Devin Wolfgang Vanderhoef, 26, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was sentenced Thursday in Monterey County, California, to two consecutive life terms for orchestrating an attempted murder plot. The crime involved Vanderhoef traveling to California, posing as an Amazon delivery driver, and attacking a woman he met through online gaming.
Vanderhoef met the unidentified female victim through online gaming in November 2024. Prosecutors stated that Vanderhoef spent nearly a year obsessing over the woman before carrying out the attack. He meticulously planned the scheme for over a month, purchasing knives, handcuffs, and duct tape, and conducting surveillance of the victim's home and workplace.
In November 2024, Vanderhoef arrived at the victim's Salinas home disguised as an Amazon delivery driver. The victim's boyfriend answered the door, and Vanderhoef invaded the residence, stabbing him. During the struggle, Vanderhoef also tackled and choked the female victim. Both victims managed to hold off Vanderhoef until law enforcement arrived. The male victim disarmed Vanderhoef during the assault.
Following his arrest, Vanderhoef admitted to investigators that he had murderous intent. He was also found to have an accomplice, Darius Avery White, who was arrested and sentenced in April 2026 after pleading guilty to assault charges and testifying against Vanderhoef.
In addition to the two consecutive life sentences, Vanderhoef received a five-year consecutive sentence for inflicting bodily injury and using a weapon during the crime. Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto issued a statement emphasizing the potential real-world consequences of online interactions and urging continued engagement and awareness in protecting individuals, particularly children, from online dangers.
The Sheriff's Office statement also warned about the deceptive nature of online interactions, noting that individuals met online may not be who they claim to be. They advised caution when using social media, messaging platforms, and online gaming services.