Boston Scientific Executive's Killer Gets 25 Year Prison Sentence on His Birthday
March 18, 2015
By Mark Terry, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff
Lyle “Ty” Hoffman, accused of murdering Kelly Phillips, an executive with Boston Scientific , was sentenced to 25 and a half years yesterday.
Hoffman shot and killed Kelly Phillips, general counsel and vice president for Worldwide Business for Boston Scientific, on Aug. 11, 2014 in a gas station parking lot in Arden Hills, Minn. Hoffman then led police on a month-long manhunt, which ended with his arrest near an Arby’s restaurant in a shopping mall in Shakopee in September 2014.
Phillips and Hoffman had a romantic relationship for 15 years and were business associates. They founded a bar, Lush Food Bar, in Minneapolis together in 2009. The relationship ended and Phillips had plans to marry another man, Nathon Bailey, on Aug. 30, 2014. Phillips and Bailey were engaged to be married a year before Phillips’ murder.
On Jan. 23, 2015, Hoffman pleaded guilty to intentional second-degree murder. He shot Phillips twice in the back and once in the head during an argument. During the month-long manhunt, Hoffman allegedly robbed a bank.
Hoffman and Phillips had at least two joint business projects, with Phillips providing capital and Hoffman working, contributing so-called “sweat equity.” The first was a building on SE. Sixth Street in Minneapolis that the two men converted into a commercial space, with a loft area above it where they lived together. Then they opened the Lush Food Bar, a nightclub on Central Avenue NE in Minneapolis. After the men’s relationship ended, Hoffman lived in a house across the street from the bar, where he continued to work until forced out by Phillips over allegations regarding missing money. The firing occurred about a month before the shooting.
At sentencing, Hoffman declined to make a statement. Ramsey County Judge George Stephensen addressed Hoffman for not having the decency to take responsibility for killing Phillips. “Instead,” Stephensen said, “you tried to throw some blame on the victim. It’s unconscionable.”
After Hoffman was led from the courtroom by deputies, the judge addressed Phillips’ families and supporters, saying, “He’s not worth your time. Good luck to you. You have my condolences.”
Phillips was born in 1965. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he was valedictorian. He started with Boston Scientific in 2000, rising to vice president and chief counsel of Worldwide Business. While with Boston Scientific he was actively involved in the company’s PACE ERG, “People Accepting and Celebrating Equality” Employee Resource Group. He served on the AdvaMed Legal Committee, representing Boston Scientific.
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