Mark Hoffman was a documents dealer and forger, active in the 1980s. He is most infamous for creating forged historical documents, primarily related to the Latter Day Saint movement.
- Forged Documents: Hoffman created and sold numerous forged documents, including letters, journals, and other items supposedly written by historical figures. Many of these documents related to the early history of the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Latter%20Day%20Saint%20movement">Latter Day Saint movement</a> and Mormonism.
- Bombings: In 1985, Hoffman constructed and detonated bombs that killed Steven Christensen and Kathleen Sheets. Christensen was a collector of Mormon documents whom Hoffman had promised to sell a collection of forged materials. Sheets was the wife of Christensen's business partner. The bombings were intended to cover up Hoffman's fraudulent activities.
- Investigation and Arrest: The bombings led to a large-scale investigation that ultimately exposed Hoffman's forgery operation. He was arrested and charged with murder and fraud.
- Guilty Plea and Sentence: To avoid the death penalty, Hoffman pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of fraud. He was sentenced to life in prison.
- Forgery Techniques: Hoffman was skilled in creating documents that appeared authentic, using techniques such as aging paper, altering ink, and mimicking handwriting styles. He studied historical documents extensively to improve his forgeries.
- Impact: The Mark Hoffman case had a significant impact on the historical document market, particularly within the Latter Day Saint community. It raised awareness of the potential for forgery and led to increased scrutiny of historical documents.