Donna Roode, a 62-year-old woman from North Ridgeville, Ohio, tragically passed away on July 18, 2015. Her death was part of a murder-suicide incident in her Laurel Circle home. According to police reports, Donna's 26-year-old daughter, who has autism and physical disabilities, was present during the incident. Donna is believed to have protected her daughter by hiding her and misleading the shooter, Timothy Hoff, into thinking she was not home.
Timothy Hoff, a 65-year-old man, was
identified as the suspect. He had been facing charges of gross sexual imposition and intimidation prior to the incident. Hoff had threatened to burn down the house, and police were actively searching for him before discovering the bodies of Donna and Hoff in their home. Donna's daughter made the 911 call that alerted authorities to the shooting.
The investigation revealed that Hoff had gone on the run after being charged, and his car was found in Rocky River, but police were unable to apprehend him before the murder-suicide occurred. Donna's daughter was safely taken into the care of family members following the incident.
This tragic event shook the North Ridgeville community, and the investigation continued to uncover more details about Hoff's criminal activities and the circumstances leading up to the murder-suicide. Donna Roode's bravery in protecting her daughter has been widely acknowledged and remembered by those who knew her.
