Wife of shooting suspect Vance Boelter is stopped in vehicle north of Twin Cities and detained

Paul Walsh, Star Tribune on Jun 15, 2025

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The wife of Vance Boelter, the man wanted in connection with the shootings that targeted two state legislators and their spouses at their Twin Cities homes Saturday, was detained along with three relatives by law enforcement more than 100 miles from her home late that morning, the Mille Lacs County sheriff said Sunday.

“Our law enforcement partners from the metro that are working this case became aware that she was traveling through my county, and they requested assistance in locating and stopping a vehicle,” Sheriff Kyle Burton said, referring to Boelter’s wife, Jenny Boelter.

Burton said the stop occurred between 10:30 and 11 a.m. outside the Casey’s convenience store just off Hwy. 169 in Onamia, about 110 miles north of the Boelters’ home near Green Isle.

“Deputies from my office responded with law enforcement from Hennepin County, and our role on this was (securing a) perimeter, so we were not involved in searching or questioning those who were in the car. I was told that the suspect’s wife and other relatives were in the car.

“My understanding is they were detained by authorities from Hennepin, and the individuals who were in the car were taken from the scene by Hennepin County law enforcement.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune reached out Sunday morning by phone to Jenny Boelter. Someone who answered the call said she was not available to speak at the moment.

Vance Boelter, 57, has been on the run since before dawn Saturday as the primary suspect in the killing of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, at their Brooklyn Park home. He’s also wanted on allegations that he shot and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, at their home in Champlin.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesman Howie Padilla said Sunday morning that Jenny Boelter was not in custody.

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(Sarah Nelson of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report.)

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