A Sibley County sheriff’s deputy blocks off a road to the home of Vance Boelter outside Green Isle, Minn., on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Law enforcement officers with the River Valley Tactical Team head for Vance Boelter’s home outside Green Isle, Minn., on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Boelter is suspected of killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife (Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
An online video from two years ago appears to show Boelter preaching to a congregation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he says, “I met Jesus when I was 17 years old, and I gave my life to him,” adding that he and his wife have four daughters and a son.
In a self-made resume-style video posted to social media, Boelter spelled out his work in the funeral home industry and a food supply business project in Africa. He said he works six days a week, splitting his time with Wulf Funeral Home and Metro First Call.
“Fun fact about myself,” he continued, “I’ve been in the food industry for about 30 years, and that led to an opportunity. I was invited to the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. … I was asked a couple years ago to go and see what I can do on ideas for their food supply system.”
Tim Koch, owner of Metro First Call, said Boelter worked for his funeral services company from August 2023 to February 2025, when he “voluntarily left.” Koch declined to say more other than expressing his condolences to the Hortman and Hoffman families.
Boelter was also director of security patrols at Praetorian Guard Security Services, a residential armed home security company. His wife, Jenny, was its president.
According to its website, the company offers armed security with guards wearing personal protective equipment and driving “the same make and model of vehicles that many police departments use.”