Crime
Emergency Alert Issued as Police Launch Door-to-Door Search After Suspect Vance Boelter Vehicle Found in Sibley County
SIBLEY COUNTY, MN — A large-scale manhunt is underway after law enforcement located the vehicle of 57-year-old Vance Boelter, the suspect accused of carrying out a targeted shooting spree that left two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses among the victims.
The vehicle was discovered near Highway 25 and 301st Avenue in rural Sibley County, prompting an immediate emergency alert and coordinated door-to-door searches by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Authorities are warning the public that Boelter is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Boelter, a Green Isle resident and former appointee to the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Council, is accused of impersonating a police officer early Friday morning while conducting armed attacks at the homes of elected officials.
According to investigators, Boelter fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their Brooklyn Park residence. Hours earlier, he allegedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their Champlin home, leaving both critically injured.
Law enforcement officials say Boelter was wearing a realistic latex mask and driving a vehicle modified to resemble a law enforcement unit at the time of the attacks.
A manifesto recovered from the abandoned vehicle reportedly listed dozens of current and former political figures, abortion rights advocates, and public officials as potential future targets.
Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place advisory for residents within a multi-mile radius of the area where the vehicle was found.
Local officials are urging residents to remain indoors, lock all doors, secure vehicles, and immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911.
The search for Boelter remains active and ongoing.
Crime
Elgin Public Schools Teacher Holly Hill Dies From Complications Two Years After Drinking Poisoned Margarita
ELGIN, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has launched a formal investigation into the death of Holly Hill, a 30-year-old teacher, wife, and mother from Elgin, Oklahoma, who died last week from long-term medical complications reportedly caused by ingesting a poisoned margarita at a local restaurant in 2023.
OSBI officials confirmed that the investigation began at the request of Comanche County District Attorney Kyle Cabelka following Hill’s death on Thursday.
According to Hill’s family, her health issues began on Valentine’s Day 2023, when she dined at Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill in Elgin.
During the evening, Hill ordered a second margarita that, unbeknownst to her, contained a highly caustic industrial cleaning chemical rather than the intended cocktail ingredients.
“Her mouth was on fire, and she knew something wasn’t right,” recalled Kelly Hunter, Hill’s mother. “She immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, and rinsing her mouth out with water.”
The ingestion caused severe internal burns to Hill’s esophagus and digestive tract, leading to two years of intense medical treatment.
Hill underwent more than 60 medical procedures, including repeated esophageal dilations and surgeries, as doctors attempted to repair the extensive damage.
Despite her deteriorating health, Hill continued teaching at Elgin Public Schools, where she was described as a dedicated educator loved by her students and colleagues.
In the days leading up to her death, Hill’s family believed she was finally recovering.
On October 17, doctors reportedly told them that her esophagus appeared to be healing. However, her condition suddenly worsened, and she went into cardiac arrest as medical staff prepared to transfer her. “As they were trying to get her ready to transport her, they lost her pulse,” Hunter said.
Hill’s family previously filed a civil lawsuit against Hacienda Las Margaritas, which was settled confidentially earlier this year, according to their attorney.
Following her death, the family is renewing calls for accountability and public awareness.
“The number one thing we really want at this point is for people to be aware of what happened at that restaurant and to quit supporting them,” Hunter said. “We want them to be held accountable for taking my daughter’s life. It might have been a long fight, but ultimately, they are the cause.”
The restaurant has not issued a recent public statement regarding Hill’s death. In a 2023 social media post, management wrote:
“We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support them in any way possible while our insurance company is on the case.”
Local officials confirmed that Elgin Police requested assistance from OSBI, and investigators are now reviewing evidence related to the original 2023 incident and Hill’s recent death.
In a statement, Elgin Public Schools expressed deep sorrow over Hill’s passing, describing her as “an Owl through and through” and asking the community to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers.
Hill leaves behind her husband and young child, as well as a community still reeling from a tragedy that began with what should have been an ordinary night out.