Peggy Flanagan’s Grandfather Linked to Four Killings in Minnesota
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s grandfather, John Jacob Hartmann, was a suspect in four killings but never charged with murder.
2 min read
In a recent development during Minnesota’s Senate race, the past of Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has come under new scrutiny. Her maternal grandfather, John Jacob Hartmann, was a suspect in four killings but was never charged with murder. The allegations, which resurfaced amid the tightening Senate contest, reveal a troubling history involving Hartmann, who spent over three decades in state psychiatric hospitals.
Historical Allegations and Legal Context
Alpha News reported that Hartmann, who died in 1983, was committed to the Minnesota Security Hospital in 1951 after his wife petitioned for his hospitalization. A 1967 Minnesota Supreme Court case detailed how police held him for a homicide investigation, leading to his hospitalization. Despite these allegations, no charges were ever filed against him.
In 1983, a newspaper account described the death of Theodore Foth, found on a burning bed in Hartmann’s room. The article also mentioned suspicions surrounding a fellow patient’s death in 1964 and two deaths in New Mexico. However, there was insufficient evidence to bring charges in the 1964 case, and none of the four killings resulted in murder charges against Hartmann.
Escapes and Legal Challenges
Hartmann escaped from Anoka State Hospital in April 1970 and was apprehended in New Mexico in September 1970. A federal appeals court case documented his escape and subsequent apprehension. A New Mexico court found him ‘sane and safe to be at large’ and ordered his release in December 1970. Minnesota deputies returned him from Colorado the following month without a hearing, which he later challenged.
He escaped again in April 1979 and fled to Missouri, where he was arrested on a federal charge of threatening U.S. District Judge Miles Lord. Lord publicly called Hartmann a ‘mass murderer,’ though no charges were filed against him.
Flanagan’s Campaign and the Senate Race
Flanagan, who has often spoken about the women who raised her, emphasized her work on public service issues during her campaign. She faced off against Republican Michele Tafoya in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith. The current Senate contest has featured disputes over state government fraud, with both candidates avoiding public discussion of Hartmann’s history.
Source: PJ Media
