follow the guidelines given to her by the police by going out of the "safe zone". At what age do you believe someone to no longer be young and stupid as opposed to just stupid. As for your comment "She wasn't smart enough to realize the danger of drugs and those involved in the trade" wake up!.......She was one of "those involved in the trade" or can't you believe this type of crime can be committed by a young white woman.
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Posted by ( Morris ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
She was of legal age but probably not an adult or she would have listened to her dad. I guess a lot of the people making comments here, at age 18 turned into instant adults, perfect citizens, and having never made any mistakes in their lives do the right thing all the time.
Yeah Right!
I feel sorry for Rachel, and sorry for the loss to all that loved her. Either way the system failed her. The Authorities are making her sound worse just so they won't look quite so bad. They are at fault, period. They should be held accountable. Rachel has paid quite enough for her errs.
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Posted by ( mcmurphy7 ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
She's at fault for getting involved with the stuff to begin with. You can say no to drugs just as easily as to the police/government.
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Posted by ( erikuscs ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Florida does not allow expungements for convictions. She lied to her mommy. She was trying to get a reduction in her plea bargin for cooperating. The police put her in a bad stuation because they tried to get her to buy a gun which made the suspects suspicious. A snitch always tries to buy more than usual because the cops want a more serious charge.
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Posted by ( wildbl ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wake up America. I like to believe everything my 26yo tells me too. The cops are not going to use to anybody with a marijuana conviction to expunge in a narcotics undercover sting. Get real. I really feel horrible for the parents and all who cared for her, but this girl was in much deeper than they knew. Hopefully somebody who really knew her will step up.
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Posted by ( commonsense7 ) on May 11, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
RichB, has hit the nail on the head!! This was no innocent little girl, she was up to her eyeballs in this and was willing to sell her safety to try and get a reduced/no sentence for her crimes. She rolled the dice and they came up CRAPS!! Plus, it sounds like she might have needed hearing aids or maybe a new non-baked brain so that she could undersatnd what the cops told her to do and what not to do. Life of a druggie!
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Posted by ( ratracer ) on May 12, 2008 at 12:01 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
And another bites the dust!!!!!Cops!!!!!!Call a attourney if you want to get off anything.Just ask the Hulk's kid.Stay off drugs...this is what happens!!!Drugs.Drugs.Drugs.Drugs......
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Posted by ( mfayne ) on May 12, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The cops should have informed her that she can pay to have her records expunged without being involved in a dangerous drug bust. I believe it cost $75. Oh yeah, that would have been to much work. My prayers go out to the this family. Everything happens for a reason and hopefully someone will learn something from this tragedy.
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Posted by ( DaddyLutz ) on May 12, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Part of me thinks why would you send someone with a pot conviction into a situation like this? But it says at the beginning of the article, she was facing several felony charges. So even if it was a pot conviction she was trafficking, selling or manufacturing.
I've always felt you should live on one side of the law. If you work for your money, pay taxes and aside from speeding, are law abding- call the cops, they are there for you. But if you break the law on a constant basis, go get you some thugs to keep you protected, because thats the life you live. Nothing good ever comes out of these two worlds colliding... Just my thoughts.
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Posted by ( Nilam02 ) on May 12, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
One of the attorney's names is Jonny Devine? That is the coolest name ever....
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Posted by ( johnboy ) on May 12, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The girl lost her life to get some pot charges taken off her record.I could understand if it was coke,meth,herion,or some of this other hard crap thats on the street,it was just pot.You can buy alcohol legal and get so drunk out of your mind that you can't walk talk or drive,but this is o.k. It was just POT folk's and one more reason why it should be legal.She lost her life over a weed charge.I hope the Police (cops)involved in this case lost alot of sleep, They cost this young women her life and should lose their jobs. I feel bad for her family that knowing she die over something so stupid like a weed...
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Hoffman, who was facing several felony charges..." Yeah, poor angel. She was railroaded by the corrupt police....... Keep thinking that, losers.
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Posted by ( ZakH ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Rachel was a friend of mine, she was a kind sweet soul. Please be mindful with your presumptuous judgments, her friends and family are devastated that such a senseless act has taken such a bright star out of the universe so prematurely. Rachel didn't deserve to go this way, and her friends and family don't deserve such disrespectful comments from the peanut gallery.
R.I.P. Rachel Hoffman
You will be missed
peace & love,
zhs
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Posted by ( bulldoggator ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Let's see, I'm pretty good at math but this is not adding up:
Her decision to use drugs + Her decision to go undercover + Her decision to not stay in the "safe zone" = Law Enforcement's fault she's dead???
Her parents want a law passed requiring people consult a lawyer prior to assisting Law Enforcement with undercover work...How about we also require everyone consult a lawyer before using drugs. Then maybe they will find out drugs also can get you killed.
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Posted by ( joeyg ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Terrible situation. But let's be real here.
People go undercover ALL THE TIME and don't get killed for it. Seriously, how often do you hear of anyone, POLICE OR CIVILIAN getting killed while undercover? Unless you watch CSI MIAMI, or LAW and ORDER, it very rarely happens. So right there, most of you are WAY OFF.
She was also an adult and chose to do this. She made mistakes by breaking the law and chose to do something slightly risky to repay the debt to society. Tragically, it ended up going bad and she is dead. Horrible, but all of you trying to blame the cops are ignorant. You are either cop haters or potheads. Use some common sense here. They didn't FORCE her to do this. And despite your wild imaginations, this doesn't happen that often. In buying POT from whoever she bought from before getting busted, she took chances. I don't think smoking POT is that bad, but it is against the law, a law MOST of the public supports, and when you break the law, you are rolling the dice. PERIOD. Yes, it's that simple.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ZakH - Sorry for your loss, but this is why Nancy Reagan told you kids to "just say no" to drugs.......
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Posted by ( whitney ) on May 12, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
In the words of Mark Twain, "If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." Who, amongst all of you who feel that your opinions are so valuable that everyone else must want to hear them, really knows the whole story of what has happened here? Did anyone know Rachel? Does anyone know the situation she was in? Does anyone know exactly what went down each step of the way that lead to this tragic event? No. Unless you were there and have the entire story, don't make presumptuous opinions based on stereotypes about crime. Yes, she was involved with drugs, so yes, she has some of her own blame to be responsible for; but at the end of the day, one young woman is lost, one community is grieving, and one family is left with a hole in their hearts that cannot be filled. "Fault" or no "fault" we will never know, but how dare anyone disrespect a grieving mother and family who lost something so precious as the life of their baby with your silly, nothing-better-to-do-with-my-time-than-gossip-on-the-internet-about-news-while-not-being-completely-
informed-yet-still-passing-self-righteous-judgement comments? I admit that by even responding to this in the first place that makes me no different, but you all who can't even find enough sympathy to keep your mouths shut ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
whitney - Wow. You really are an idiot. This isn't a place for people to post regards for someone's loss - it's a comment section. Anyone with any comment can do so here. These people here (myself and even you) have the right to comment however they feel. If you don't like our comments, please feel free to [word omitted] off. You don't have to read the comments if you don't want to, no one is holding a gun to your head........
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Posted by ( fsugrad ) on May 12, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am from Tallahassee, and while I did not know Rachel on a very personal level, I met her many times at local concerts and festivals around the area. She loved jam band music and was a happy soul. Like many college students she may have done some drugs and she may have even sold them on occasion, but I can assure you she was not the monster the Tallahassee Police Department has made her out to be.
How can anyone with half a heart send a 23 year old girl to buy 1500 ecstasy pills, 2 ounces of cocaine, and a gun; and then loose track of her? From what her friends are saying, she was lead to believe that the only way out of her situation was to turn someone over. Her attorney was not informed, and they didn't even have a police report make concerning her most recent arrest. The amount of pressure that girl was under when she made that decision should not forced upon anyone.
Big changes are needed in America's war on drugs. Rachel is just one of countess citizens who have fallen victim to our governments strong armed tactics against its own people.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
fsugrad - If she hadn't done drugs to begin with she wouldn't have put herself in this unfortunate position. It's a real shame and a tragedy, but let's stop blaming everone but the person who's most responsible - Rachel Hoffman.............
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Posted by ( woodsnutbushman ) on May 12, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ok now you went and did it. You have awakened the mother of all temptations. This Ex con would like to settle this naging.I too have been an informent,for a reduced sentence.This girls parents are going to make out like a bandit.Why? There daughter was put in a situation, to bust a major drug ring not to bust the person, who sold her the weed.You can not be forced to inform out of your crime of choice.PS I have dollars too bet on the fact that 75% of the people making comments here that they know of some one or activity in there area that is questionable but because they would be putting there home/family at risk say nothing.I know! when a drug dealer is busted in a neighbor hood, the law should investigate all the neighbors,search there homes,make them spy on the other neighbors for them, or face prosecution. How do you sniveling commentary blogers feel about that.:}
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Posted by ( H8TR ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
hhmm...what will the leos arrest her for now?
Hmm....lets see loitering, occupying a public area, drawing a crowd without a permit, unlaful use of emotions in public, not standing when spoken to, resisting arrest and I'm sure they can dream up some others.
Yep...they have a whole slew of charges they can bring her up on after the funeral.
Scumbags...they couldnt care less she died or what her family is going through.
prayers to her family and friends.
curse to all leos
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
woodsnutbushman - Why should I believe an ex-con????? There, you wanted it and you got it. How do YOU feel about this "sniveling commentary bloger"?
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( H8TR ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Randall, you ignorant fop...that was what we (those with an iq higher than a toaster) call SARCASM.
The point was to illustrate the fact that the scum leo's got a 23 yr old killed on a stupid pot charge.
I dont even do drugs, and I can see the idiocy of that. Pot is such a minor thing, it aint funny
They dont give 2 craps about anything, except padding their own stats.
23 year old college girl gets kileed? Eh, so what.
Family is devestated by their ONLY childs death? eh, so what.
Family now has thousands of dollars to fork out due to their 23 year old, only little girl, very premature death? eh, so what.
I say, eye for an eye...
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
H8TR - THAT was sarcasm? Oh, good God! You really are stupid.....
This wasn't a "stupid pot charge", this chick had "several felony charges" she was facing.
Had this idiot not gotten herself mixed up in any of this she'd still be alive today! Don't be so stupid as to blame the cops for wanting to arrest the dealer. This guy goes out and sells this s--t to a bunch of kids you'd be the first one crying about how they always go after the little guy (girl) and they never go after the people who deal this crap. Pull your head out of your posterior and go away, you complete jackazz.......
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Posted by ( SMB ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey H8TR,
You can have the eyes of the 2 guys they have in jail for this, since they are the ones suspected of killing her, provided they are found guilty...
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Posted by ( H8TR ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( H8TR ) on May 12, 2008 at 4 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( SMB ) on May 12, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
An ad hominem argument does not help you position. I placed no blame on her or the cops. I merely placed the blame where it belongs. With perpetrators that commited the act.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 12, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
H8TR - You are one uneducated dolt. She obviously had enough "street smarts" to find the crap, so she should have had enough "street smarts" to follow the police's directions. She got herself into this mess, and has the legal right to hire an attorney to discuss this type of operation. She chose this path to get some, or all, of her upcoming sentences reduced. She knew exactly what she was doing; trying to rat-out someone else to save her own azz.....
"Infant"? "Twit"? How uninspiring your insults truly are.
Here's what you need to do - go back to a Community College, take a couple of English classes, and then try again.
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Posted by ( H8TR ) on May 12, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Indeed SMB.
They are most certainly to blame.
IMHO though, she shouldnt have been asked to do such a large task at her age. I think it was simply too much.
Sad situation for all.
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Posted by ( TanSurfer ) on May 12, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.
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Posted by ( LuckyLuke ) on May 12, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
And the moral of the story is and always was... you guessed it!
"Don't Involve Yourself With Illegal Drugs."
If you already knew this, pat yourself on the back and crack open a beer.
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Posted by ( stp308 ) on May 12, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
whats the problem now they don't have to keep her in jail and they didn't lose one of there own! for the cops its a win win.
no matter how you look at it if they shouldn't talk to you without a lawyer there and they sure as @$#% shouldn't ask you to do ANYTHING no matter what it is with out a lawyer there.
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Posted by ( chriss100602 ) on May 12, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
stp308.... she knows all that. She chose to do it anyway. No one forced her.
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Posted by ( theSuperStar ) on May 12, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just Say No!
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Posted by ( dee8138 ) on May 12, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This girl was no innocent girl who dabbled in pot, she was a DRUG DEALER with two different arrests...Perhaps she should have used her degree from FSU to get a real job and become a productive tax paying citizen instead of a drug dealing piece of garbage. Don't fall in love with the pretty face...bottom line is one more drug dealer is dead and off the streets!
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Posted by ( todu385 ) on May 12, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
How about we blame the persons that killed her? The police did not kill her, and she did not kill herself. She did not follow instructions and put herself in danger. Maybe if the parents had taught her to do what she was told she might be alive today. But then, had she not gotten invovled with drugs none of this would be being talked about.
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Posted by ( jbo89 ) on May 13, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
As someone who knew Rachel those who say she deserved it or had it coming...ouch...today we'll have to say goodbye to her forever its hard and it hurts and the negativity that i and her family and friends see does not and will not help the healing process. if you dont have anything nice to say dont say a word i just pray that this never happens to your friends or family...
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Posted by ( 91stormvet ) on May 13, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is simple, she got caught with drugs. She was offered a lighter sentence for "flipping" on her supplier. She chose to co-operate. She could have said NO and take the punishment for her crime. This was her choice to FLIP. Thinking someone must have caught wind of her bust and eliminated her before she could eliminate them. DRUGS ARE BAD! Um Kay
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Posted by ( 91stormvet ) on May 13, 2008 at 2:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bush made her do it! Blame everyone but her! Quick who else can we blame! Besides, you and I both know that Guns kill people not the person who pulled the trigger. Kind of like the spoon makes rosie o'donnel fat! LMAO
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Posted by ( joeyg ) on May 13, 2008 at 2:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
MORON OF THE MONTH goes to H8TR.
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Posted by ( Former_Right_Winger ) on May 13, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am shocked at all the self-righteous comments about this dead girl that say -"Oh, she took drugs, who cares if she got killed. She is an ex-con! I used to be an ignorant, far right- winger who thought that everyone who was in prison belonged there.. AND that if you do the crime you do the time.
But the devil is in the details. You must know how our laws are written. Do you know that you can be charged for drug trafficking in Florida if you have as little as 6 pain pills? And face a MANDATORY MINIMUM of 3 years in prison? (4 grams of hydrocodone or any mixture thereof). And in our great state, you can be convicted and sent to prison for a MAN MIN of 25 years for having as little as 32 pain pills? (28 grams).
READ THE LAW!!! Statute 893.135 even says that having a valid RX in your own name cannot be used as a DEFENSE in court. And to BE convicted of "drug trafficking" you never have to SELL a drug to anyone; you just have to be in possession of a certain weight. Check the statute. You need not sell anything to anyone to be convicted of drug trafficking in Florida.
Of course drugs are NOT the way to go, but history has shown that over time, there is consistently 12% of any given population that will use and/or abuse drugs, regardless of the laws that are put into place. Addiction can happen to anyone. Even a "god" like Rush Limbaugh managed to get addicted to pain pills. Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a health issue and needs to be treated as such. Unless you hurt someone or drive impaired, it should not be a criminal matter.
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Posted by ( Former_Right_Winger ) on May 13, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
***CONTINUED FROM ABOVE POST***
The way we have handled the "war on drugs" thus far has been a complete and utter failure. 30 years and untold billions of dollars later, drugs are cheaper, purer and more easily available than before. You can buy drugs in prison!! It is not the inmates that are getting them from their visitors either. Visitors are searched and ION tested. Guards are NOT searched when they go to work. How do you think the drugs get into the prison system?
We have almost 100,000 inmates in FL’s system. At least 50% of those folks are non-violent low-level drug offenders. It costs taxpayers about $30,000 per year to warehouse them. That is not how I want my tax dollars spent. Treatment works & it is a fraction of the cost of prison.
Now Rush Limbaugh had enough pills to land in prison for a MAN MIN of 25 years. Somehow, he went to REHAB for 30 days and cut a deal with the PB SAO to pay a "fine" of $30K. Rush has no criminal record. All is well. The Rushs and Bushes in the world somehow manage to "just need rehab" and end up never going to prison and never having a criminal record.
Those of you who enjoy a beer or glass of wine or a mixed drink on occasion please remember that alcohol used to be illegal. You have to ask yourself if the laws make sense. Prohibition did not work! That is why it was repealed. A substance is only illegal if the lawmakers classify it as such. Morally, what is the difference between a beer and a joint? To me, there is no moral difference. (I do not smoke pot or use drugs myself).
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Posted by ( Former_Right_Winger ) on May 13, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
***CONTINUED FROM ABOVE***
I do not want my main point to get lost: We have a prison industrial complex in Florida and there is MONEY to be made by various vendors and contractors. The goal has been to use 1 person to bust 3 more, who will each bust 3 more.....and grow the inmate population and criminal justice system. However, we have a BUDGET CRISIS in our fair state and we cannot afford to build more prisons and house more inmates. It is perfectly logical to me that the police would use this girl as a CI. She could have been trying to provide assistance for a new drug case and not the old pot charge. WHO CARES? That is not the point. Perhaps she had a drug habit and needed help. "She should have not left the safe area" said one poster. Maybe she did not have a choice!!! Was she wired? Did LE hear what went on between her and the suspects?
For those of you that are hard core right-wingers, you have NEVER seen the other side. You have only been exposed to one side. Check out the ACLU's website about the documented abuse of confidential informants by law enforcement. You will see that this sad story is but one of thousands of stories that never make the news.
http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/index.html
http://72.3.233.244/drugpolicy/search/informantabuse.html
My heart felt sympathy to the family of this young woman. Yes, she was put in harm's way by law enforcement and she did lose her life as a result of the whole”confidential informant” system. Educate yourselves and know what is going on in this country. This could have been your son or daughter. People think it can never happen to them. Until it does.
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Posted by ( wearescrewed ) on May 17, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am disgusted by half of the comments on here! Half of you are out of your minds. The fact that anyone of you could concieve in your sick minds, that the police department is not directly responsible for this tragedy is devastating! Do you actually think that this girl was "poisoning" your community with her "drug pushing" tactics? She was a college graduate, with a future ahead of her! Wake up folks! This girl made some mistakes. Everyone of us has a closet full of skeletons. We all have the right to make mistakes. It's what makes us human! She was told by a trusted authority how she could pay her debt to her community for her mistakes. This is the same authority that you trust to protect you while you sleep. This was a cut and dry sting operation. How can a police department make a drug sting, if they are not closely following and protecting their informant every second. You need to ask yourselves a few logical questions. Why was this girl placed in such an extreme situation? The charges against her dont even come close to the situation that she was placed in. Dont you think that stinks a little bit! Honestly! Do you think she is actually responsible for her own murder? It's pretty obvious what happened here. This is clear as day! Very scary folks! Face the reality as harsh as it is! This world is not pretty! The people in uniforms policing your community may be protecting themselves when they are supposed to be protecting you. Maybe you would be more understanding if it was someone you loved!
To Rachel Hoffman's parents, family, friends, and loved one's, I am so sorry for your loss. I truly hope that justice will be served, and this tragic event will keep this from ever happening again!
To everyone,
You are all entitled to your opinion! If you have something to add to my view on this situation, I welcome your comments. Please seriously think about the facts. We have control of our communities and the people that we have elected to protect us! This tragic event is important, and needs to be taken seriously. Is this the future of our safety and security?
It's our call.
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