Hortman assassin raises health complaints, conspiracies as state murder case kicks off

A new prosecution got started today against the man convicted of assassinating Melissa and Mark Hortman and trying to kill Yvette Hope and Senator John Hoffman. Vance Belter had a lot to say as he made his first court appearance on first-degree murder charges in Hennepin County. Fox News Corrin Haugard is live at the courthouse for us. Corrin, it seems like a much different defendant than at the beginning of this case than at the end of the federal case. Yeah, Randy and Kelsey is a lot more talkative today. A couple of weeks ago at his federal sentencing, he barely said anything, just one sentence apologizing to the people whose pain he caused while not even looking at the people whose pain he caused. Today he had a whole lot to say about some conspiracy theories, about his religious expression and religious freedom while he's been in custody, and especially about the health problems that he says he's had and he's worried will come back if he's forced to stay in jail here in Hennepin County. Colin and Alina Hortman walked into court Monday to face a nightmare that isn't ended yet for their family or for the Hoffman's. Not even two full weeks ago, a federal judge handed down two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in prison to the man who killed Mark and Melissa Hortman in June 2025. The state's case against him got moving Monday, but it didn't get far. The assassin stood in a box as a judge assigned him a public defender who argued against the prosecution's request to keep his client in the Hennepin County Jail while the case moves forward. The defendant said he lost 36 pounds in 49 days and got vertigo and bloody stools while in solitary confinement in Sherbourne County, but his health got better when he moved to the general population. The Hennepin County Jail has kept him in solitary again since his arrival last week. The assassin also complained about not being able to see a pastor in person since his arrest last June. Judge Juan Hoyos didn't make any rulings because nothing's been filed at this point. The victims and their families didn't want to comment specifically about the assassin's behavior in court. A civil attorney for the Hoffman's told me they support the case going forward even after a federal conviction because this is a chance for state prosecutors to vindicate the people of Minnesota and protect their lawmakers. Matt Forsgren said, quote, today is the next step to ensure accountability. The state has an obligation just as a federal government to hold him accountable, end quote. Forsgren didn't want to engage in a discussion of how a state conviction protects from the possibility of a federal pardon, calling the thought disgusting and unthinkable. He said, quote, a pardon would be as depraved as the acts of the defendant, end quote. The maximum punishment in Minnesota would be life without parole. The defendant did not enter a plea today and for now at least he's going to stay here in the Hennepin County Jail, although that could change before his next court hearing at the beginning of next month because defense attorneys and prosecutors are going to exchange written arguments with the judge who could rule before that September 2nd hearing. Live in Minneapolis, Corin Haugard, Fox 9. All right, Corin, thank you.