Accused Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter had job extracting eyeballs from corpses

Accused Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter, who is facing charges for the murder of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the attempted assassination of another Minnesota politician and his wife, had a unique and macabre profession before his arrest. Boelter, a 57-year-old married father, was reportedly involved in extracting eyeballs from corpses at a funeral home as part of an organ donation program, according to a close friend and occasional roommate, David Carlson.

Carlson recalled a conversation with Boelter on the evening before the tragic events unfolded. Boelter had mentioned that he needed rest for work, as his job of extracting eyeballs required him to be sharp. It was a routine for Boelter to go to bed early in preparation for being on call for work, which often involved long hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Prior to his involvement in the funeral industry, Boelter had a background in the food industry and had also worked as a manager at a 7-Eleven. However, he decided to pursue a career in mortuary science and had taken courses at an Iowa community college in 2023 and 2024. While it is unclear whether Boelter attended these courses in person or online, the college confirmed that he had not been a student there since 2024.

Boelter had been working at a funeral home in Savage, a suburb of Minneapolis, before voluntarily leaving his job in February. His former employer expressed condolences to the families of the victims and stated that Boelter had worked at the company from August 2023 until his departure in February 2025.

The shocking revelation of Boelter’s profession adds a chilling dimension to the tragic events that unfolded in Minnesota. As the investigation into the case continues, details about Boelter’s background and motives are likely to emerge. The community remains in shock as they come to terms with the loss of two prominent figures and the attempted attack on others.