"I could not fathom why I was spared and (Hortman) was not," said Kristin Bahner, Minnesota State Representative.
She added that she carries Hortman's memory with her to guide her work.
Family members of Mark Hortman voiced frustration regarding the plea agreement and the lack of a capital sentence.
"It will not offer me peace of mind that he will have room and board provided for the rest of his life, paid for by my tax dollars," said Lisa Hortman Bean, sister of Mark Hortman.
Melissa Hortman's daughter recounted losing her parents and the family pet during the attack.
"I miss my mom. I miss my dad.
I miss my best friends. And I miss believing in the goodness of humanity.
I hope that one day these aches feel less sharp.
And I know just like the love I feel for my parents, the pain will never go away," said Sophie Hortman, daughter of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
Her brother described the ongoing emotional toll the murders have taken on his daily life.
"My days are filled with gray, and the blood that was spilled is the last thing I see before I go to sleep and the first thing I see when I wake," said Colin Hortman, son of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
He stated that no prison sentence could weigh against 15 gunshots and a murdered dog.
Melissa Hortman's father reflected on the missed opportunity for peaceful communication.
"It is impossible to realize the damage that has been done not only to our family, but to our society," said Harold Haluptzok, father of Melissa Hortman.
He expressed a wish that the perpetrator had discussed his political positions prior to committing violence.
Prior to receiving his sentence, the defendant delivered a short statement to the court.
"To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness, I am truly sorry," said Vance Boelter, defendant.
In a joint statement issued after the hearing, the Hoffman family called for greater empathy in public dialogue while noting that no sentence could repair the harm inflicted.
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Boelter still faces state-level charges in Hennepin County, including two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer, and animal cruelty, alongside an ongoing civil lawsuit filed by the Hoffman family.
