Vance Boelter, 59, has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison for the murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Boelter also pleaded guilty to shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who survived the attack.
Boelter pleaded guilty last month to avoid the death penalty, agreeing to the maximum sentence short of capital punishment. During his sentencing hearing on Thursday, Boelter attempted to apologize to the victims' families, but as he began speaking, supporters of the victims walked out of the courtroom.
"To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness, I am truly sorry," Boelter stated, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Court documents revealed that Boelter admitted to spending months identifying and stalking his targets before carrying out the attacks in the middle of the night, disguised as a police officer. The killings prompted the largest police search in the state's history.
Impact on Survivors
Sen. John Hoffman described how his family is continuously reminded of the violence, even in everyday life. He noted changes such as no longer receiving mail at home, installing steel doors, and altering daily routines due to 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."
Yvette Hoffman stated that she has been unable to work since the attack and attends therapy 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 recounted. "We always have an escape plan now. This isn´t how people should live."
Family Statements
Mark Hortman's parents and siblings expressed anger not only at Boelter but also at 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 parents and children shared memories of her and Mark as loving parents and grandparents who had a significant impact on thousands of lives. Harold Haluptzok, Melissa's father, remarked, "It is impossible to realize the damage that has been done not only to our family, but to our society." He added, "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."
Details of the Attacks
On June 14, 2025, Boelter approached the Hortmans' home around 3:30 a.m. wearing a tactical uniform and a mask. He identified himself as a police officer conducting a welfare check and, after Mark Hortman answered the door, asked him to summon Melissa Hortman. Boelter then shot Mark Hortman multiple times, entered the house, and shot Melissa Hortman as she attempted to flee upstairs. Both were killed.
Earlier that night, Boelter had gone to the Hoffmans' residence, where he shot and critically injured the senator and his wife. Court documents indicate Boelter also visited the homes of two other lawmakers that night. In one instance, no one answered, and in another, Boelter was approached by a police officer while in his car and fled.
In addition to the murders and attempted murders, Boelter faces charges including impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty. The Hortman family's golden retriever was severely injured during the shootings and subsequently euthanized. The Hoffmans filed a personal injury lawsuit against Boelter in April.