Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter admits murdering top state Democrat and her husband after feds drop death penalty bid
MINNEAPOLIS — The man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, as well as the nonfatal shootings of a state senator and his wife, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday after prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty.Vance Boelter was charged with murdering Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and with shooting state Sen.John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
Boelter came to their doors in the early hours of June 14, 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car.The Hortmans’ golden retriever was so gravely injured that it had to be euthanized.John and Yvette Hoffman sat in the courtroom’s gallery Thursday along with members of the Hortman family as the events of that night were described in great detail.
Boelter repeatedly said a simple “yes” as his federal defense attorney questioned him about his actions, including whether he pressed a gun to Melissa Hortman’s head and fired.At times, there were brief sobs coming from the gallery.Boelter, wearing his orange jail sweatshirt and sweatpants, followed along as US District Judge John Tunheim talked through each of the six charges and the potential sentences they carried.Tunheim did not set a date for sentencing.
Boelter is facing an agreed-upon sentence of two life terms, plus 40 years.Boelter, 58, was captured near his home in rural Green Isle the day after the shootings following what prosecutors have called the largest search for a suspect in Minnesota history.He also faces state charges, which have been on hold pending the resolution of his federal case.The US attorney’s office in Minneapolis notified the court Wednesday that the Justice Department would not seek the death penalty against Boelter in accordance with a proposed plea agreement, and the court set the change-of-plea hearing for Thursday.Minnesota abolished capital punishment in 1911 and has never had ...