Share and Follow
() A court hearing for the man accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband has been pushed back after he complained about being sleep-deprived while on suicide watch in jail.
Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested June 15 after he allegedly gunned down former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home at 3:30 am on June 14.
He is also accused of shooting a second lawmaker, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife 90 minutes earlier at their home a few miles away. Hoffman and his wife survived the attack.
Boelter was captured after a two-day manhunt. He appeared in federal court Friday wearing a green, padded suicide prevention cloak that’s known as a “Gumby suit.”
-
This combo from photos provided by Minnesota Legislature shows from left, Senator John A. Hoffman and Rep. Melissa Hortman. (Minnesota Legislature via AP) -
A memorial for Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark is seen at the state Capitol on June 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) -
A mugshot of Vance Boelter, accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office) -
Surveillance image showing the masked suspect in the attacks on two Minnesota lawmakers. (COURTESY) -
Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman and their dog, Gilbert, lie in state at the Minnesota State Capital in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)
The suspect’s defense attorney asked the judge to continue the hearing until next week, insisting her client was too sleep-deprived to communicate with him properly.
She said he’s been held in the “Gumby suit” without any undergarments since being transferred to the jail on June 16.
The defense attorney told the judge that Boelter has been unable to sleep because the lights are on 24 hours a day near his jail cell. She claimed doors slam frequently, and the inmate held in the cell next to him spreads feces on the walls, sending a foul odor into Boelter’s cell.
Boelter also addressed the judge, telling him, “Your honor, I haven’t really slept in about 12 to 14 days. … I’ve never been suicidal and I am not suicidal now.”
His attorney requested that he be taken off suicide watch and moved to segregation. He has yet to enter a plea on murder and attempted murder charges as prosecutors are still working to secure a grand jury indictment.
His court hearing came as Hortman is lying in state at the Minnesota Capitol rotunda ahead of a private funeral on Saturday, which former Vice President Kamala Harris is set to attend.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
