Wife of alleged Melissa Hortman assassin files for divorce

Courtesy: Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office

DULUTH, Min. & GAYLORD, Min. – The wife of Vance Bolter has filed for divorce from him.

Paperwork filed in Sibley County on September 2, 2025 shows Jenny Boelter is starting the divorce process.

Vance Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, Minnesota, was indicted in Federal Court on July 15 on six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations.

The murder charges could carry the federal death penalty, though prosecutors say that decision is several months away.

Boelter was in the Sherburne County Jail at last check.

In a series of cryptic notes to The New York Times through his jail’s electronic messaging service, Boelter suggested his actions were partly rooted in the Christian commandment to love one’s neighbor. “Because I love my neighbors prior to June 14th I conducted a 2 year long undercover investigation,” he wrote.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman glances at the gallery before gaveling in the first session of the 2024 legislative session Feb. 12.

(Photo by Andrew VonBank - Minnesota Legislature)

“There is little evidence showing why he turned to political violence and extremism,” the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Joe Thompson, told reporters last month. He also reiterated that prosecutors consider Hortman’s killing a “political assassination.”

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Prosecutors say Boelter was disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car early June 14 when he went to the Hoffmans’ home in the Minneapolis suburb of Champlin. He shot the senator nine times, and his wife eight times, officials said.

Boelter later went to the Hortmans’ home in nearby Brooklyn Park and killed both of them, authorities said. Their dog was so gravely injured that he had to be euthanized.

(Associated Press contributed to this report)