By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-23 18:06:26 | Updated at 2026-07-23 18:52:28
53 minutes ago
The Minnesota man who pleaded guilty to murdering a top Democratic lawmaker and her husband has been sentenced to die in jail over the grisly killing.
Vance Boelter, 59, was handed two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison over the murders of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shootings of state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who survived.
Boelter pleaded guilty last month in a bid to avoid the death penalty and instead agreed to the maximum sentence he could be issued short of capital punishment.
The killer tried to apologize during his sentencing Thursday, but as he began to address the court, supporters of the victims flocked to the exits.
'To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness, I am truly sorry,' Boelter said from the podium, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
Boelter admitted in court in June that he spent months identifying and stalking his targets, before driving to their homes in the middle of the night disguised as a police officer, with the intention of killing them.
The killings sparked the largest police search in state history.
Vance Boelter, 59, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison over the murders of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette
Boetler shot Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead at their Brooklyn Park home around 3.30 am on June 14, 2025
Wearing orange prison garb and shackled at the ankles, Boelter sat extremely still, never looking at the survivors and family members as they read their victim impact statements.
In court Thursday, Sen Hoffman condemned Boelter's 'acts of calculated violence' as he shared how he and his family are reminded of the horrific shooting every day.
He said they don't receive mail at home anymore, they installed solid steel doors, and that they have changed how they do everyday tasks because of their injuries.
'The defendant looked me in the eyes and pulled the trigger. The defendant looked at my wife and chose to do the same,' Hoffman said.
'My wife and I now live with injuries. We live with our bodies remembering the gunfire.'
He quoted several Bible passages in an apparent attempt to counter Boelter's request to be judged based on his years of faith and service in the church.
'The court will hand down the defendant's sentence. Mine continues forever,' the senator said, according to KMSP.
'The defendant did not simply decide to take life. He attempted to silence people and send a message that violence is stronger than democracy.'
He killed the Hortmans after having already shot and critically injured state Sen John Hoffman and wife Yvette at their residence
The Hortman family's golden retriever was gravely injured in the shootings and had to be euthanized
Yvette Hoffman said she has been too traumatized to work since the attack in their home, and that she sees a therapist weekly.
'I fought him, your Honor, with everything I had. And I finally got him out of our home. I will never forget looking down and watching my blood slowly stream down that white washing machine as I felt myself sinking to the floor,' she said, barely holding back tears as she spoke.
'We always have an escape plan now. This isn't how people should live.'
She added that she hopes once Boelter dies 'his body is carried out of prison in one of those body bags he intended for my family.'
Mark Hortman's parents and siblings spoke of their anger Thursday, both at the man who killed him and of the justice system.
'It will not offer me peace of mind that he will have room and board provided for the rest of his life, paid for by my tax dollars,' said Lisa Hortman Bean, Mark's sister.
Melissa Hortman's mother and father, and the Hortman's children changed the tone of the statements when they spoke Thursday, remembering them as attentive, loving parents and grandparents and people who impacted thousands of lives.
'It is impossible to realize the damage that has been done not only to our family, but to our society,' said Melissa's father Harold Haluptzok, who repeatedly referred to her as his 'little girl.'
'I wish the perpetrator would have sat down and talked to Melissa about his political positions... if only he did that before he decided to kill them,' Haluptzok added.
Boelter went to the Hortmans' home, wearing a tactical uniform and mask, about 3.30am on June 14, 2025. He rang the doorbell while shouting he was a police officer doing a welfare check, according to court documents.
Mark and Melissa Hortman's son Colin, left, arrives at the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse in Minneapolis to attend Boelter's sentencing hearing
Members of the Hortman family come down the escalator into the lobby of the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse ahead of Boelter's sentencing Thursday
Mark Hortman answered the door. Boelter gave him a fake name and badge number before requesting he summon Melissa Hortman to the door as well.
He shot Mark Hortman multiple times before pushing into the house and shooting the lawmaker as she fled upstairs. Melissa and Mark Hortman were both killed.
Boelter had already visited the Hoffmans' home that night, shooting and critically injuring the senator and his wife, according to police and court documents.
Court documents said Boelter also went to two other lawmakers' houses that night.
In one instance, no one answered the door, and in the other, Boelter was spooked when a police officer approached him in his car believing he was another officer.
Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty.
The Hortman family's golden retriever was gravely injured in the shootings and had to be euthanized.
Hoffman and his family filed a personal injury lawsuit against Boelter in April.
