The case has ended with a life sentence.
A Canadian gamer accused of developing an obsession with a woman he met online crossed into the United States, posed as an Amazon delivery driver and carried out a violent home invasion in California, authorities said. He will now spend the rest of his life in prison.
Devin Wolfgang Vanderhoef, 26, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive life terms. A jury convicted him in February of attempted murder tied to the November 2024 attack in Salinas.
Prosecutors said Vanderhoef had fixated on the woman for roughly a year before carefully planning the cross-border assault.
Investigators said he traveled from Canada to California, dressed as an Amazon delivery driver to get near the residence, and then launched the attack inside the home.
In the weeks before his flight to California, prosecutors said, he spent more than a month preparing by buying knives, handcuffs and duct tape, while also watching the woman’s home and workplace.
Authorities said Vanderhoef was not acting alone.
He traveled with Darius Avery White, who was later taken into custody while seated on a flight bound for Canada.
White pleaded guilty to assault charges, testified against Vanderhoef, and was sentenced in April.
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On the night of the attack, Vanderhoef allegedly posed as an Amazon delivery driver and approached the home.
When the woman’s boyfriend answered the door, the situation turned violent almost immediately.
Vanderhoef forced his way inside and stabbed the boyfriend, prosecutors said.
The violence spilled outside as both victims attempted to escape, and the boyfriend managed to disarm Vanderhoef and stab him during the struggle.
But the attack did not stop there.
Vanderhoef then tackled the female victim and choked her until she could not breathe.
Miraculously, both victims survived the assault.
Investigators said Vanderhoef later admitted his intent was to “actually kill someone.”
In addition to the two consecutive life sentences for attempted murder, he received five additional consecutive years for inflicting bodily injury and using a weapon during the crime.
“We hope this case serves as a powerful reminder that online interactions can carry real-world consequences,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said. “We encourage parents and community members to remain engaged, informed, and proactive in protecting themselves and their children.”
