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Minnesota shootings victims John, Yvette Hoffman share recovery update

Minnesota shootings victims John, Yvette Hoffman share recovery update

Both lawmakers and their spouses were shot at their respective homes in separate incidents on June 14, authorities said. Boelter posed as a law enforcement officer to gain access to the victims' homes, police said.
Boelter was apprehended in Sibley County, about 50 miles away from Minneapolis, after a two-day manhunt authorities called the largest in the state's history.
He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County reviewed by USA TODAY.
Here's what we know about the victims in the shootings.
Live updates Minnesota assassination suspect charged in attack on lawmakers
Sen. John Hoffman and his wife are recovering from multiple gunshot wounds: 'Lucky to be alive'
In a social media post around 7 p.m. EST on June 15, United States Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, shared an update from Yvette Hoffman on her and her husband's recovery.
Yvette Hoffman said in the statement that she was shot eight times, while her husband suffered nine gunshot wounds.
"We are both incredibly lucky to be alive," Yvette Hoffman said.
Yvette Hoffman added that the family is "humbled by the love and outpouring" they have received, but added that they are "gutted and devastated" by the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
"We have no words," she said. "There is never a place for this kind of political hate."
She added that John Hoffman was "enduring many surgeries" and is "closer every hour to being out of the woods." During a press conference hours later, Walz said Sen. Hoffman "came out of his final surgery and is moving towards recovery."
After Boelter's arrest, Yvette Hoffman said in a statement to The Minnesota Star Tribune that she and her husband "hold a deep and profound gratitude" for the efforts of law enforcement officials.
Who is Sen. John Hoffman?
Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman is serving his fourth term in the state's House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2012 and won reelection bids in 2016, 2020 and 2022.
The 60-year-old Democrat is originally from Casper, Wyoming. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 1988, according to his LinkedIn.
Before his political career, Hoffman worked in business and education, according to his campaign website. He was first elected to office in 2005 as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, the largest school district in Minnesota.
Hoffman and his wife Yvette share a daughter, Hope.
Who was Rep. Melissa Hortman?
Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot on June 14 by Boelter, authorities said.
Before her death, Hortman was serving her 11th term in the state's House of Representatives.
The 55-year-old Democrat was also an attorney, having earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota. She also earned a bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy from Boston University and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University, according to her House bio.
She and her husband had two children together.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
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MIKEY SMITH: 10 dictator-esque Donald Trump moments as his plot to rig next election gets ugly
MIKEY SMITH: 10 dictator-esque Donald Trump moments as his plot to rig next election gets ugly

Daily Mirror

time11 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

MIKEY SMITH: 10 dictator-esque Donald Trump moments as his plot to rig next election gets ugly

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Husband watches wife's killer executed 43 years later after he made 'promise'
Husband watches wife's killer executed 43 years later after he made 'promise'

Daily Mirror

time16 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Husband watches wife's killer executed 43 years later after he made 'promise'

Randy White, 70, was in the room for the execution of murderer Kayle Bates, 67, who abducted, raped, and stabbed his wife Renee White to death in a woods near her work 43 years ago Renee White, 24, was abducted, raped, and stabbed to death ‌ A man who witnessed the execution of his wife's killer 43 years on had 'promised' her he would live to see justice done. ‌ Randy White, 70, was in the room when murderer Kayle Bates, 67, was put to death by lethal injection at Florida State Prison last night. ‌ He was aged just 27 when his wife, Renee White, was abducted, raped, and stabbed to death by Bates in 1982, just a few minutes after he said goodbye to her for the final time. The 24-year-old was kidnapped from the State Farm insurance office in Lynn Haven, Florida, where she worked, before being subjected to the brutal attack. The couple had been married for eight years and were discussing starting a family when when Randy got a phonecall out of the blue one afternoon on June 14, 1982. Speaking to reporters years later about what happened next, Mr White recalled: "They called and said 'There has been an emergency, you need to call her boss and I called like four times,' ‌ "Nobody would answer the phone... so, I drove back to Lynn Haven, and as I am driving down [State Road] 77 where it happened, I could see probably at least 25 police cars." Randy pleaded with police officers to tell him where his wife was, before a sheriff's office chaplain took him into the privacy of his car. ‌ There, he said he told him: "Mr. White, I don't know any way to put this to you, but your wife has been murdered". Bates was convicted the following year of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attempted sexual battery. Court documents from trial revealed that Renee bravely fought back during the attack, but Bates overpowered her. Last night, Bates, 67, was pronounced dead at 6.17pm local time (11.17pm BST) following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison. It was the state's 10th death sentence carried out so far this year, following a blitz of warrants signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. ‌ Randy, who witnessed the execution, said he felt that justice had finally been done - and revealed that he had made a promise to her after her death that he would spend the rest of his life fighting for her. He told USA Today: "I made a promise to her right after it happened that I would be there for every trial, every hearing, every appeal, and that as long as I was living, I would seek justice for her. "I feel a relief that I can mentally let Renee know that justice has finally been served for her, and that's mentally what I need. It's always been for her." He said the execution itself had been "straightforward and quick". Executions in Florida are carried out using three-drug lethal injection involving a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.

Scots actor in stepfather funeral plea after mother killed
Scots actor in stepfather funeral plea after mother killed

The Herald Scotland

time20 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Scots actor in stepfather funeral plea after mother killed

Mrs Kerr was found lying dead in front of her house partly undressed and with a significant head injury while Mr Searle was found hanged inside the property, which is in the hamlet of Les Pesquies in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron. Police launched an investigation to establish whether the couple died as a result of a murder-suicide, or if a third party was involved. Prosecutor Fabrice Belargent previously said that 'the analysis carried out does not so far show any evidence that a third party was involved'. READ MORE: In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday Mr Kerr said it would be 'inappropriate' for his mother's memory to be 'associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death'. He called on the funeral arrangements for the pair to be kept separate and for photographs showing the couple together not to be shared. The full statement, which is signed by Kerr and his sister Amanda Kerr, reads: 'In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide. 'Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging. 'His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body. 'There is also no evidence of any third-party's involvement at this stage. 'While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand. 'For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew. 'Please do not share photographs of them together. 'Please do not attend Andrew's service if you were a friend of our mother. 'It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. 'We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum.' Callum Kerr played Pc George Kiss in the popular Channel 4 soap opera, and appeared in Netflix's Virgin River. According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle was a retired fraud investigator specialising in financial crime prevention who worked at companies including Standard Life and Barclays. A statement issued by French prosecutors in February said: 'The two deceased persons, a man and a woman, were the owners of the house in which their bodies were discovered. 'They were British expatriates, retired, and had been living in Aveyron for five years. 'The first victim, Ms Kerr, has a significant head injury. 'A box containing jewellery was found near to her, but no item or weapon which could have caused the injuries were located. 'Mr Searle, who was found hanged… did not show any visible defensive injuries.'

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