Vance Boelter sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years for murdering Minnesota lawmaker and her husband

Melissa and Mark Hortman were killed in less than 30 seconds on June 14, 2025, in a shocking act of political violence.

But their quick deaths provided little comfort to their son, Colin Hortman, who told a federal judge Thursday that he fell asleep every night imagining a waterfall of blood cascading down the steps of his childhood home in Brooklyn Park. It’s the same image he wakes up with.

The quick death of his parents was of little comfort, he said, because the last thing his mother saw before she died was her husband and the shooting of her beloved dog multiple times.

Now he has trouble remembering his parents, but not the bullet holes in their bodies.

The horror of the killing and the impact of the attacks on Minnesota’s political system were told in detail by Hortman’s children, Colin and Sophie, as well as 12 other victims in the federal courthouse in Minneapolis, who told how their lives were ruined by the man sitting next to them in an orange jumpsuit: Vance Boelter.

Boelter last month confessed to the murder of Melissa Hortman — a former Democratic House speaker and one of Minnesota’s most vital legislative leaders — and her husband, Mark, as well as the shooting of Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife.

Thursday’s hearing marks the latest chapter in a year-long saga that has scarred the state and introduced a novel level of fear into politics.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim sentenced Boelter to two consecutive life sentences plus an additional 40 years. There is no parole in the federal justice system, so it’s extremely likely that Boelter will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Tunheim said it was the longest sentence he had ever imposed on an individual out of thousands of cases he had heard in his career.

“I think it’s deserved,” Tunheim told Boelter.

Boelter read a low statement in court in which he apologized aloud to the victims: “I am truly sorry to anyone I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness or loneliness.”

Boelter has previously pleaded guilty to all charges against him government fees: two counts of stalking, Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman; two counts of murder in connection with the Hortman killings; and two firearm offenses in the shooting of the Hortmans and Hoffmans and the attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman, who managed to call 911 during the bloody attack.

He admitted in court that he planned the murders months in advance, writing down the addresses of his victims and buying a highly realistic silicone mask to impersonate a police officer.

In the early morning hours of June 14, Boelter drove to the Hoffman home and shot John and Yvette Hoffman through the front door. He then drove to Rep. Kristin Bahner’s home in Maple Grove, but she was on vacation. He then drove to Senator Ann Rest’s home, where he was spotted by a real police officer who assumed he was a police officer conducting a welfare check.

He then drove to the Hortmans in Brooklyn Park and parked his Ford Explorer in the driveway with phony police lights on. He rang the doorbell and said he was doing a welfare check. He told Mark Hortman he needed to meet Melissa, then shot him. He shot Melissa several times as she tried to escape down the stairs. Boelter then shot her in the head.

Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen wrote in the government’s sentencing memo that Boelter “expressed great contempt” for the Democratic Party.

“And he knew that the Minnesota Legislature was so deeply divided that killing four state legislators would inevitably result in changing the balance of power in both legislative houses,” Rosen wrote. “The astonishing damage that Boelter inflicted on his victims and the state of Minnesota will never be repaired. Justice demands that Boelter never be free again.”

Bahner was the first to read her victim’s statement aloud. She told Boelter that she would have answered the door if she had been home that day because she trusted law enforcement. She told Boelter that he had failed in his mission because she was still alive, and he strengthened her resolve to continue to advocate for her constituents.

John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman and Hope Hoffman also reached out to Boelter. Hope Hoffman criticized the media, which incorrectly reported in the aftermath of the shooting that Yvette Hoffman jumped on top of her to save her from Boelter’s bullets.

John Hoffman read several Bible passages to Boelter, including Matthew 7:16: “You will recognize them by their fruits. Do they gather grapes from thorns and figs from thistles?”

These are, according to Hoffman, “words of faith that the defendant allegedly represented.”

He added: “(Boelter’s) actions spoke louder than any sermon he ever preached.”

Many people wiped away tears in the packed courtroom as lawmakers and family members told Boelter how his decision to kill their loved ones not only ruined their lives but also irrevocably changed Minnesota.

J. Carroll Hortman, Mark Hortman’s father, said his daughter-in-law Melissa was witty and brilliant. She had a radiant future ahead of her and had not yet experienced the joy of being a grandfather.

“I believe she could be the next governor of this state,” he said.

Mark Hortman’s family, including his brother and sister, told the judge they were upset that Boelter’s guilty plea deprived them of a trial and the opportunity to see Boelter receive the death penalty. They hated the idea of ​​Boelter living a comfortable life in prison.

Carroll Hortman said he blames acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, who he believes did the country a disservice by agreeing to the settlement. He also questioned why on June 14, Brooklyn Park police watched from a distance as Boelter killed his son, then entered the home and shot his daughter-in-law.

The Hortmans’ daughter, Sophie Hortman, said she has been working on her testimony all year since she lost her parents.

“I miss my mom. I miss my dad. I miss my best friends and I miss my faith in the goodness of humanity. The pain will never go away,” she said.

She also detailed the heartbreaking decision to put down the family dog, Gilbert, who Boelter shot multiple times before killing Melissa Hortman.

On the morning of June 14, Sophie and Colin received conflicting information about whether Gilbert was alive and went to the vet.

The vet carried Gilbert into the room on a metal tray. Colin started screaming when he saw Gilbert. He was shot multiple times, including in the head. Despite his condition, Gilbert still wagged his tail when he saw the Hortman children and kissed them with his large tongue.

The Hortman children asked the vet if he would let their dog live with Gilbert’s condition. The vet said no.

“Colin and I agreed: Gilbert would like to be with his parents,” Sophie said. “I told him he would see his mom and dad soon.”