Barbara Hoffman was a brilliant and beautiful college student by day, worked as a "masseuse" at a
local massage parlor by night. In her 1980 trial she was accused of the cyanide poisoning murders
of two of her clients. Both men had named her beneficiary in their wills. It was the first homicide
trial in the state to be televised. The murders and trial enthralled Madison from late 1977 to
mid-1980.
Hoffman was convicted of murdering Harold Berge, while acquitted in the murder of her boyfriend,
Gerald Davies. The two men were loners, respectable and conservative by day, but frequent visitors
to Madison's massage parlors at night where Hoffman called herself "Linda".
Barbara Hoffman – As of January 2009 still serving time in Taycheedah, has always refused
to be interviewed.
Harry Berge – Victim
Gerald/Jerry Davies – Victim
John Burr – Prosecutor, given the case by his boss DA Jim Doyle, future Wisconsin governor.
Chuck Lulling – Lead Madison police detective on the case.
Donald Eisenberg – Defense Attorney. Perhaps better known today for his unsuccessful defense
of Lawrencia Bembenek a year or two later.
A book on the Hoffman case “Winter of Frozen Dreams” written by Karl Harter
A movie “Winter of Frozen Dreams” based on the book to be released in 2009
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960098/
Hoffman – Thora Birch
Lulling – Keith Carradine
