Benjamin Lee Hoffman II, a 40-year-old man from Asheville, NC, was found dead on October 18, 2021. His body was discovered in the Swannanoa River near Azalea Road by the Asheville Fire Department after receiving calls about a possible corpse in the river. Hoffman had been reported missing on October 15, 2021, and was last seen on September 17, 2021. The Asheville Police Department identified his body on October 19, 2021, and began investigating his death as a homicide.
The police believe foul play was involved and have identified a person of interest in the case. Hoffman was Asheville's ninth homicide of 2021.
The investigation revealed that Hoffman died from a single gunshot wound to the head. His body was found floating in the river by a train conductor three days after he was reported missing. The autopsy report confirmed the presence of several bullet fragments in his body. The police identified Roy Tyler Forbes, a 32-year-old man from Louisiana, as the primary suspect. Forbes was initially charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was arrested in Louisiana by Plaquemines Parish sheriff's deputies on unrelated charges and later extradited to Buncombe County, where he confessed to shooting Hoffman.
Forbes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Buncombe County Superior Court on October 2, 2023. He admitted to shooting Hoffman at an RV park off U.S. 70 before disposing of his body in the Swannanoa River. Forbes posted a picture on social media with a handgun matching the one used to kill Hoffman. The court sentenced Forbes to an active sentence of 254 to 317 months and recommended anger management services. Hoffman's nephew, Cameron Owens, read a statement in court expressing forgiveness for Forbes and the impact Hoffman's death had on their family.
The Asheville Police Department continues to follow up on leads and encourages anyone with information about the case to contact them. Hoffman's death remains a significant event in the community, highlighting the ongoing issue of violence and the need for justice for the victims and their families.
