Peggy Flanagan’s Grandfather Suspected in Four Killings

2 min read

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor and Democratic Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan’s maternal grandfather, John Jacob Hartmann, was suspected in the deaths of four individuals, according to a report based on historical newspaper accounts and family records. Hartmann spent over three decades in Minnesota’s state mental hospitals, with no charges ever brought against him for the alleged killings.

History of Suspicion

According to the report, Hartmann was first suspected of murder in 1951 when a Minneapolis resident, Theodore Foth, was found dead on a burning bed in Hartmann’s room. Thirteen years later, another patient was killed at a state security hospital, drawing renewed suspicion toward Hartmann. However, authorities did not charge him due to insufficient evidence.

Escapes and Alleged Threats

In 1970, Hartmann was transferred to Anoka State Hospital in Minnesota. He later escaped and was arrested in New Mexico on suspicion of killing a man and a woman. Four years before his death, Hartmann allegedly threatened U.S. District Judge Miles Lord during a telephone call while on the run. Lord, who publicly called Hartmann a “mass murderer,” obtained armed protection, and Hartmann was federally charged.

Family Connection and Political Career

Hartmann died on February 6, 1983, and Flanagan was listed among his surviving relatives, including two other grandchildren and four daughters. Flanagan was only three years old at the time of his death. Throughout her political career, Flanagan has frequently discussed her Native American heritage and her upbringing with a single mother, emphasizing the challenges she faced growing up.

“Growing up, I felt like the bottom could fall out at any moment,” Flanagan said, as quoted on her campaign website. Her family relied on public assistance, including food assistance and Medicaid. She has also spoken about her role as an example for young Native Americans, stating, “To all young Indigenous people, young people of color, and young people in rural communities who feel forgotten… you deserve to be seen, heard, and valued.”

Response and Context

Flanagan’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment. The revelation about her grandfather’s history has sparked discussions about the intersection of personal legacy and public service, particularly in the context of her political aspirations.

Source: Daily Wire