San Carlos Little Store killer confesses

Hoffman-Ramos murdered Shu Ming Tang, the then-owner of Devonshire Little Store, in an apparent robbery gone wrong. The case received national attention and remained unsolved for almost 29 years before the Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit began reinvestigating the murder in 2018 and identified her as a person of interest after following various leads. Last year, there was a new twist in the cold case when a letter to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office led investigators to Washington County, Oklahoma. There, investigators found an alleged journal entry by Hoffman-Ramos who allegedly admitted to the murder of Tang that provided enough evidence for the arrest.

She was a resident of San Mateo at the time of the murder and has lived in Oklahoma in recent years.

Sean Gallagher, San Mateo County assistant district attorney, said it’s unusual to solve a cold case without evidence.

“We have had a number of old murder cases by DNA evidence, but with no DNA evidence is more unusual but not rare,” Gallagher said. “We are always thankful when there can be closure, she [Hoffman-Ramos] has escaped justice for 30 years. She was out for a long time without being held accountable.”

Hoffman-Ramos will serve 18 years to life in prison, according to the DA’s Office.

Her attorney, Paul DeMeester, said Hoffman-Ramos feels relieved to admit the killing.

“She has regretted that dark day in her life,” DeMeester said. “She was very forthcoming when she talked to the police about what she did, and it closes a very bad chapter of her life from 30 years ago.”

He said that if Hoffman-Ramos took the case to trial, she would have faced life without the possibility of parole.

“This sentence gives her light at the end of the tunnel. She’s now in her 60s,” DeMeester said. “She has supportive kids, and this gives her a motivation to live and to be there for others, which is important.”