Ohio Reschedules Execution of Timothy Hoffner from June 18, 2024, to July 14, 2027

Timothy Hoffner, Ohio

Updated: Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Timothy J. Hoffner was scheduled to be executed at 10 am local time on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility near Mansfield, Ohio. His execution has been rescheduled to Wednesday, July 14, 2027. Fifty-two-year-old Timothy is convicted of murdering 22-year-old Christopher Hammer in Toledo, Ohio, on September 22, 1993. Timothy has spent the last 28 years on death row in Ohio.

Timothy was abandoned by his mother, shortly after he was born and was then adopted by step-relatives. His mother was not a part of most of his life while growing up. His adoptive parents testified that Timothy often misbehaved as a child. Timothy had a bizarre upbringing, with his family having survivalist tendencies, which included a year’s supply of food in freezers, and several weapons around the house. Timothy did not have a significant criminal record before his arrest. Timothy was diagnosed with antisocial and schizotypal personality disorders.

In the summer of 1993, Christopher Hammer became friends with Archie Dixon and Timothy Hoffner. For a brief time, Christopher stayed with Dixon and Hoffner at the home of Dixon’s girlfriend, Kirsten Wilkerson.

In early September 1993, Dixon and Hoffner borrowed Christopher’s car to go to the movies with a third friend. During the trip, the friend overheard Dixon and Hoffner discussing what to do with Christopher’s car and discussing possibilities of where it could be stored. That friend would later identify Christopher’s car at a used car lot.

On September 21, 1993, Dixon told his girlfriend that he and Hoffner were going to “get Chris tonight.” Wilkerson understood this to mean that they were going to kill Christopher, who met Dixon and Hoffner later that night at a pool hall in Toledo, Ohio. The three men returned to Wilkerson’s house during the early morning hours of September 22, 1993.

At the house, Dixon and Hoffner attacked Christopher, severely beating him. Hoffner unsuccessfully attempted to break Christopher’s neck and restrained him in a headlock, while Dixon hit Christopher over the head with a wine bottle. Christopher begged the two men to stop. Christopher was tied to a bunk bed ladder while Dixon went through Christopher’s wallet, stealing $11 in cash, and Christopher’s birth certificate and social security card. They also discussed how they could dispose of Christopher’s body. While Christopher remained tied to the bed ladder, Dixon and Hoffner left the house to go dig a grave.

Dixon, Hoffner, Wilkerson, and Christopher all got into Christopher’s car and drove to the spot where the grave had been dug. Wilkerson stayed in the vehicle, while the three men walked to the grave, Christopher was allowed to smoke a cigarette. Christopher was then gagged, blindfolded, had his hands and feet tied behind his back, and pushed into the grave. He was held down, while Dixon and Hoffner covered him in dirt. After completely burying Christopher, Dixon and Hoffner walked across the grave several times, packing down the dirt.

To sell Christopher’s car, Dixon received a fake ID card, with his picture, but Christopher’s name. He then obtained a certificate of title for Christopher’s car, allowing him to sell the vehicle.

In November 1993, police investigating Christopher’s disappearance located his car and identified Dixon as the primary suspect in the transaction, arresting him for forgery. Dixon confessed to police about the forgery but denied any knowledge of Christopher’s disappearance. Hoffner was also questioned regarding Christopher’s disappearance. Hoffner denied involvement in Christopher’s disappearance but implicated Dixon. Hoffner also told police that Dixon had shown him where Christopher was buried and led police to the body. Police arrested Dixon, who then confessed and implicated Hoffner, who was also arrested and eventually confessed.

Dixon and Hoffner were both arrested, charged, and convicted and sentenced to death for their parts in Christopher’s murder. Wilkerson was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

This is not Timothy Hoffner’s first execution date. He has had several previous execution dates, which have been rescheduled by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Since 2015, Ohio has had ongoing problems obtaining execution drugs to carry out executions. In 2019, Governor Mike DeWine announced an unofficial moratorium on executions in the state, however, since Ohio schedules its executions years in advance, this has resulted in numerous executions being rescheduled. Read more about the challenges Ohio has been facing regarding executions in the state here.

Pray for peace and healing for the family of Christopher Hammer. Pray for strength for the family of Timothy. Pray that if Timothy is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be provided before his execution. Pray that Timothy may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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