AP reporters Jim Mustian and Michael Biesecker uncovered exclusive details about Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis.
Mustian and Biesecker began digging into Boelter’s background within minutes of learning he was the focus of a multistate manhunt. Their reporting quickly revealed that Boelter was an evangelical pastor with increasingly strident religious and conservative views. He had attended rallies for President Donald Trump, denounced abortion in a sermon delivered overseas, and registered to vote as a Republican.
Their story also pushed back on misinformation that had spread online, including claims that Boelter was a liberal based on a past appointment to a workforce development board by former Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. Interviews with Boelter’s associates helped clarify that perception, offering a more accurate picture of the suspect’s ideology.
The report remained among the most-read stories on APNews two days after publication, thanks to its sharp reporting, speed and clarity.
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