Man who pleaded guilty to killing top Minnesota Democratic lawmaker and her husband to be sentenced

A Minnesota man who pleaded guilty to killing a prominent Democratic lawmaker and her husband is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on Thursday.

Vance Boleter, 59, agreed to plead guilty in June, nearly a year after the Minneapolis-area attacks when he stalked and killed House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously wounded state Sen. John Huffman and his wife, Yvette.

Boelter pleaded guilty to six charges so that federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. Instead, he agreed to serve two consecutive life sentences, plus 40 years. Federal prosecutors and defenders said this was the maximum sentence that could be given to him short of the death penalty.

Boelter admitted in court that he spent months identifying and stalking his targets, before driving his car 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 the country’s history, causing panic and fear and increased security measures and precautions. Elected officials have faced escalating threats and political polarization, which many worry could lead to more violence and attacks.

The memorandum filed in federal court in late June closed early Thursday, along with objections to that report.

But prosecutors and Boelter’s defense team also submitted letters detailing their positions on the potential sentence.

“Vance Boelter committed an assault on democracy,” prosecutors wrote in their filing. “He destroyed the lives of his victims. He terrorized public servants in Minnesota. He threatened police and pointed a gun at an officer. He viciously attacked the organs of Minnesota’s representative government.”

Boelter went to Hortman’s home, wearing tactical fatigues and a mask, about 3:30 a.m. on June 14, 2025. He rang the doorbell while yelling that 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 asking him to call Melissa Hortman to the door as well. He shot Mark Hortman several times before rushing into the home and shooting the deputy as she fled upstairs. Melissa and Mark Hortman were murdered.

Boelter had already visited the Huffman family home that night, shooting and seriously wounding the senator and his wife, according to police and court documents. Boelter also went to the homes of two other lawmakers that night, court documents said. In one instance, no one opened the door, and in the other, Boelter was spooked when a police officer approached him in his car, thinking he was another officer.

Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer, and cruelty to animals. The Hortman family’s golden retriever was seriously injured in the shooting and had to be euthanized. Hoffman and his family filed a personal injury lawsuit against Boelter in April.

In his letter on the proposed sentencing, Boelter’s attorney asked that he be sent to a federal prison in Florida, that he be allowed to work until he can pay restitution, and that he be allowed to participate in therapy and other in-person programs. Boelter spent decades in the food service industry and had experience in a few other fields, the letter said.

“Mr. Boelter recognizes that his impending sentence means he will spend the rest of his life in prison. But the skill set he retains from his diverse employment history makes him a strong candidate for programming, employment, and other opportunities at the Bureau of Prisons,” federal defender Manny Atwal wrote.