Brooklyn Park, Minnesota – June 18, 2025
In a disturbing twist to an already chilling case, the home of slain Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman was broken into—again—just days after she and her husband were gunned down in what authorities have called a politically motivated double homicide.

Brooklyn Park Police confirmed Wednesday morning that they received a report of a break-in at the Hortman residence that occurred overnight. The house had been sealed off by investigators following the Saturday morning murders, and boarded up by Sunday. Family members were allowed to retrieve valuables from the home on Tuesday.

But by 8 a.m. Wednesday, police discovered the wooden boards covering the rear window had been forcibly removed and the window itself smashed in. The house appeared to have been ransacked.

“Forensic investigators reprocessed the home for evidence related to the burglary,” police said in a statement. “While the home was clearly searched by an unknown suspect, the family does not currently believe anything was taken.”

The brazen second violation of the family home has sparked renewed calls for vigilance, and police are urging residents in the neighborhood to review their security cameras and report any suspicious activity.

This latest development comes as authorities continue to build their case against Vance Boelter, who is accused of murdering Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their own home in Brooklyn Park, and shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their nearby residence in Champlin. According to prosecutors, Boelter arrived at their homes impersonating a police officer, wearing a hyper-realistic silicone mask.

“He stalked these victims like prey,” said Minnesota Attorney General Joseph Thompson in a press conference Monday.

The investigation has uncovered chilling evidence suggesting the attack was part of a broader political hit list. During a search of Boelter’s vehicle and home, investigators found notebooks with detailed personal information about 45 elected officials, including sketches of their homes, family members, and security vulnerabilities.

Next to Melissa Hortman’s name was the note: “Married to Mark, 2 kids, 11th term.”
In another section: “Big house by golf course. Two entrances. Can be observed from one spot.”

Federal charges against Boelter include stalking and illegal firearm possession, while state prosecutors have charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Boelter is currently being held without bail and is expected to face trial later this year.

The re-entry into the Hortman home has raised serious concerns about public safety and whether political violence is escalating beyond the reach of law enforcement. Civil rights groups, lawmakers, and community leaders are calling for a federal review into how public figures are being protected—and whether enough is being done to deter political extremism.

“This isn’t just about one disturbed individual,” said Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN). “This is a terrifying symptom of a deeper sickness in our political discourse.”

Rep. Hortman, 54, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for over two decades and was serving her 11th term at the time of her death. She was known for her strong leadership on energy policy, women’s rights, and social equity.

Her murder, along with that of her husband Mark, has been met with an outpouring of grief—and growing outrage.

Now, with this second intrusion, the trauma for her family and the broader Minnesota community deepens.

“It feels like she’s being attacked all over again,” said a family friend. “It’s beyond horrifying.”

As police pursue leads in the break-in, questions are mounting about how such a high-profile crime scene could have been compromised so quickly—and what it says about the state of political violence in America today.

Brooklyn Park authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward. But for a grieving community, that offer comes with little comfort.

Melissa Hortman’s legacy may have been built on service—but even in death, it seems, she is still being hunted.