The Minnesota man who pleaded guilty to killing a top Democratic lawmaker and her husband was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison on Thursday, a little over a year after the political attacks.
Appearing thin with a fresh haircut, Vance Boelter, 59, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in June to the six counts related to the killings of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
Boelter did take the stand to apologize for causing pain, loss, heartache, loneliness, and confusion. He also waived his right to appeal for what the judge called the longest penalty in his court's history.
Fellow lawmakers and survivors of the shooting spoke earlier in the hearing, describing the lasting fear and physical harm that Boelter caused.
Boelter pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty; instead, he agreed to the maximum sentence he could be issued short of the death penalty. Mark Hortman’s father and siblings voiced their anger that he would not face the death penalty.
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.
Federal prison officials will now coordinate Belter's transfer to a permanent facility. There's no word yet on where that will be.
Victims and survivors describe the impact of the attacks
In court Thursday, Sen. Hoffman said he and his family are constantly reminded of the extraordinary violence of that night, even in the mundane details of day-to-day life. 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.”
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.”
Melissa Hortman's mother and father, Harry and Linda Haluptzok, briefly spoke to WCCO Radio's Susie Jones outside the courthouse, both glad to finally get closure after her tragic murder.
"We're just glad that it's over and he's going to prison forever and he won't hurt someone else," Harry said.
"I just, like I said, it's over, but it's never over," added Linda. "She was a force and her husband was a wonderful man. And the world is a poorer place without them both. So, we will miss them forever."
Sophie and Colin Hortman, the two children of the Hortmans, released a statement on behalf of the Hortman family:
“We are grateful for all of the work that has led to the resolution of the federal case. While that case has concluded, state court proceedings are still ahead. We appreciate the work to bring justice for all of the victims. Nothing can replace what we have lost, and there are no words that can blunt our pain.
“Our parents were public figures and known to people, but to us they were just Mom and Dad. And they were the happiest people to just be alive. They were so excited every day—to do the big things and the little things, to be parents, to be friends, to be leaders, and so much more. They loved to be here on this Earth, and we will continue working to honor their legacy, as we know others will too.”
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.
Democratic State Rep. Kristin Bahner was one of two other legislators whose homes Boelter visited that night, but she and her family were on vacation. Bahner said the shootings had left her shaken.
“I could not fathom why I was spared and (Hortman) was not,” she said. ”You failed because I carry her with me. In my mind and in my heart, she guides me.”
The proposed sentence sparks fury
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 pretended to be a police officer to gain access
Boelter went to Hortman's home, wearing a tactical uniform and mask, about 3:30 a.m. on June 14, 2025. He rang the doorbell while shouting he was a police officer doing a welfare check, according to court documents.
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 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.
(Associated Press writers Ellen Schmidt and Claudia Lauer contributed to this story)
Boelter pleaded guilty for the shooting death of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband
Boelter pleaded guilty for the shooting death of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband
