Wife of Minnesota lawmaker shooting suspect calls her husband’s acts a ‘betrayal’
- Vance Boelter is accused of killing two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses and injuring two others.
- His wife, Jenny Boelter, condemned his actions, calling them a "betrayal" and stating they do not align with their family's beliefs.
- Jenny Boelter said she voluntarily cooperated with law enforcement, contrary to initial reports of a traffic stop.
- Vance Boelter faces state and federal charges, including murder and attempted murder.
Nearly two weeks after her husband allegedly shot two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses, Jenny Boelter on June 26 released a statement condemning her husband's actions, calling it a "betrayal."
Her husband, Vance Boelter, reportedly visited the homes of four Minnesota lawmakers in the early morning hours of June 14. He allegedly killed Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their Brooklyn Park home. Their golden retriever, Gilbert, also died. Authorities say Boelter, who allegedly impersonated law enforcement, also shot state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in their Champlin home.
"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided," Jenny Boelter wrote in a statement released by her attorney. "This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith."
Jenny Boelter retained Halberg Criminal Defense, according to the release.
Paste BN reported Vance Boelter was a doomsday "prepper" who set aside passports, guns and cash in preparation of tragedy. The news outlet reported that Jenny Boelter told police about doomsday plans.
Jenny Boelter wrote in her statement that she's cooperating with authorities. KSTP initially reported on June 14 that she was questioned after "a traffic stop at a convenience store located near Onamia," which Jenny Boelter says isn't true.
"On the morning of June 14, 2025, I received a call from law enforcement and immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station," Jenny Boelter wrote. "We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived. When they did, we voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all items they requested and cooperate with all searches."
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder against Vance Boelter. Meanwhile, he faces six federal charges related to the shootings, murder and stalking. His next federal court hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 27.
Jenny Boelter offered condolences for the victims on behalf of her family.
“On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families," Jenny Boelter wrote. "Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them."
Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.