Wife of accused Minnesota lawmaker killer says husband's actions were "a betrayal"
The wife of Vance Boelter, the man accused in the deadly Minnesota lawmaker shootings, on Thursday called her husband's alleged actions "a betrayal."
"On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them," said Jenny Boelter, through a statement released by her attorney. She is not charged with any crime.
"On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them," said Jenny Boelter, through a statement released by her attorney. She is not charged with any crime.
Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also attacked inside their Champlin home about 90 minutes before the Hortmans were killed. They are recovering after being shot at 17 times combined.
Boelter, 57, faces federal and state murder and attempted murder charges. He was captured more than 40 hours after the shootings near his home in Green Isle, about 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis, in what officials say was the largest manhunt in state history.
"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. 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. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy," Boelter's wife said in her statement.
New search warrants obtained by WCCO News on Thursday show that the first call Vance Boelter made in the hours after the shootings was to his 18-year-old son. Another one of those filings said Jenny Boelter was "cooperative" with law enforcement but that she initially "was not forthcoming with knowledge of her husband being involved in something serious."
After being told her husband was a person of interest involved in a shooting, the document said, she asked the agent "why he would think that" but later revealed she received messages from Vance Boelter that morning "indicating she should take the kids and go to her parent's house and that there may be people with guns coming to the house."
In her statement Thursday, Boelter's wife said she "fully cooperated with investigators and responded to their every request" after receiving a call the morning of June 14 from law enforcement hours after the shootings. She explained that she met agents at a nearby gas station.
"We voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all items they requested, and cooperate with all searches. We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm," she said.
Below is Jenny Boelter's full statement, released on her behalf by her legal team:
"On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them.
"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. 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. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy.
"From the moment we were first contacted by law enforcement, we have fully cooperated with investigators and responded to their every request. 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. 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. We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm."
Another affidavit filed by an FBI special agent said that the Boelters were "preppers," or people who prepare for catastrophic incidents. In her car were passports, two pistols and at least $10,000 in cash.As of Thursday, Jenny Boelter is not charged with any crime, nor is she currently accused of wrongdoing, in connection with the shootings.
Additional search warrants show 48 firearms were recovered from the Boelters' home, as well as "tub of ammunition," just hours after the shootings. About $18,000 in cash was also found inside, as well as a note card containing the names and states of public officials.
Police say they confronted Vance Boelter outside the Hortmans' residence, where he exchanged gunfire with an officer before fleeing out the back door. Investigators soon found multiple AK-47 assault rifles in an SUV registered to Vance Boelter left in the driveway, and notebooks containing the home addresses of several politicians, including Melissa Hortman, and pro-abortion rights advocates.
A search warrant shows police found a ballistic vest, a disassembled 9mm handgun, a silicon mask of an elderly bald man, and a gold police-style badge near the Hortmans' home.
Law enforcement learned during their investigation that Vance Boelter rented a storage locker in Minneapolis on June 10, according to court documents obtained by WCCO. He last "used his access code" for the locker the day before the shootings. Investigators later searched the locker and found empty rifle cases, gun-cleaning supplies and a bike, according to the warrant.
Vance Boelter also regularly stayed at his childhood friend's home in north Minneapolis to cut down his work commute time.
"There was a darkness that was inside of him," said friend David Carlson. "He must have kept it hidden."
In between the two shootings, investigators said Vance Boelter visited the homes of two other Democratic legislators. Those lawmakers have since identified themselves as state Rep. Kristin Bahner and Sen. Ann Rest.
John Hoffman, who was shot nine times, is still in serious but stable condition. Yvette Hoffman, who was shot eight times, is now recovering at home, according to their family.
Vance Boelter is scheduled back in federal court in St. Paul for his second hearing on Friday.
The Hortmans and their dog will lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol on Friday, ahead of their private funeral on Saturday morning.
WCCO will have live coverage of the funeral starting at 8 a.m., which you can watch via , Pluto TV, or the CBS News app on your phone or connected TV.
