Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

06/11/2026

Today a federal judge accepted a guilty plea from Vance Boelter, the man who now admits he shot and killed Melissa and Mark Hortman and seriously wounded John and Yvette Hoffman in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025. The plea deal reached with federal prosecutors means Boelter will serve the remainder of his life in prison.

Violence targeting public officials is an affront to our democracy.

To the Hortman and Hoffman families, Minnesota continues to mourn the loss and the suffering you have endured. We hope today’s guilty plea brings you some measure of solace.

Watch a news conference held following today’s court hearing: https://www.youtube.com/live/9a6nHwXMmnM?si=3SMjCJAfgCgevtaD

06/10/2026

Some people might know Laura Perkins as one of the voices behind the BCA's public communications.

With more than 15 years of experience in public safety, Perkins helps connect the BCA's work to the people it serves, translating complex investigations, public safety issues and criminal justice topics for Minnesotans.

What many people don't know is that she's also spent more than 20 years singing the national anthem at sporting events across Minnesota and beyond. For the past five seasons, that has included performances for Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field.

In May, Perkins took the field once again before a packed crowd in St. Paul.

Go behind the scenes with Perkins and learn about the unexpected role music has played alongside her career in public service:

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Communications Specialist Laura Perkins sang the national anthem at a Minnesota United game at Allianz Field.

06/06/2026

Last year in Minnesota, 90 people lost their lives to murder involving a firearm.

You can help prevent gun violence in your community.

If you know of someone who illegally possesses a firearm, or someone planning to carry out a violent crime, report it to your local law enforcement agency, or the BCA, right away. You can be anonymous if you’d like.

Our Violent Crime Reduction Unit partners with local law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime in communities across the state: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/investigative-services/specialized-investigative-services/violent-crime-reduction-unit

Together, we can reduce gun violence in Minnesota.

You can learn more about crime in Minnesota by checking out our Minnesota Crime Data Explorer: https://cde.state.mn.us/

06/04/2026

From the BCA archives: In the late 1990s, even the governor took a turn in the fingerprint chair.

Then-Governor Jesse Ventura visited the BCA alongside former Superintendent Nicholas O'Hara, former CJIS Director Karen McDonald and fingerprint technician Jen Jaspersen to see firsthand how fingerprints were collected and used to support criminal investigations.

Some things change with time. Fingerprints are not one of them.

06/03/2026

When Operation Safe Summer launches each year in Minneapolis – your BCA is there.

For the fifth consecutive year, special agents and analysts with the BCA’s Violent Crime Reduction Unit are joining forces with the Minneapolis Police Department and other law enforcement partners on Operation Safe Summer, which is underway now.

We’ll have as many as 30 BCA personnel on the streets seizing illegal fi****ms, tracking down and arresting violent criminals and developing intelligence to aid investigations. We’re targeting violent offenders and removing illegal weapons from the streets with the ultimate goal of reducing violent crime in Minneapolis.

Learn more about our VCRU: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/investigative-services/specialized-investigative-services/violent-crime-reduction-unit

06/02/2026

As the school year comes to an end, your children may have more free time – that makes this an important time to renew your conversation with them about staying safe online. BCA online safety experts offer these tips:

• Rather than focusing on “stranger danger,” talk with your children about tricky or manipulative people. Help your child understand what grooming and coercion look like - asking them to keep secrets, isolating them, pressuring them, making them feel obligated to do things, excessive gift-giving, excessive flattery and compliments early on in the relationship, etc.

• Disable all location and GPS-tracking settings on every app. Many apps have default settings that share your location. Avoid “tagging” photos, or “checking in” at places you visit.

• Ask your child to show you what each app does, how it works, who they talk to and why they like the app. Review privacy and safety settings together. Discuss boundaries and guidelines you have around technology use.

• Do not post pictures of others without their permission.

Start the conversation today to help them stay safe. For more information about staying safe online, go to: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/investigative-services/specialized-investigative-services/predatory-crimes/resources-victim-survivors-predatory-crimes

05/31/2026

Before joining the BCA, Special Agent AJ Morse spent more than two decades serving the people of Itasca County.

AJ began his law enforcement career with the Itasca County Sheriff's Office as a deputy on May 4, 1998. Over the course of his career, he served as a civil process deputy, supervisor, investigator and lieutenant. On Nov. 29, 2021, AJ brought that experience to the BCA, where he now serves as a special agent in the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit based out of the Bemidji Regional Office.

The experience our agents gain serving communities across Minnesota doesn’t stay local – it strengthens every investigation we support statewide.

05/29/2026

An International Falls man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Zimmerman child this past January. Joseph Andrew Bragg, 28, also faces charges for producing and possessing criminal sexual abuse material involving a second minor victim.

When the child was reported missing under suspicious circumstances on Jan. 21, the BCA issued an AMBER Alert and worked urgently with the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, ultimately identifying Bragg as a suspect. Hours later law enforcement stopped his vehicle as he traveled toward the Iowa border and found Bragg and the child inside the car.

Bragg remains in the Sherburne County Jail.

We think there may be more victims. If you have any information about Bragg, please contact the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.

Learn more about this case: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/international-falls-man-federally-indicted-kidnapping-zimmerman-minor-and-production

05/28/2026

An Austin, Minn., man is jailed after being indicted on federal charges for enticing multiple child victims from across the nation to create sexually explicit images of themselves for him. Today’s indictments of Shadow Hawk Mallan, 28, follow an investigation by BCA predatory crimes agents which found Mallan would threaten his victims with violence or distribution of the images if they didn’t provide additional explicit content.

The BCA was assisted with its investigation by the Austin Police Department and FBI. Learn more about this case: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/austin-man-indicted-production-child-pornography

If you see suspicious online conduct involving children, report it to NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678). You can also contact your local law enforcement agency or contact the BCA at 651-793-7000. You can find additional resources on our website at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/investigative-services/specialized-investigative-services/predatory-crimes/resources-victim-survivors-predatory-crimes

Photo credit: Sherburne County Jail

05/25/2026

Stay informed. Stay connected.

We’ve launched Minnesota Alerts: Missing and Endangered — a dedicated page focused on sharing critical information about missing and endangered people across Minnesota.

Follow the page, share alerts and help bring people home safely.