Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jul 23: A Minnesota man who pleaded guilty to murdering senior Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, is set to be sentenced in a US federal court on Thursday after agreeing to a plea deal that spared him the death penalty.
Vance Boelter, 59, pleaded guilty in June to six federal charges stemming from the June 14, 2025, attacks, during which he killed the former Minnesota House Speaker and her husband and critically injured State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
Under the plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty. Instead, Boelter accepted a sentence of two consecutive life terms in prison, along with an additional 40 years, which prosecutors said was the maximum punishment available short of capital punishment.
During court proceedings, Boelter admitted that he had spent months identifying and stalking his intended targets before travelling to their homes disguised as a police officer with the intention of killing them.
According to court documents, Boelter arrived at the Hortmans' residence around 3.30 am wearing a tactical uniform and mask. Posing as a police officer conducting a welfare check, he persuaded Mark Hortman to open the door by providing a fake name and badge number.
He then shot Mark Hortman multiple times before forcing his way into the house and fatally shooting Melissa Hortman as she attempted to flee upstairs.
Earlier the same night, Boelter had allegedly visited the Hoffmans' residence, where he shot and critically injured Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
Investigators said he also travelled to the homes of two other lawmakers. At one residence, no one answered the door, while at another he abandoned his plan after a police officer approached his vehicle, believing he was another officer.
The attacks triggered the largest manhunt in Minnesota's history, prompting heightened security measures for elected representatives amid growing concerns over politically motivated violence.
In a court filing ahead of sentencing, federal prosecutors described the attacks as "an assault on democracy", stating that Boelter had shattered the lives of his victims, terrorised public officials and threatened law enforcement officers.
Apart from the federal case, Boelter also faces multiple 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 critically injured during the attack and was later euthanised.
Meanwhile, the Hoffman family has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Boelter.
In a submission to the court, Boelter's lawyer requested that he be housed in a federal prison in Florida, where he could work, participate in therapy and rehabilitation programmes, and earn money to pay restitution.
The defence said Boelter understood he would spend the remainder of his life behind bars but argued that his work experience in food service and other fields made him suitable for prison employment and rehabilitation programmes.