Vance Boelter appears in Minnesota state court on murder charges

Vance Boelter, who pleaded guilty to federal charges for the June 14, 2025 killings of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as the shootings of Senator John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, and the attempted shooting of their daughter Hope, was sentenced in July 2025 to two life sentences plus 40 years in federal prison. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is now pursuing state charges, filing eight counts that include first‑degree premeditated murder of Melissa and Mark Hortman, attempted first‑degree murder of John, Yvette and Hope Hoffman, attempted murder of Representative Kristin Bahner, felony cruelty to an animal, and impersonating a police officer.

Boelter’s first appearance in state court is scheduled for Monday, August 2, 2026. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said, "While Mr. Boelter’s case has been in federal court, we have been preparing to prosecute him in state court. That time has arrived and Mr. Boelter will soon face accountability in a Hennepin County courtroom." A state conviction could add another life sentence and would not be subject to a presidential pardon.