Jury selection begins in Hoffman murder case

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Jury selection begins Thursday for a man accused of killing a Marion woman and leaving her body in Amana.

McKinley Louisma is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Melody Hoffman. Louisma is also charged with first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Hoffman’s body was found in February near Lily Lake in Amana.

Investigators say Louisma and Hoffman had an “intimate relationship” and that he was seen with two other men buying gloves and machetes at a Walmart in Cedar Rapids shortly before Hoffman was killed.

Dakota Van Patten and Logan Kimpton are also charged in the case.

Van Patten is also charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Kimpton is charged with malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit a non-violent crime.