Teacher in Deadly Love Triangle

(Phoenix, Arizona) In November 2006, a 46-year-old math teacher at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Tamara Hofmann (aka Hoffman), was caught sitting in a suspicious vehicle at 1 AM with male student, Sixto Balbuena.

Hofmann told police Balbuena was a family friend and that his parents knew he was with her because they had all gone to a soccer game that night, according to the police report.

While interviewing Balbuena, who initially identified himself as his 21-year-old brother, police found that he had Hofmann's bra, according to the report.

"When questioned about Sixto (Balbuena) being in possession of her bra, Hofmann reported she had changed clothes in her car while at the soccer game because she was cold, and she told Sixto to put her clothes in the back of the car after she was done," according to the report. "Hofmann said she did not know Sixto had taken her bra."

Since both Hofmann and Balbuena denied having a sexual relationship, police closed the case.

Subsequently, Balbuena finished high school and went into the U.S. Navy. Hofmann continued her teaching while moving on to El Dorado High School in Chandler.

Last Friday, now 20-year-old Sixto Balbuena took leave from the U.S. Navy and returned to Maricopa County, anxious to see his former math teacher and girlfriend, now 48-year-old Tamara Hofmann. Unfortunately, Balbuena arrived at the wrong time.

In the early morning hours, Balbuena found Hofmann naked with an 18-year-old student, Samuel Valdivia, who was dressed only in boxer shorts.

Balbuena told police that Samuel Valdivia apologized to him before Balbuena began kicking, punching and throwing things at him, according to a police probable cause statement.

Police said Balbuena told them he "wanted to teach the victim a lesson," and stabbed him in the lower side with a kitchen knife, according to the court document. Valdivia later died at a hospital. [...]

Balbuena said he never meant to kill Valdivia, telling police "the blade went in like going into butter" and that he just wanted to show Valdivia how much he hurt him by sleeping with Hofmann.

In summary, high school teacher Tamara Hofmann allegedly creates a love triangle with two male students that results in the death of one of them.

Balbuena was booked into jail on a charge of second-degree murder. Bond has been set at $100,000.

Tip: Barry ~