Mourners fill Anchorage church to remember 19-year-old homicide victim

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday afternoon at the Faith Christian Community church on Wisconsin Street for homicide victim Cynthia Hoffman’s funeral.

State prosecutors say Hoffman, a Service High School graduate, was killed at the Thunderbird Falls trailhead in Chugiak on June 2 by two Anchorage teenagers, Denali Brehmer and Kayden McIntosh.

Dozens of motorcyclists escorted the hearse carrying Hoffman to the service. Tim Hoffman, Cynthia’s father, rode his motorcycle behind it.

During opening remarks, Tim Hoffman asked the audience to try to keep the remembrance of his daughter joyful.

“I don’t want this reunion to be a sadness. I want it to be a new birth of my daughter,” he said.

Several friends and family members shared memories and songs of Cynthia.

Five teenagers have been charged in her death: Brehmer, 18, McIntosh, 16, Caleb Leyland, 19, and two minors whose names haven’t been made public. Tim Hoffman said he planned to attend all the court hearings.

“I have a court appearance at 8:30 tomorrow morning at downtown jail,” he told the audience at the funeral. “And excuse my French, but I’m going to send them all to hell.”

Related: Federal child pornography case links Indiana man to slaying of 19-year-old in Alaska