How to Become a Widow

Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier

Someone entered Buck Hofhines’s Fairbanks home on a bitterly cold January night and shot him seven times. His young bride, Verna, discovered his body, and she appeared shocked and confused. She told the Alaska State Troopers that she didn’t know why anyone would want to murder her husband. Authorities immediately suspected her of the crime, but she had a convincing alibi. Verna Hofhines was on stage performing as an exotic dancer when someone brutally murdered her husband, Buck. This crime and the resulting trial captivated the residents of Fairbanks. The trial included a “Perry Mason moment” and a violent offender who was not finished terrorizing the residents of Alaska. Sources: Brennan, Tom. 2005. A Fairbanks Divorce. Pgs. 7-87. Cold Crime. Epicenter Press. Two Persons held in Hofhines'’ death. 2-24-1972. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Harmonica Player, Dancer Charged With Murder, 2-25-1972. Fairbanks Pioneer All- Alaska Weekly. State Presents ‘Barebones’ Case in Brutal Hofhines Murder. 3-3-1972. Fairbanks Pioneer All-Alaska Weekly. Hofhines’ wife held, man freed in murder. 3-3-1972. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Preliminary Hearing Held in Hofhines Murder. 3-3-1972. Fairbanks Pioneer All-Alaska Weekly. ‘I wanted to be a widow’ Mrs. Hofhines tells court. 6-15-1972. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The Hofhines Murder Case – A $5,000 Killing Done on Credit. 6-23-1972. Fairbanks Pioneer All-Alaska Weekly. Anthony is guilty says jury verdict. 6-17-1972. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Anthony given life term in Hofhines murder case. 7-26-1972. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Go-Go Dancer Gets 20 Yr. Sentence For Murder One. 11-3-1972. Fairbanks Pioneer All-Alaska Weekly. Anchorage jury finds Anthony guilty of murder. 10-12-1974. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Convicted killer Anthony flees, manhunt underway. 10-14-1974. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Anthony Convicted, Escapes, Captured, New Charges. 10-18-1974. Fairbanks Pioneer All-Alaska Weekly. ____________________________________________________________________________________ I am excited to announce the release of my fifth novel -- Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge. Watch a short video about the novel.