Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, 23, was murdered on May 7, 2008, during a drug buy operation run by the Tallahassee Police Department. A recent Florida State University graduate planning to attend culinary school, Rachel had been placed under drug court supervision after being found with cannabis and ecstasy and agreed to act as a confidential informant to avoid further charges.

Police gave Rachel $13,000 to purchase 1,500 ecstasy pills, two ounces of cocaine, and two handguns, an action described as contrary to department policy. The operation suffered multiple failures: inadequate security, a changed meeting location, and technical problems with Rachel’s wire that prevented officers from instructing her not to follow the suspects. She left the original site in the suspects’ stolen BMW and was later executed with the gun she was supposed to buy; her body was found two days later near Perry, Florida.

Two suspects, Deneilo Bradshaw and Andrea Green, were arrested and charged with her murder. The case prompted a grand jury critique of the police handling and led to passage of Rachel’s Law in Florida, which imposed stricter rules on use of confidential informants. If anyone knew Rachel or has information about the operation, please come forward.