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Hoffman Murder

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Slain teen's family files wrongful death
suit against grandmother, husband.

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

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14

November 21 • 2013

JN

wrongful death suit has been
filed against Sandra Layne,
the grandmother convicted
in the shooting death of her 17-year-
old grandson, Jonathan Hoffman,
during an argument in Layne's West
Bloomfield condominium on May
18, 2012. The lawsuit also names her
husband, Fred Layne, 86, who left the
house while Sandra shot her grandson
with a Glock 17 handgun she had pur-
chased weeks earlier.
The lawsuit, filed by attorney A.
Vince Colella on behalf of Doug Wartell,
personal representative of Jonathan
Hoffman's estate, asks for a judgment
in excess of $1 million, plus interests,
costs and attorney fees for each of
four counts against Sandra and Fred
Layne. Sandra, 75, is accused of assault
and battery and wrongful death, false
imprisonment and intentional infliction
of emotional distress. Fred, a retired
engineer, is accused of negligence and
wrongful death for failing to protect
Jonathan or ensure his safety.
On the day of the murder, Jonathan
had argued with his grandmother
after testing positive for K-2, a form
of synthetic marijuana. Fred, who was
Jonathan's step-grandfather, testified
that his wife had asked him to take the
dog for a walk and not to return until
she called him. He said he was not
aware his wife had purchased a gun
and taken shooting lessons.
"He [Fred] was turning his back
on this child who was clearly in dan-
ger:' Colella said. "She [Sandra] had
snapped, and after living with her for
more than 20 years, he knew she had
snapped:'
The suit seeks compensation for
damages that include medical, hospi-
tal, funeral and burial expenses; the
pain and suffering Jonathan experi-
enced between the firing of the first
shot and his death; losses suffered by
Jonathan's heirs as a result of his death;
and other injuries and damages that
may be identified.
Sandra Layne is currently serving
20-40 years for second degree mur-
der. She was sentenced last April by
Oakland County Circuit Judge Denise
Langford Morris, who presided over
a jury trial that included dozens of
witnesses and more than 200 exhibits.
Forensic experts analyzed gunshot
wounds, bullet casings and bloodstain

Jonathan Hoffman

patterns to piece together what hap-
pened during the fatal shooting.
A key factor in the trial was a heart-
rending recording of the 911 call made
by Jonathan during the final minutes
of his life. The call revealed that Layne
shot her grandson twice, in the arm
and chest, and then returned three
minutes later to shoot him again while
he was on the phone begging for help.
A trail of Layne's bloody footprints
indicate she went down to the base-
ment between the first and second set
of shots.
Michael Hoffman, an attorney, said
the lawsuit is intended to bring out the
truth about his son's tragic death.
"My family continues to be devas-
tated by the loss of our son, Jonathan,
and any and all who are responsible
for his brutal murder, directly and
indirectly, should be held to account
for their actions and inactions:' he
said, adding that any monetary award
will be used to establish a foundation
in Jonathan's name to help underprivi-
leged teens.
Jonathan had been living with the
Laynes while his divorced parents,
Michael and Jennifer Hoffman, were
in Arizona caring for their daughter,
Jessie, who had been diagnosed with
a brain tumor shortly after the family
arrived. Jonathan, who had originally
made the move with his family, was
invited by Jennifer's mother to return
to Michigan and stay with her while
finishing his senior year at Farmington
Central High School.
The wrongful death case will be
heard by Oakland County Circuit
Court Judge Colleen O'Brien. Colella
estimates it may be a year before the
case goes to trial.

❑

