A Shocking Turn of Events: The Wife of Minnesota Shooting Suspect Breaks Her Silence
Husband's Minnesota Spouse Claims Shock over Politicians' Shootings
In the aftermath of the harrowing Minnesota political shootings that left one couple dead and another injured, the wife of accused assailant Vance Boelter finally spoke out, expressing her deepest sympathies to the victims' families.
Boelter stands accused of killing Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota State House member, and her husband, Mark, along with injuring John Hoffman, a Minnesota State Senate member, and his wife. He faces a plethora of charges, including murder, firearms offenses, and stalking, with the potential penalty of death awaiting him. As of yet, he has not entered a plea.
Authorities have labeled the shooting a "politically motivated assassination."
Jenny Boelter, through her legal representation, Halberg Criminal Defense, issued a statement expressing her family's shock, heartbreak, and disbelief over the testimony III Event.
"This violence is completely against our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we stand for as tenets of our Christian faith. We are utterly appalled and devastated by the actions that have unfolded and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unimaginable tragedy," her statement read.
Jenny Boelter confirmed that the family has been cooperating with authorities since the beginning of the investigation and made a special point of thanking them for apprehending her husband before more harm could be done.
This is the first time the public has heard from Jenny Boelter since the June 14 attacks. This statement comes as more details continue to emerge regarding Boelter's actions that fateful morning and the subsequent manhunt.
Manny K. Atwal, Boelter's public defender, declined to comment on the release of the documents. Boelter is set to appear in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday for a preliminary detention hearing.
On the same day, the Hortmans will lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol. They will be joined by their golden retriever, Gilbert, who was "humanely euthanized" due to injuries sustained during the attacks.
Investigators found that Jenny Boelter was initially uncooperative but became more forthcoming with information later on. She reportedly received messages from her husband in the early morning hours after the shooting instructing her to take their children to her parents' home as "people with guns" might come to their house.
During the investigation, special agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension applied for warrants to trace Boelter's WhatsApp account and examine his Amazon purchases. Investigators referred to Boelter as a "prepper" and discovered he had presented his wife with an escape plan in case of "exigent circumstances," according to an FBI agent investigating the case.
In a recently unsealed affidavit, Jenny Boelter was not implied to have known about her husband's alleged plans to attack the lawmakers, and she has not been charged with any crime.
Authorities found two handguns, passports for Jenny Boelter and her children, and approximately $10,000 in cash in the vehicle she traveled in during her meeting with law enforcement.
During an interview, Jenny Boelter reported a group text message from Boelter in a thread with their children.
"Dad went to war last night ... I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody," one text from Boelter read.
Guns, Cash, and Strange Accessories
Despite authorities finding Boelter less than 43 hours after the shootings, they conducted a multi-agency investigation to track down the alleged gunman.
Authorities found a receipt for a Minneapolis storage unit in the car Boelter abandoned after the shootout at the Hoffman home, along with a hit list that included the names of abortion providers, pro-abortion advocates, and lawmakers in Minnesota and other states.
Authorities searched the storage unit and recovered five body bags, four soft-side gun cases, a gray tarp, and gun cleaning supplies. They also found a thigh holster, a replica Beretta, and a conceal and carry badge.
A search of Boelter's property in Sibley County, in Green Isle, uncovered nearly 50 firearms, a ghillie camouflage suit, and nearly $18,000 in cash. He had at least 12 vehicles registered to him at his home.
Officials tracked a cellphone they believed belonged to the suspect until they received a call from a Home Depot, where employees were trying to find the phone's owner. Authorities arrived and collected the iPhone 13 as evidence.
Boelter was eventually found at 7:30 p.m. on June 15 after a Sibley County resident spotted him on a trail camera. Authorities were able to locate him using infrared technology on a drone. Once apprehended, Boelter "crawled" to law enforcement and was taken into custody without incident. He remains in custody at the Sherburne County Jail.
This story was contributed to by CNN's Hanna Park and Jennifer Feldman.
Additional Insights:
- "Dad went to war last night" was a phrase apparently used by Boelter to signal a coded message within his family group chats, suggesting that he was prepared for a violent confrontation.
- The fact that Boelter had a hit list containing the names of various public figures raises questions about the extent of his intended targets and possible extremist beliefs.
- Investigators' finding of a ghillie camouflage suit suggests that Boelter may have intended to blend in with his surroundings for stealthy, ambush-style attacks during his alleged rampage.
- The discovery of a "bailout plan" and the evasion tactics employed by Boelter highlights the importance of considering the bigger picture when investigating these types of cases, especially when dealing with individuals who may have prepared for such circumstances ahead of time.
In the midst of the general-news and politics surrounding the Minnesota shootings, Jenny Boelter, the wife of the accused suspect, issued a statement expressing her shock and sympathies to the victims' families. Jenny Boelter also admitted to receiving instructions from her husband about taking their children away after the crime, indicating a possible crime-and-justice aspect to the case as well.
