In the spring of 2018, the life of 25-year-old Nicole Haliaaloh Gututala-Hoff was tragically cut short in Jamestown, North Dakota. On the afternoon of May 12th, the mother of two was discovered in her vehicle in an apartment building parking lot, having been fatally shot. A short time after the discovery, her 27-year-old ex-husband, Kevin Michael Hoff of Montpelier, contacted the authorities to turn himself in and was taken into custody at the Stutsman County Law Enforcement Center.
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicole had built a life in Jamestown where she worked as a customer service representative. She was a mother to two young children, a son and a daughter, who were placed with family members in the area following the incident. Those who knew her described her as a loving mother and a kind and caring individual with a positive attitude that allowed her to form long-lasting friendships.
The investigation into Nicole's death revealed a motive rooted in a custody dispute. On the day of the murder, Kevin Hoff had received court documents indicating he had lost his appeal of a court order that granted Nicole sole custody of their two children. He was also reportedly served with a foreclosure notice on his home. In the wake of these events, he confronted Nicole in the parking lot of her apartment and shot her three times while she sat in her car.
Kevin Hoff was charged with murder. In November 2018, he pleaded guilty to the charge. In January 2019, a judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a sentence requested by Nicole's family. Despite multiple appeals to the North Dakota Supreme Court in the following years, his conviction and sentence have been repeatedly upheld.
