The state of Minnesota was in mourning as former House Speaker Melissa Hortman lay in state at the Minnesota Capitol rotunda. Former President Joe Biden, along with thousands of mourners, paid their respects to the former speaker who was tragically killed in a violent attack along with her husband, Mark, and their beloved golden retriever, Gilbert.
Hortman, a Democrat, was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to be accorded the honor of lying in state at the Capitol. The caskets of the Hortmans and the urn of their dog were solemnly displayed in the center of the rotunda, under the Capitol dome, as law enforcement officers stood guard. Thousands of people lined up to pay their respects, many visibly moved to tears as they filed past the caskets.
Governor Tim Walz, who considered Hortman his closest political ally, and his wife were among the first to pay their respects. Former Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her condolences to the Hortman family and is expected to attend the funeral. The public viewing at the Capitol was open from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, with a private funeral scheduled for Saturday.
Meanwhile, the man charged with the killings, Vance Boelter, made a court appearance on Friday in a suicide prevention suit. Boelter, who surrendered near his home after a massive search, appeared sleep-deprived and disheveled in court. His defense attorney requested a delay in the hearing due to Boelter’s difficult conditions in jail, including constant lighting and disruptive behavior from other inmates.
Boelter did not enter a plea during the hearing, and prosecutors are working to secure a grand jury indictment before his arraignment. The federal complaint against Boelter includes video evidence of him outside the Hortmans’ home and approaching the homes of other Democratic lawmakers dressed as a police officer. Authorities believe Boelter also targeted several other Democrats, listing them as potential targets in his plans.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as Boelter’s lawyers have declined to comment on the charges. Federal prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty for Boelter, a rare occurrence in Minnesota where the death penalty was abolished in 1911. Boelter also faces separate murder and attempted murder charges in state court, with federal authorities intending to try him first.
The community continues to grieve for the loss of Melissa Hortman, a respected and beloved leader who brought people together and made a lasting impact on her community. As the investigation into the tragic events unfolds, the state of Minnesota remains united in honoring the memory of those who lost their lives in this senseless act of violence.
