It was about thirteen months ago that Vance Boelter went on a killing spree in suburban Minneapolis, killing former Minnesota speaker of the house Melissa Hortman and her husband, and shooting and, miraculously, not killing state senator John Hoffman and his wife, after having stalked a couple of other state politicians. The case drew intense national attention and spawned a thousand think pieces and some very shoddy research about political violence in America. The case did in fact turn into a Rorschach blob - with some on the right pointing out Boelter had been appointed to a (nonpartisan) state board by Governor Walz, and others pointing out that he did in fact stalk, and eventually attack and kill, DFL politicians (while treading lightly around the fact that Boelter appears to be absolutely insane).
This past Thursday, Boelter was sentenced for his federal charges:
A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Vance Boelter to two life sentences plus 40 years with no parole in the killings of former Minnesota DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attacks on DFL state Sen. John Hoffman, his wife Yvette and their daughter Hope.
“This is truly a life sentence,” Judge John Tunheim told Boelter during the hearing at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis. “I would say also that the people of Minnesota are victims of your crimes as well. Violence will never triumph over justice.”
Boelter pleaded guilty in June to the attacks. In sentencing memos filed earlier this week, prosecutors and Boelter’s attorneys agreed to a recommendation of two life sentences plus 40 years. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.
The acting Attorney General and the US Attorney for the region commented in a press statement:
“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, and with Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman, Yvette Hoffman, their daughter, and all those whose lives were forever changed by these horrific attacks,” said Acting Attorney General Blanche. “Today’s sentence ensures that this violent criminal will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for his calculated and heinous acts of violence against Minnesota public servants and their families. Political violence is an attack not only on its immediate victims, but also on our communities, our democratic institutions, and the rule of law. The Justice Department will continue to use every available resource to investigate, prosecute, and hold accountable those who target public officials and engage in acts of violence.”
“Vance Boelter’s crimes rank among the most horrific this office has ever prosecuted. Today, the United States ensured that Boelter will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of release. Those who commit political violence at any level should take heed that the Department of Justice will seek and obtain the longest prison terms available for their crimes,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “My deepest condolences go out to the Hortman and Hoffman families as they continue to grieve and heal from this tragedy.”
He'll now go on trial for the charges in Hennepin County - which is normally good news for the notoriously soft-on-crime county prosecutor Mary Moriarty.
But even Moriarty seems to be taking this case seriously:
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced at a press conference Thursday that her office had secured an indictment from a grand jury against Vance Luther Boelter.
The full list of charges is below:
- First-degree premeditated murder (Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman)
- First-degree premeditated murder (Mark Hortman)
- Attempted first-degree murder (Sen. John Hoffman)
- Attempted first-degree murder (Yvette Hoffman)
- Attempted first-degree murder (Hope Hoffman)
- Attempted first-degree murder (Rep. Kristin Bahner)
- Felony cruelty to an animal (Gilbert Hortman)
- Impersonating a police officer
The sentence for a guilty verdict on a single charge of first-degree premeditated murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Minnesota doesn't have the death penalty - so if he's found guilty, he'll be looking at a grand total of several lives in prison.
Some are questioning Boelter's motive. I think "delusionally insane" is likely the long and short of it.
My big question - the one I would really like the answer for - is why did the local police department take a half hour to enter the Hortman residence after recovering Mr. Hortman from the entryway?
Brooklyn Park police were performing a wellness check on Melissa Hortman when they arrived at her home at 3:35 a.m. to see Mark Hortman get shot by a man who was “dressed as a cop.” They told dispatch Mark Hortman was “down at door” and a shooter was in the house. Police quickly pulled Mark Hortman from the entryway and requested backup. They continually called for more officers to check the rear of the home, and within three minutes said they did not see the shooter after he entered the house.
Another officer secured the backyard by 3:39 a.m. Officers noted that there were no footprints in the grass. By 3:41 a.m. a drone was en route to the house.
“Melissa Hortman is DFL house rep” dispatch notes at 3:43 a.m. Police tried to call her cellphone and home phone; there was no answer.
At 4:09 a.m., dispatch noted that the drone was checking the second floor and observed one person down and “unknown if breathing on stairwell inside house.” One minute later, dispatch noted that there was a “deceased dog and female is on the stair landing — not moving.”
Hopefully we'll get that answer in less than 14 months.
