Remains found in the area of Seven Devils, Bernard Creek positively identified

Remains that were found in the area of the Seven Devils and Bernard Creek area have been positively identified as Todd William Hofflander by the FBI using DNA analysis, according to Idaho County Coroner Cody Funke.

Hofflander, then 39, from Lucille, was last seen Sept. 26, 2010 in the area of McGaffee Cow Camp while backpacking in the area with a friend. A search of the area by multiple agencies was unsuccessful in locating Hofflander.

On April 27, 2020, a hunter in the Bernard Creek area found what appeared to be human remains, along with some backpacking supplies and a camera. The hunter took the camera and turned it over to the Idaho County Sheriff's Office, where pictures of Todd Hofflander where subsequently located on the device.

A team from the Idaho County Sheriff's Office was taken by boat to the area and collected the remains and the hunting gear. Detectives showed the hunting gear to Hofflander's wife and she positively identified the items as belonging to her husband.

Funke took possession of the remains and transported them to the Ada County Coroner's Office in Boise for further review. Investigators with Ada County used contacts to get the remains to the FBI in Washington DC and the FBI confirmed all remains found were from the same person. At that time, they took DNA and ran it against a known sample of Hofflander's DNA.

On Jan. 21, Ada County Investigators called Funke and stated they had positively identified the remains as Todd Hofflander. The Idaho County Coroner and the Idaho County Sheriff's office would like to thank the Ada County Coroner's Office and the FBI for making the DNA match. Their deepest condolences once again go out to the Hofflander family.

The resources used in the search included: Idaho County Sheriff's Deputies, Idaho County Search and Rescue, Idaho County Sheriff's Posse, Clearwater County Search and Rescue, Valley County Search and Rescue, inmates and correctional officers from Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino, Back Country Medics helicopters, Fairchild Air Force Base helicopters, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, horse teams, ATV (all-terrain-vehicle) teams, thermal imaging equipment, multiple dog teams including local teams and High Country Search Dogs from Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, and many family, friends, neighbors and community members.

Photo: Todd Hofflander