Accused killer of Minnesota lawmaker to be moved to segregated area of jail
Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old man charged in connection to the Minnesota lawmaker shootings, made his second federal court appearance on Friday, telling the court he hasn't slept in 12 to 14 days.
Boelter's hearing was held just two miles away from the Minnesota State Capitol, where hundreds are gathering to pay their final respects to Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark as they lie in state, along with their golden retriever, Gilbert. Boelter is accused of fatally shooting them their Brooklyn Park home on June 14.
In Friday's hearing, Boelter's defense asked for and was granted a continuance, moving Friday's detention and preliminary hearing to July 3.
The defense alleges Boelter is enduring poor treatment in the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minnesota, alleging he has to sleep on a mat on the floor with lights on around the clock.
Boelter appeared in court wearing a green garment instead of an orange outfit, meaning he's on suicide watch. But Boelter told the judge on Friday, "I've never been suicidal. I'm not suicidal now."
He will be moved to a segregated area of the jail and will no longer be on suicide watch.
He was charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with two counts of murder, two counts of stalking and two weapons charges. Boelter may face the death penalty if convicted. He is also expected to face a state trial, and could face life without parole.
The case against Boelter
Boelter is also accused of going, some 90 minutes before the Hortmans were killed, to the Champlin home of Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and shooting him nine times. He's also accused of shooting the senator's wife, Yvette Hoffman, eight times. The Hoffmans are still recovering from their injuries.
Boelter was arrested near his Sibley County home some 36 hours after the shootings. Officials say it was the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
On Thursday, Boelter's wife, Jenny Boelter, released a statement through her legal team, saying her family is "horrified" by her husband's alleged actions.
"We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided," said Jenny Boelter. "This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith."
Sherburne County Sheriff's response to Boelter's calims
In a written response – Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott called Boelter's claims Friday 'offensive' and 'disgusting' — especially to make the claims on the day Melissa and Mark Hortman lied in state at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Brott also went on to call the claims Boelter hasn't slept 'absurd' — writing that security cameras inside Boelter's cell caught him resting peacefully with his eyes closed for seven straight hours overnight into Friday — as well as Wednesday night.
After Boelter's hearing Friday, Brott says Boelter was back "resting peacefully" with his eyes closed.
"He is not in a hotel. He's in jail," Brott wrote. "Lights are on 24-7 — ad need to be so correctional officers doing welfare checks can see that inmates are OK. Jails are built with heavy metal doors that make noise when they are opened and closed."
Sheriff Brott went on to write that Boelter's cell is "spotless clean", that his mattress has a pillow sewn in, that he has daily access to a phone and shower, and that he hasn't missed a meal since arriving.
"He's being treated like every other inmate in the same circumstance," Sheriff Brott wrote. "It's too late now to complain about the conditions in which he has put himself."
