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The man accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was sentenced to two consecutive life terms, plus 40 years in prison Thursday.
Vance Boelter, 59, was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars over a year after his fatal shooting of Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. To avoid the death penalty, Boelter pleaded guilty in June 2026 to federal charges relating to the killings, critically wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman and two stalking charges.
The Hortmans’ two children, Sophie and Colin, released a statement Thursday following the sentence.
“We are grateful for all of the work that has led to the resolution of the federal case,” they wrote. “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,” the siblings continued. “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.”
Boelter also faces pending state charges for two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty. The Hennepin County Attorney says they are prepared to prosecute him in state court.
Prosecutors in federal court stated that on June 14, 2025, Boelter stalked the target families before driving to their homes. In his homemade police officer disguise, he claimed to be doing a welfare check before opening fire on both families. That night, Boelter also approached two other lawmakers’ residences, but left when the door was not answered.
John and Yvette Hoffman both say they suffer from permanent physical damage due to the violent event, the Associated Press reported.
“My wife and I now live with injuries. We live with our bodies remembering the gunfire,” John Hoffman said in court on Thursday.
Boelter is scheduled to appear in court for his state charges on Aug. 3.
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