The adult children of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman released a statement on behalf of their Brooklyn Park family on Monday saying their slain parents were the “bright lights at the center of our lives.”
Sophie and Colin Hortman said: “We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much.”
The siblings said that they wanted to let people know that they were safe and with loved ones.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.”
They also said the family wanted to thank law enforcement for “their swift action that saved others and for the coordination across communities that led to the arrest of the man who murdered our parents. We especially would like to thank the officers who were first on the scene to our parents’ home and their heroic attempts to rescue our mom and dad.”
The siblings said that their parents had touched many lives.
“They leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them.
If people want to honor the couple’s memory, they could consider doing some of the following, the siblings said:
Plant a tree.
Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.
Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.
Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.
Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone.
Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.
Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.
“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”
A GoFundMe account (tinyurl.com/5eynjbnv) that has been set up for the siblings has raised more than $60,000 as of Monday evening.
The organizer wrote: “I created this gofundme to raise funds to help Colin and Sophie repair the home, car and garage, help cover the costs of the funeral, and the associated costs of laying their parents to rest. I greatly miss my sister Melissa and brother-in-law Mark and want to help my niece and nephew through this difficult time and help cover the expenses this tragedy has incurred.”
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