Nathan Nixon - A Killer Unlikely

A KILLER UNLIKELY

NATHAN NIXON

Gwenda Sloane

Gwenda Sloane doesnt fit the typical mold of a murderer. We often think of murderers as displaying inconsistent behavior and having alternate motives to their actions. Many times, murderers show a history of crime and recklessness. Gwenda Sloane simply doesnt fit these criteria.

In crimes that have taken place over the previous decade, the murder committed by Gwenda Sloane didnt garner as much attention as some others of a similar time period. This is partly due to the location of the murder and the lack of international media attention with it. If this story had taken place in the United States of America, this would have undoubtedly been one of the biggest stories from anywhere in the nation. The lack of international media attention around the case doesnt make the crime any less chaotic. This crime was one of unimaginable circumstance and truly heartless actions. The murder committed by Gwenda Sloane is a prime example of how the most innocent of faces can commit truly heinous crimes.

Gwenda Leigh Sloane was born in New Zealand in 1969. Her early life is most largely unknown. According to court documents, she lived an ordinary childhood while facing an average amount of obstacles. The most known fact of her childhood was her lack of social skills. This was not to say that she was bullied or in any sort of depression, but that she simply delayed in social skills with regard to making friends and fitting in. Sloane spoke little of her childhood to anyone that she formed relationships with. To most anyone in connection with the case or around Sloane, they knew little of what her life was really like early on. For all intents and purposes, she ultimately graduated from high school in a respectable fashion.

Gwenda settled into an area on the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty Region known as Rotorua. This area is sparsely populated. Each resident here enjoys a reasonable amount of privacy. New Zealand itself, however, is a very dense country that is known for a modest standard of living. Gwenda Sloane was able to settle into this area of North Island reasonably easily. Most everyone who came to knew her had known her to be here her whole life. This is where the story of Gwenda Sloane truly starts.

Gwenda was a quiet and unassuming individual. She was a short woman who kept to herself. She was slightly overweight, with a chubby face that seemed truly innocent and collected. Her appearance was not at all intimidating or standoffish; it was actually quite inviting and warm.

This appearance is perhaps why she was able to form trusting and sincere relationships with those who came in to contact with her. Most anyone would assume only the best about Gwenda. She had provided absolutely no reason to not be trusted or to think that she could have anything but the best intentions in her heart. This way of thinking about Gwenda would soon be proven wrong.

Michelle Hoffman-Tamm had lived a much more organized and typical life. She settled in Rotorua and started the typical family life. She married and had children. For almost 15 years, she lived this life. To all that knew her, she was a happy and attempting mother and wife to her children and husband.

She soon would realize that her route to happiness did not lie in this typical lifestyle. She would divorce her husband, and soon move in with her female partner. This change in lifestyle came as a shock to all who knew her, however, was supported by her family and friends.

Michelle Hoffman-Tamm lived with her partner, Inoi Samuels, for over 15 years. The couple had a serious relationship and appeared happy to most anyone that was around them. They didnt share a monogamous relationship, but enjoyed trust and happiness with each other for the duration of their relationship.

From the time that Michelle Hoffman-Tamm had begun her initial marriage to her husband, she had formed several relationships with other women. Of these relationships, one seemed to stand out as the closest. Michelle Hoffman-Tamm formed an intense personal relationship with Gwenda Sloane.

Gwenda was frequently round the Hoffman-Tamm family. In fact, Michelles daughter, Monique, had formed such a close relationship with Gwenda that she called her Aunty. Gwenda was frequently at family events and had a deep involvement with her children.

Michelle and Gwenda had a friendship that would span roughly 20 years. Throughout this time, they shared a deep sexual bond and formed a trust with each other that rivaled most marriages. Michelles friends and family knew of the deep bond and connection that the pair shared. While it was not a typical relationship, it seemed to be an ultimately healthy and solid relationship that most everyone accepted.

On November 7, 2012, everything would change in a drastic and unforgettable fashion. Michelle Hoffman-Tamm, who was still living with her partner Inoi Samuels, would leave their home in the late afternoon. She left on her bike, and gave no indication of where she was going. The events that would unfold are gruesome and heartbreaking.

When a couple of days went by and no one had heard from Michelle, her family filed a missing persons report to the Rotorua police department. She had not returned text messages or phone calls from anyone, not even her children or partner. Most everyone knew that something was wrong. She was never the type of woman to leave her family in the dark to her whereabouts.

As days turned to weeks, many people around the family began to question if Michelle was safe. While some feared the worst, there were numerous family members who felt like she may have possibly ran-off with a new lover. Police asked all of those who were close to Michelle if they had any recollection of the events around her disappearance. All that anyone truly knew was that on November 7th, she had left her home on a bike and had not been seen since. Gwenda was contacted many times, however she claimed that she hadnt heard from her and didnt see her on November 7th. Initially, no one would suspect that Gwenda had anything to do with her disappearance. After all, she was like a second mother to Michelles children. She had no criminal record and seemed to be the trustworthy, honest, and sincere woman that was a constant for the entire family.

After more than two weeks, investigators caught a huge break in the case. After routine questioning, one of those being interrogated finally spoke as to what had happened. This person led police to the body. When police arrived on scene, they learned that the identity of the body was none other than Michelle Hoffman-Tamm. With the tragic news that would rock an entire community and the Hoffman-Tamm family, their worst fears that Michelle may be dead had been proven true. On November 23, 2012, just off of Highway 38 near Murupara, New Zealand, Michelle Hoffman-Tamm had officially been found. It was apparent that she had been deceased for several weeks. But who finally had come forward and provided the evidence as to what had happened to Michelle? The answer to that question was one of the last people that anyone would have ultimately suspected. It was none other than Gwenda Sloane.

Throughout the investigation, police had contacted and questioned most anyone who knew Michelle. Those who had frequent contact with Michelle, such as Gwenda, her children, and Inoi, were contacted regularly. Police knew that it was likely that one of them knew more than what they were offering to tell. Gwenda stood out to police for many reasons.

Gwenda Sloane had a long and documented relationship with Michelle. It was odd to police, however, that the couple had not lived together. Police found it hard to grasp that someone who was so close to Michelles family was not an official partner of Michelle. Also, police noted that several within the family spoke of how distant Gwenda had become since the disappearance of Michelle. This in itself is not all too suspicious, but it was odd that someone that was so close to others in the family would not be there for them in such a time of need.