Man sentenced in Cottonwood County for shooting of his mother

A Cottonwood County court sentenced Jamie Lee Voelker last week to 150 months in prison for his role in the July 23, 2025, shooting death of his mother and subsequent break-in of a neighbor’s residence in Windom. Voelker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree burglary on July 30, 2025.

On July 23, 2025, Voelker used a THC vape, then shot his mother several times with a .22 caliber handgun. The victim subsequently died from her injuries.  After the shooting, Voelker broke into a neighbor’s residence and damaged the bathroom before he was apprehended by law enforcement. Voelker later claimed no memory of committing the offenses due to his vape use.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office prosecuted Voelker upon a referral from Cottonwood County Attorney Nick Anderson under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.”  

The Windom Police Department, Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigated this crime.