News

Actions

Minister Found Dead Inside Vehicle Under Six Feet of Water

Posted at 8:40 AM, Jun 23, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-23 08:45:51-04

KURT HOFFMANSIDNEY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 23, 2014) — Kurt Hoffman, 53, a longtime minister at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Stanton was found dead inside his vehicle, which was submerged six feet under water.

Montcalm County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Lampman Lake on South Brown Road at 9:54 a.m. on June 22, after someone noticed that a vehicle was under the water in the lake. The vehicle was about 30 feet off the road, and the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Dive Team found Hoffman behind the wheel with his seat belt still on.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, Hoffman didn’t turn at a curve in the road, hit a fallen tree, and went into the lake at what seems like a high rate of speed. Family says he was last seen on June 21.

Police say it’s not clear when the vehicle went into the water, and there will be an autopsy to determine an exact cause of death. No one else was in the vehicle.