Accused killer of Minnesota lawmaker agrees to plea deal, death penalty not pursued

Federal prosecutors told a federal judge on Wednesday that they have reached a plea agreement with Vance Boerter, the man charged with killing Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in 2023. The Justice Department’s filing indicated that Boerter will be allowed to change his not-guilty plea and that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty, though the specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Boerter faces both federal and state charges for the fatal shootings of the Hortmans and for wounding State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, during the same incident. The department said it determined that the underlying stalking allegations against Boerter likely do not qualify as a violent crime that would make him eligible for capital punishment.

"Prosecutors worked hard on this case to make sure he was held accountable to the fullest extent possible," Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Covington said in a statement.

Boerter’s attorneys have not responded to requests for comment, and the Justice Department also declined to comment further. The case remains under investigation.