Guilty Plea Entered in 2025 Murders of Former Minnesota House Speaker and Husband
A man charged in the June 2025 murders of a former Minnesota House Speaker and her husband, as well as the attempted murders of a state senator and his wife, has pleaded guilty in federal court. As part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Vance Boelter, 58, pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Minneapolis to charges including murder, stalking, and firearms offenses. The plea agreement was approved by Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche.
As part of the agreement, the government recommended a sentence of two consecutive life terms plus 40 years.
Judge John R. Tunheim accepted the plea. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for later in the summer.
The Attacks
On June 14, 2025, Boelter, disguised as a police officer and driving a vehicle made to resemble a police car, shot the victims at their homes.
Shooting at the Hoffman residence: Boelter arrived at the home of state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman in Champlin, Minnesota. He falsely claimed there had been a shooting and asked about guns in the home. After being told there were none, Boelter ordered the family to raise their hands and shot both John and Yvette Hoffman multiple times. Both survived after surgery.
Murders at the Hortman residence: Boelter then went to the home of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman. Wearing a police outfit, wig, and mask, he knocked and announced a "welfare check." When Mark Hortman answered, Boelter stated there had been shots fired, asked if anyone else was home, and was told only his wife was inside. When Hortman demanded credentials, Boelter shot him multiple times. Boelter then shot Melissa Hortman as she attempted to run upstairs, acknowledging he shot her at close range. The Hortmans' dog was also injured and later euthanized.
Legal Proceedings and Context
After the shooting at the Hoffman residence, police conducted a welfare check at the Hortman home and encountered Boelter outside. Boelter fired shots into the home and escaped by firing at officers, leaving behind a vehicle containing a hit list with nearly 70 names, three AK-47 rifles, and a 9mm handgun. Between the two shootings, Boelter attempted to contact two other state lawmakers but was unsuccessful.
Boelter was captured on June 15, 2025, after a large-scale manhunt in a field near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota.
Prosecutors have stated the attacks were politically motivated. A handwritten letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, which investigators recovered from Boelter's abandoned car, confessed to the shootings but did not specify a motive. Some messages to media referenced an "investigation" related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Legal Context
Minnesota abolished capital punishment in 1911 and has never had a federal death penalty case. Under federal law, the death penalty could only be sought if the killings occurred during another "crime of violence." The underlying charge in the case is stalking. A recent federal ruling in New York held that stalking does not qualify as a crime of violence for death penalty purposes.
Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder. The maximum sentence in the state case is life in prison without parole. The federal plea deal does not affect the state charges.
Victim Impact
In a lawsuit filed in April, state Senator John Hoffman stated that his left arm and hand may not fully recover, and he has permanent injuries to his digestive and urinary systems. Yvette Hoffman has permanent physical weakness. Their daughter, Hope Hoffman, who was present during the attack and called 911, suffered severe psychological trauma.
Statements
A Department of Justice spokesperson said, "Bringing justice to the families and loved ones of victims of violence is the number one priority of the Department of Justice. Prosecutors worked hard on this case to make sure he was held accountable to the fullest extent possible."