The Knox County Sheriff says the prime suspect in the disappearance of 32 year-old Tina Herrman, her 11 year-old son and a family friend made himself known to the family and may have been watching them.

30 year-old ex-con Matthew Hoffman is in police custody, charged with the kidnapping of Herrman’s 13 year-old daughter who police say was found bound and gagged in Hoffman’s basement.  The girl has been released from the hospital and is being cared for by other relatives.

She hadn’t been seen since last Wednesday, the same time her mother, brother and 42 year-old family friend Stephanie Sprang went missing.

When police went to Herrman’s home they found “lots of blood” which is undergoing DNA tests.

Sheriff David Barber hinted there may not have been a forced entry at the Herrman home.  ”They knew Hoffman or Hoffman made himself known to them,” Barber said.  ”He acquainted himself with the family whether they knew he was acquainting himself with them or not.”

Police also revealed they first spoke to Hoffman last Thursday near Kenyon College where Tina Herrman’s missing pickup truck was found.  Hoffman was sitting in his own car near a bike trail, not far from the pickup truck.  It’s not clear why investigators went to his house early Sunday morning.

Police have been scouring wooded areas and ponds in Foundation Park very close to Hoffman’s home.  Bags of possible evidence have reportedly been found.  Divers have also been scouring the waters for evidence.  Two vehicles were pulled from the former gravel pits last night but are not believed to be connected to this case.

Hoffman, who served several years in prison in Colorado for arson, burglary and auto theft was on parole until a month ago.  He has a bond hearing on the kidnapping charge this afternoon; the Sheriff has a news conference planned for 3 p.m.