I’m pulling out a fascinating throwback interview from 2017. Shannon Flynn offered an unprecedented, insider’s look into the life and crimes of Mark Hofmann, the infamous Mormon document forger and bomber. Flynn, who worked closely with Hofmann in the years leading up to the 1985 Salt Lake City bombings, provides a chilling portrait of a man who masked a masterfully deceptive and murderous nature behind the facade of an unassuming, nerdy coin and document dealer.

Making of a Master Forger

Hofmann’s criminal career didn’t begin with historical documents, but with coins. He started forging at just 12 years old, discovering a complex electroplating technique to add mint marks to legitimate pennies, instantly inflating their value. He viewed deception as a profession, famously telling prosecutors, “I cheat people. I deceive for a living. I’m good at it.”

His expertise eventually escalated to creating some of the most sought-after Mormon and American historical documents, such as the “Salamander Letter” and the “Oath of a Freeman” (the first printed document in America). Hofmann’s methods were terrifyingly brilliant. To bypass expert scrutiny, he stole blank 19th-century paper from library archives using a razor blade. To simulate 150 years of ink oxidation in just 30 minutes, he built a makeshift aging chamber using an old fish tank and the ozone-producing motor of an electric toy train.

Beating the Polygraph

One of the most astonishing revelations is how Hofmann managed to pass a polygraph test administered by top experts. Utilizing self-hypnosis and biofeedback techniques he had practiced since he was 13, Hofmann essentially convinced his subconscious that he was innocent. He scored an extraordinarily high “truthful” rating, a feat that shocked examiners and forced the intelligence community to rethink the validity of polygraph testing for highly trained individuals like spies.

The Escalation to Murder

Despite his lucrative forgeries, Hofmann’s sprawling web of lies and debts ultimately trapped him. Under crushing pressure to produce the nonexistent “McLellin collection” to satisfy a $185,000 bank loan, Hofmann realized his exposure was imminent. Flynn likens Hofmann’s situation to wrapping a string around a finger until it hurts so badly you will do anything to get the string off. To buy himself time and distract authorities, Hofmann built pipe bombs filled with nails, cold-bloodedly murdering financial associate Steve Christensen and innocent housewife Kathleen Sheets. A third bomb accidentally detonated in Hofmann’s own car, permanently injuring him and ultimately leading to his arrest when investigators realized his story of the exploding bomb didn’t match the forensic evidence.

Innocent Caught in the Crossfire

Flynn’s own life was temporarily ruined by his proximity to Hofmann. Believing his friend was innocent, Flynn volunteered to help the police but instead found himself arrested, thrown in jail, and falsely accused by authorities of harboring a “bomb factory.” Today, Hofmann serves a life sentence in maximum security, having survived a suicide attempt that permanently damaged his forging hand. Flynn’s account remains a haunting reminder of how easily a brilliant, manipulative sociopath can fool experts, religious leaders, and closest friends alike.

Sadly Shannon Flynn passed away from lung cancer in 2021, but he was a major character in the recent Netflix series “Murder Among the Mormons.” Surgery following my 2017 interview ruined his vocal cords, which is why he speaks with a raspy voice in the Netflix documentary

Questions for readers:

  1. Vulnerability of Experts: Hofmann’s forgeries were so meticulous that he fooled top historians, the Library of Congress, the FBI, and forensic experts. What does this tell us about the vulnerability of our historical record, and how can modern institutions protect against master manipulators?
  2. Ethics of Police Investigations: Shannon Flynn was incredibly traumatized by investigators who lied to the media about him running a “bomb factory” and accused him of murder without evidence. How much leeway should law enforcement have to deceive the public or pressure associates when trying to solve a high-stakes, terrifying crime?
  3. Psychology of Escalation: Hofmann did not have a history of violent crime or present as a typical psychopath. Yet, he murdered two innocent people simply to delay a financial transaction and avoid being exposed as a fraud. How do white-collar criminals rationalize making the leap from financial deception to extreme violence?
  4. Flaws of the Polygraph: Mark Hofmann successfully beat a polygraph test by using self-hypnosis and biofeedback, scoring an incredibly high “truthful” rating. Should polygraph tests still be used in criminal investigations or by intelligence agencies knowing that they can be outsmarted by dedicated individuals?
  5. Faith and Fallibility: Some members left the LDS Church because they felt its leaders should have had the “magic powers” or spiritual discernment to instantly detect Hofmann’s deceit. How should religious communities balance their belief in divine guidance with the reality of human fallibility in their leadership?