A Minnesota woman is fatally shot in her bathroom. Who pulled the trigger?

This story initially aired on Oct. 26, 2024. It was up to date on Aug. 9, 2025.

It was per week earlier than Christmas in 2022, when Saint Paul, Minnesota, police officer Ching Vang and his accomplice Officer Justina Hser set off on their common patrol of town.

Natalie Morales | “48 Hours” contributor: The in a single day hours, it is December sixteenth, 2022. What time do you get that decision?

Officer Ching Vang: On that night time, the decision got here in round 2:50.

Officer Ching Vang: … dispatcher acknowledged {that a} feminine was shot within the head. … my accomplice and I, we went lights and sirens heading in the direction of that decision.

Natalie Morales: And is it … all items within the neighborhood referred to as in at the moment?

Officer Ching Vang: Sure. … just about, each unit hop on that decision to return and help.

Inside minutes Vang, Hser, and a number of other different officers — physique cameras rolling — arrived on the location, a residential condo constructing. Matthew Ecker, the person who had positioned the 911 name, allow them to in and directed them to an condo on the second ground.

Vang was the primary to enter the condo.

Officer Ching Vang: I keep in mind strolling in, the toilet was to the precise, the very first door.

ALEX PENNIG’S DEATH INVESTIGATION BEGINS

Alex Pennig, 32, was mendacity face up with a single gunshot wound to her left temple.

Officer Ching Vang: I observed … plenty of blood round her head.

Vang had instantly noticed the gun laying on Alex’s left shoulder; her hand resting on prime. A group of officers seemed across the small studio condo and questioned neighbors. Nobody had heard something.

Within the hallway, Hser was speaking to Ecker.

OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): (to Ecker) You bought to maintain respiratory. You bought to maintain respiratory.

Officer Justina Hser: He was … on the ground by himself. So, I simply went and approached him and simply began speaking to him.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): Oh God, why’d she do this? (sobbing) 

Natalie Morales: Had been you involved about him?

Officer Justina Hser: I used to be. … as a result of on the time we did not know what was occurring …

OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): I do know it is shocked. I do know it is laborious.

Officer Justina Hser: I simply advised him to only decelerate. Take your time. We’re not in a rush, everytime you’re prepared, I am — I am able to hear.

Ecker did finally settle down and he began speaking —

OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): Had been you guys arguing or one thing?

MATTHEW ECKER: No.

— telling officers he lived nearly three hours away however drove to Alex after she positioned a frantic name to him earlier.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam) So I got here right here to assist her really feel secure.

Ecker advised police Alex had gotten right into a struggle together with her present boyfriend. His identify was Shane Anderson — that issues had gotten bodily, and she or he was afraid of what he would possibly do. So, Ecker took his gun and introduced it with him to Alex’s condo.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): …as a result of I used to be frightened that her boyfriend would come …

Natalie Morales: So, he was going there, he mentioned, to guard her?

Officer Justina Hser: Sure.

Ecker arrived at Alex’s round 2 p.m. Anderson wasn’t there.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): You realize we had been simply hanging out.

That night, he mentioned, they went out to native bars. After they walked into a spot referred to as Camp Bar, Anderson was inside.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): He got here to her, they had been arguing, and I got here throughout and I stood in between them after which he punched me.

Anderson hit him, he says, after which was kicked out of the bar.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam):  … after which her and I sat there and talked with different folks for an additional 45 minutes. We got here again right here, and I assumed every little thing was wonderful. After which she simply grabbed the gun.

OFFICER HSER: Did she make any risk, earlier than that —

MATTHEW ECKER: Not —

OFFICER HSER: — that she was going to kill herself?

MATTHEW ECKER: I did not —

OFFICER HSER: Or damage herself?

MATTHEW ECKER: She simply grabbed it and put it to her head.

And with the gun in her hand, she backed into the toilet, he says, and locked the door. Moments later a single shot rang out. Ecker says he shortly broke the door open and noticed Alex on the ground. He advised the officers he tried utilizing his nursing expertise to cease the bleeding by placing strain on the wound.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): … I attempted to do what I may.

OFFICER HSER: OK.

MATTHEW ECKER: After which I washed my fingers.

OFFICER HSER: Then you definately washed your fingers?

MATTHEW ECKER: Right. That is why I haven’t got something on my fingers.

OFFICER HSER: And then you definately, then you definately referred to as the police?

MATTHEW ECKER: Yeah.

The information that Alex had fired a gun — taking her personal life — was unfathomable to Alex’s mother and father Mary Jo and Jim Pennig.

Mary Jo Pennig: That simply was fully out of character for Alex.

Jim Pennig: She had by no means shot a gun. … Did not like weapons … so it did not make any sense.

And Alex’s mother Mary Jo Pennig had simply texted together with her daughter just a few hours earlier and she or he did not appear depressed in any respect.

Mary Jo Pennig: She was doing effectively … you understand and that is what’s laborious.

Detectives Abby DeSanto and Jennifer O’Donnell had been referred to as to the scene.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: You get a name in the midst of the night time, so you understand it isn’t good.

Contained in the condo there was alcohol and 6 bottles of prescription medicines, together with antidepressants and amphetamines, all prescribed to Alex. But when that advised perhaps Alex had been depressed and took her personal life, there have been different issues that did not appear so as to add up in Ecker’s account. The primary was the place of Alex’s physique, say the investigators.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: The door to the toilet was ajar and also you instantly see Alex’s toes on both facet of the door.

If Ecker had damaged down the toilet door after listening to the gunshot — as he advised officers he had —

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: We predict that if that had been the case … her legs, would’ve been swept behind the door.

And regardless that Ecker had mentioned he washed his fingers earlier than calling 911 —

Det. Abby DeSanto: When responding officers arrived the sink was dry. … and if, he had mentioned, you understand, he referred to as the police instantly that sink in all probability would’ve been nonetheless moist …

The detectives determined to take a deeper take a look at Ecker’s story. He had advised police his solely mission that day was to guard Alex from Shane Anderson, the boyfriend he claimed was violent. And in reality, there have been these holes within the closet door — holes Ecker mentioned Shane was chargeable for.

Det. Abby DeSanto: — throughout from the toilet, kinda like punch marks.

The detectives had been now keen to talk with Anderson.

A PUNCH CAUGHT ON TAPE

Hours after Alex Pennig was discovered useless, police had been at her boyfriend Shane Anderson’s entrance door.

OFFICER (police bodycam): Hey, it is Saint Paul Police.

OFFICER: Did you hear what occurred?

Shane Anderson: It is probably the most devastating knock on my door I’ve ever had in my life. … two cops … they requested me who Alex was and I mentioned, “that is my girlfriend.”

SHANE ANDERSON (police bodycam): Is she OK?

OFFICER: She’s handed away. 

SHANE ANDERSON: No!

SHANE ANDERSON (drops to the ground): … Al — Al — Alex Pennig? You are kidding me (crying).

Shane Anderson: And, I do not know, blacked out after that just about.

SHANE ANDERSON (police bodycam): Oh my God (crying).

Anderson says he was determined for solutions, and willingly went to the police station to talk with detectives DeSanto and Dan Zebro.

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): … I wish to know what occurred to her.

DET. DAN ZEBRO: OK, that is what I am attempting to determine. OK, so …

Anderson advised the detectives he had been relationship Alex for round 4 months and painted a rosy image.

Shane Anderson: She was candy. Like she was enjoyable … every little thing that you just’d need in a girl.

In accordance with Anderson, they spent almost daily collectively and liked to lounge round together with her two cats.

Shane Anderson: I am not a cat particular person. I am extra of a canine particular person to be sincere, however, uh, she type of made me a cat particular person.

He advised the detectives that though it was early of their relationship, they had been planning a future collectively.

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): Actually yesterday we had been speaking about, like, me breaking my lease and transferring into her place.

Shane Anderson We each needed households …

Natalie Morales: So that you imagined your self together with her?

Shane Anderson: 100%.

Anderson’s description was in stark distinction to what Ecker had advised police. Ecker mentioned Alex advised him she was combating with Anderson and afraid of him. However when the detectives requested, Anderson denied it.

DET. DAN ZEBRO (police interview): So, did the argument that you just guys had in that morning did it get bodily in any respect?

SHANE ANDERSON: No, no, by no means. God, no.

SHANE ANDERSON: It was about, uh, mainly why I have not moved in but and like why that was taking so lengthy.

However what about these punch marks in Alex’s condo?

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): That was from just a few weeks again, that was me, sure. … I used to be drunk. I did not f****** put my fingers on her although.

Shane Anderson: We argued like a married couple. Like, it wasn’t — something like loopy or like, violent or like bizarre.

However keep in mind, Ecker advised detectives Anderson was arguing with Alex simply hours earlier than her demise at Camp Bar and Anderson even punched Ecker.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam):  … and I got here throughout and I stood in between them after which he punched me.

Anderson did not deny hitting Ecker. He says seeing Alex with one other man upset him.

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): Alex confirmed up with like a man. … He would not look acquainted. I don’t know who the f*** this man is …

Shane Anderson: I used to be questioning why this man is hanging out with my girlfriend. And I made a decision to throw a punch, which I — is just not in my character, nevertheless it simply felt just like the factor to do on the time.

Detectives DeSanto and O’Donnell reviewed safety footage from inside Camp Bar.

Det. Abby DeSanto: So, Camp Bar is the final bar Alex and Matthew went to.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: So, as Alex and Matt walked in, Shane was sitting proper throughout from the bar.

They took “48 Hours” by the altercation. And we zoomed in for a more in-depth look.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Matt was sitting right here (on one facet of the bar, close to the doorway) once they walked in. After which actually oddly, Alex walked across the bar and sat throughout the bar over there (on the other facet).

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Shane walked over to her first, after which she is speaking to Shane after which Matt comes over, and it seems that he’s introducing himself trigger he, you understand, holds out his hand to, um, shake fingers with Shane after which there’s a confrontation and Shane ended up assaulting Matt.

Natalie Morales: Shane then is requested to depart.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Sure.

Shane Anderson: I had no concept that that was going to be the final time that I ever noticed her.

After Anderson left, the footage confirmed Alex hanging on the bar with Ecker for about one other hour ingesting and chatting. Detectives had been no nearer to understanding why, just a bit whereas later, she would — as Ecker advised them — take her personal life. And the medical expert dominated that Alex’s method of demise couldn’t be decided. So detectives dug into her previous searching for something that would clarify what occurred.

Sara Hanson: Effectively, she’s been each hair shade. (laughs)

Gillian Kubitschek: Brunette, after which blonde, after which black hair.

Sara Hanson: A bit purple in there.

Gillian Kubitschek: Put just a little purple in there, and it was like she would simply be each shade.

Gillian Kubitschek and Sara Hanson have recognized Alex since grade college.

Natalie Morales: Inform me about Alex, as you knew her again then.

Gillian Kubitschek: Spunky just a little little one stuffed with vitality. All the time as much as one thing.

Kubitschek performed ice hockey with Alex, and collectively they received a state championship.

Natalie Morales: What was she like?

Gillian Kubitschek: Hearth on ice. Fortunately, I used to be all the time on her group, so I by no means needed to play in opposition to her, however she was feisty.

Sara Hanson: She was so enjoyable. … I do not actually keep in mind something aside from happiness actually in, particularly within the youthful years

However detectives realized that as a younger grownup Alex struggled. Her mother and father Mary Jo and Jim Pennig mentioned that in faculty, Alex would get depressed, and she or he bought hooked on prescription capsules.

Jim Pennig: It was very troublesome.

Jim Pennig remembers at some point in 2016.

Jim Pennig: She went as much as her room and took a handful of meds after which had advised her mother that she was making an attempt suicide by meds. After which promptly threw it up —

Mary Jo Pennig: She threw it up —

Jim Pennig: —  caught her finger in her throat and threw it up.

Mary Jo Pennig: I felt prefer it was a cry for assist

They usually bought Alex that assist. Impressed by the nurses who helped her recuperate, in 2019 she bought her licensed sensible nursing diploma and was chosen to talk at commencement.

ALEX PENNIG (commencement speech): I’ve climbed out of the darkness with everlasting scars, however a coronary heart of gold, and the promise that as a nurse, I might strive my greatest for folks like me to not be alone and assist them like these nurses that helped me.

Mary Jo Pennig: Alex did make that option to get effectively, and she or he did.

Natalie Morales: Her life was again on observe.

Mary Jo Pennig: Her life was on observe.

Detectives additionally realized all about Alex’s historical past with Matthew Ecker. She met him in 2020 when she bought a job at a walk-in clinic. Her mother and father say their daughter described Ecker as somebody she labored with. However in keeping with Matthew’s mother and father Blaine Ecker and Terri Randall, there was much more than simply friendship. Alex and Matthew Ecker, they are saying, had been having an affair again then regardless that Ecker was married with 4 youngsters.

Terri Randall: She knew he was married. She knew he had 4 youngsters.

Randall says the romance did not final. In the summertime of 2022 —

Terri Randall: That they had ended the bodily a part of their relationship and had been simply associates.

Nonetheless, she says her son was a supply of help for Alex. She says Matthew advised her Alex was ingesting closely and consequently misplaced a number of jobs.

Terri Randall: .. she would not present up. She’d go on a binge.

With out a job, Matthew Ecker’s household says Alex struggled to pay her payments. So unbeknownst to her mother and father, Ecker stepped in. He gave Alex cash and helped her pay her hire. Ecker’s sisters Molly Hovland and Amie Keller aren’t shocked their brother needed to assist.

Amie Keller: He cared for her and … he has a giant coronary heart, and he did not wish to simply stroll away. … He could not stroll away.

And simply three days earlier than Alex died, Alex despatched Ecker these textual content messages:

“I shut myself out to the world” “I wanted a psychological well being break” and “I’m not very hopeful in the mean time about life.”

Even with these texts although, and Alex’s previous try years earlier, detectives nonetheless weren’t satisfied she took her personal life.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Simply since you say, I would like a psychological well being day, or it isn’t an excellent day, doesn’t suggest you are suicidal.

Detectives suspected Ecker was mendacity to them. And this is why. Bear in mind, the gun was discovered on Alex’s chest together with her left hand on it.

It seems Alex was right-handed.

MATTHEW ECKER CHANGES HIS STORY

When detectives DeSanto and O’Donnell reviewed safety footage from Alex’s condo constructing, they had been capable of see what occurred after Ecker and Alex left Camp Bar.

Det. Abby DeSanto: In order that’s Alex and Matt. They usually’re simply within the vestibule of Alex’s condo strolling in.

Natalie Morales: About two o’clock within the morning or so.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Sure.

Natalie Morales: Time-frame.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Mm-hmm.

Within the video, Ecker and Alex might be seen strolling out of view as they go as much as her condo. However a short time later, they stroll again by the foyer and out the door. Ecker would say it was to get his headphones from his automobile. Alex returns to the foyer and waits. For the detectives, what occurs subsequent is essential.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: She appears impatient simply taking a look at her physique language.

They observe how, when Ecker returns, Alex would not maintain the door for him, and the way he shrugs his shoulders as he follows behind her. The detectives surprise if Ecker and Alex had gotten right into a struggle.

Det. Abby DeSanto: One thing was occurring with them. … that is large, ‘trigger that is the final time we see Alex alive

Twenty minutes later, at 2:50 a.m., Ecker positioned that decision to 911:

MATTHEW ECKER (to 911) : A lady who shot herself within the head …

911 OPERATOR: Is she nonetheless aliv — is she alive? Is she —

MATTHEW ECKER: No!

911 OPERATOR: — is she respiratory?

MATTHEW ECKER: No! No! No!

The foyer safety footage had no audio, so there was no method to know for positive if the 2 had gotten right into a struggle. However when Alex’s household and associates noticed it —

Gillian Kubitschek: You may inform that she was mad. … You may inform the best way she ripped, open that door. You may inform Alex stomp —

Sara Hanson: Yeah.

Gillian Kubitschek: — stomping in.

Mary Jo Pennig: Every time she was mad, she’d, like, stomp. And she or he — I — it was seen on this video. … so that they had been positively in a struggle.

However when detectives questioned Ecker, he denied any issues.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): We had been laughing on the best way residence. The whole lot was wonderful.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: You guys weren’t arguing or something?

MATTHEW ECKER: No.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: There is no struggle with you two?

MATTHEW ECKER: Not between us.

And Matthew Ecker’s household believes there could possibly be a special purpose for the change in Alex’s demeanor. Within the footage, Alex is on her cellphone. They surprise if she was messaging Anderson and arguing with him concerning the altercation that had simply occurred at Camp Bar.

Blaine Ecker: I actually consider there’s plenty of data, plenty of texting. … and we expect having gotten these interactions … would’ve given us much more perception into her way of thinking.

However the detectives could not get into Alex’s cellphone as a result of nobody knew the passcode. And Anderson mentioned he had misplaced his cellphone the night time earlier than, so that they could not search his, both.

Natalie Morales: It appeared … there was some type of change occurring. Was she speaking to you in any respect?

Shane Anderson: I did not have a cellphone, so.

Natalie Morales: Fb message or something like that?

Shane Anderson: Uh, no.

Unable to know for positive what was actually occurring within the foyer, when DeSanto and her colleague Dan Zebro interviewed Ecker, they targeted on what he mentioned occurred within the condo.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): How was she holding the gun when she’s backing as much as the toilet?

MATTHEW ECKER: She was, she had it down right here first after which she cocked it, her left hand cocked it, however she ended up holding it to her left temple is what I keep in mind.

ABBY DESANTO: OK.

DAN ZEBRO: Is she, she left-handed?

MATTHEW ECKER: She’s not, that is what was bizarre.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: He mentioned she did all this together with her left hand, however then he advised us she was right-handed. … you do not use a weapon together with your non-dominant hand. … it is simply one other inconsistency or one other a part of the puzzle that does not match.

There was additionally the nagging query concerning the sink being dry. Matthew had advised first responders he washed his fingers after attempting to assist Alex, which is why his fingers had been clear. However the sink was dry when police arrived. DeSanto requested if he did in truth name police instantly.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): OK. And then you definately referred to as the police instantly?

MATTHEW ECKER: I bought up and referred to as the police. Yeah.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: So you understand, while you get blood throughout your fingers and then you definately go to the sink and also you —

MATTHEW ECKER: Yeah.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: — or the deal with to the sink, proper?

MATTHEW ECKER:  Mm-hmm.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: There must be blood on that.

MATTHEW ECKER: There must be yeah.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: And there is not any —

MATTHEW ECKER: There is no blood on the deal with of the sink?

DET. ABBY DESANTO: And there is not any, nothing within the sink.

MATTHEW ECKER: I do not know. I simply —

DET. ABBY DESANTO: And the sink is, the sink —

MATTHEW ECKER: I rinsed my hand.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: The sink’s dry. There is no water or something.

MATTHEW ECKER: No, I washed my fingers within the sink. I did.

However DeSanto thought Matthew was mendacity. Both he hadn’t helped Alex and did not wash his fingers, or he had not referred to as 911 instantly.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): Proper now all this proof doesn’t add up.

MATTHEW ECKER: I can not —

DET. ABBY DESANTO: I simply need you to only assume. I simply need you to consider this and what, what you are —

MATTHEW ECKER: You are asking me to admit to one thing I did not do.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: No I am not. I am asking you simply to consider it.

MATTHEW ECKER: I imply —

DET. ABBY DESANTO: We’re simply gonna provide you with a while right here simply to assume, we gotta seize that stuff anyway. … Take into consideration every little thing that we mentioned with you …  (The detectives stroll out of the room and go away Ecker alone.)

However quickly Ecker referred to as them again in. It was greater than two hours into his interview, and he needed to vary his story.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): So, the change that I’ve … I did take the gun and I put it in my suitcase. … I put it within the suitcase, went again, seemed to her, and mentioned, “yep,” went again to the suitcase, grabbed the gun, after which put it again there.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Why would you progress that gun?

Natalie Morales: Did he clarify why he moved the gun?

Det. Abby DeSanto: He was scared. 

When Ecker put the gun again, he mentioned he put it on Alex – the best way first responders discovered it, together with her hand on prime.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): Then, why would you lay her hand again down on the gun?

MATTHEW ECKER: I used to be transferring stuff, I used to be transferring her, I used to be taking a look at her, that is all I do know …

Det. Abby DeSanto: At that time we’re, like, oh, what harmless particular person would do that?

But, Ecker continued to insist he was harmless.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): That gun went off behind a closed door. … I didn’t shoot her. … I did not kill her.

Natalie Morales: And he saved saying, the door to the toilet was shut. … I do not know what occurred — however you did not purchase it.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Mm-hmm, no.

Natalie Morales: And neither did Detective Zebro.

Det. Abby DeSanto: No.

However the detectives did not know the way they might show it. After which, they found a brand new piece of proof.

Natalie Morales: It is a massive piece of the puzzle for you.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Sure.

A TINY PIECE OF METAL CONTRADICTS MATTHEW ECKER’S STORY

For hours, Ecker insisted he didn’t kill Alex, that she locked herself within the rest room and fired the shot. He mentioned he had damaged open the door solely after the gun went off.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): I did not damage her.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): I — I heard the gun go off, and that is after I opened the door …

However then, O’Donnell bought a name from the forensic unit processing the scene.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: As soon as Alex was moved … they discovered beneath the place Alex had been laying was a spherical metallic piece …

Natalie Morales (holds up proof photograph): Which is that this piece proper right here.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Sure. 

O’Donnell says it is a piece of the toilet door lock, and since it was found on the ground below Alex’s head, it needed to have gotten there whereas Alex was nonetheless alive.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: For us, it meant that the door was pressured open earlier than she was shot.

The detectives suspected Alex had locked the door to get away from Ecker.

Det. Abby DeSanto: I consider that Alex and Matthew bought in an argument … I consider that she went into the toilet to be alone, not eager to be with him.

However when he broke open the door, they are saying, that small piece of metallic from the lock landed on the toilet ground.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: … he pressured his approach in and shot her.

Shot. They are saying, Alex fell on prime of the metallic piece. To the detectives it was the one approach the piece may have ended up below her. Ecker was charged with second-degree homicide. His household was shocked.

Blaine Ecker: It is like, no, there’s bought to be a mistake.

Amie Keller: … it is simply not his character. … He is not gonna hurt any person on goal.

They employed legal protection legal professional Bruce Rivers.

Bruce Rivers: There’s cheap doubt in all places that this was a murder.

Rivers says there’s one other clarification for the way that metallic piece bought below Alex. He mentioned it may have ended up below her head when Matthew Ecker tried to assist her.

Bruce Rivers: … ‘Trigger he did elevate her head up

However detectives level to the best way Alex was discovered together with her legs straddling the door. If Matthew Ecker had damaged open the door after listening to the gunshot, detectives say Alex’s legs would have been pushed to the facet. However Ecker’s protection legal professional says there was sufficient house within the rest room that when the door was damaged open.

Bruce Rivers: … it went in between her legs. That’s constant for my part, with, uh, her laying there and having … shot herself …

And importantly, claims Rivers, if his shopper had shot Alex there would have been blood splatter on him. And that is not the case.

Bruce Rivers: … there was not one speck of blood on his shirt, on his pants, on his face, wherever in anyway.

The detectives say that is as a result of Ecker more than likely had reached across the door whereas he was attempting to pressure his approach in and fired the shot.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: I consider the door shielded him, from the preliminary … blood splatter.

However Rivers says it makes rather more sense that Alex took her personal life and he says forensic testing proves Ecker wasn’t the one who fired the gun — it was Alex.

Bruce Rivers: … there was, um, uh, gunshot residue on her left hand.

Natalie Morales: And was her DNA discovered on the gun?

Bruce Rivers: It was.

There was additionally no gunshot residue on Ecker, and his DNA was not discovered on the gun. Detectives suspect that is as a result of he wiped it clear earlier than placing it on Alex.

Det. Abby DeSanto: There must be his DNA, it is your gun. You advised us in an interview that you just grabbed the gun …. your fingers had been throughout that gun, nevertheless it was very clear.

Natalie Morales: He admitted … to having held the gun and transferring the gun after the very fact. But … none of his DNA was discovered on the gun. How do you clarify that?

Bruce Rivers: That is not unusual. … simply since you touched one thing doesn’t suggest that DNA is gonna be there.

On the time of her demise, Alex had nearly thrice the authorized restrict of alcohol and 4 completely different prescription medicines in her system together with Prozac and Valium. Though it wasn’t the reason for her demise, to Rivers, it confirmed she was struggling. As did these texts she had despatched Ecker only a few days earlier than her demise:

“I shut myself out to the world.” “I wanted a psychological well being break” and “I’m not very hopeful in the mean time about life.”

Bruce Rivers: She was depressed due to her monetary circumstances, depressed due to her job scenario … all these items compounded themselves.

However detectives would uncover one thing uncommon about these prescription medicines present in Alex’s physique – it seems, Matthew Ecker had prescribed them.

Det. Abby DeSanto: He did not inform us that he was prescribing her medicine …

Natalie Morales: Throughout the investigation, you discovered that out?

Det. Abby DeSanto: Sure. Sure.

As a licensed nurse practitioner, Ecker had the authority to put in writing prescriptions. Although usually that authority is used for a affected person. Alex was not.

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell:: … you’ll assume you’ll ship her to a physician and have her see another person.

Natalie Morales: Was his prescribing medicine thought-about unlawful although?

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell:: No …  it is unethical, nevertheless it was not unlawful.

In accordance with Ecker’s household, Matthew had good purpose. 

Terri Randall: She was prescribed these medicines initially by a medical physician. … So she had requested Matt if he may refill them. … she would badger him …

They usually level to a number of texts Alex despatched him days earlier than her demise asking him to refill medicines together with:

“… I would like you to ship in my instant actual ease Adderall script. …”

“Ensure I Have refills for my trazadone and metoprolol too please”

“I’ve like 3 bottles of Prozac. So I am GOOD with that”

Nonetheless, Alex’s household and associates say there isn’t any excuse.

Jim Pennig: I can not recover from that. As a nurse practitioner, he ought to have recognized higher.

Natalie Morales: So his feeling sorry on your daughter or feeling like he was doing this in one of the simplest ways to attempt to assist her, you do not consider –

Jim Pennig: I do not.

Natalie Morales: — that is the case.

Mary Jo Pennig: I do not in any respect.

Jim Pennig: I do not consider it in any respect.

Gillian Kubitschek: Particularly for somebody that has a historical past of … habit. You do not prescribe it. …  as a nurse practitioner –

Sara Hanson: Proper.

Gillian Kubitschek:  — you say “no.”

In February 2024 Ecker’s trial started. The detectives had been assured they’d an concept of why Ecker would have needed Alex useless and it centered round their previous romance.

Det. Abby DeSanto: … perhaps she mentioned that she was gonna name his spouse and inform his spouse every little thing.

Natalie Morales: And so far as a motive, what, what — could be the motive?

Det. Jennifer O’Donnell: Maintain her quiet. So, the spouse would not discover out.

Bruce Rivers: It positive could be good if there was some proof of that. I imply, it was simply sheer hypothesis. … there’s nothing. Not one scintilla of proof that they had been in any type of dispute in anyway.

As a substitute, Rivers says he is positive that night time every little thing got here to a head for Alex, and she or he could not take it anymore.

Natalie Morales: So when it boils all the way down to it, this can be a case about what the jury’s gonna consider.

Bruce Rivers: Whether or not it is suicide or murder.

And since the medical expert had dominated Alex’s method of demise “couldn’t be decided,” Rivers introduced in a second one, who got here to the identical conclusion: “undetermined.”

Bruce Rivers: If they can not decide it was a murder, neither are you able to.

However what would the jury assume? When it was time for deliberations everybody was nervous.

Terri Randall: It was apparent to me Matt was involved.

Jim Pennig: Selfishly, as a guardian of Alex, we needed to consider that he was responsible, however believing it and proving it are two various things. 

REMEMBERING ALEX PENNIG

In February 2024, after 9 hours of deliberation, the jury got here to a choice about Matthew Ecker: responsible of second-degree homicide.

Jim Pennig: Matthew was responsible.

Jim Pennig: As soon as we heard that we had been, we had been very, we had been very glad.

Mary Jo Pennig: An enormous —

Jim Pennig: We had been unhappy as a result of —

Mary Jo Pennig: — it was a reduction.

Jim Pennig: — it did not convey Alex again, however at the very least there was some justice served.

However for Matthew Ecker’s household …

Terri Randall: … it was like a knife within the coronary heart. I — I could not even operate.

Natalie Morales: What did you see in your brother in that second when the jury learn the decision?

Amie Keller: Simply absolute tragedy.

Molly Hovland: It was terrible.

Amie Keller: Yep.

Two months later, on April 3, 2024, Ecker was again in court docket for sentencing.

Alex’s pal Gillian addresses the court docket.

GILLIAN KUBITSCHEK (in court docket): Numerous occasions I picked up the cellphone to name Al solely to understand I will not ever hear her voice once more.

Sara Hanson echoes their loss.

SARA HANSON (in court docket): Alex actually was a once-in-a-lifetime type of pal …

Gillian Kubitschek: And I keep in mind, Sara, you had been giving your assertion. And sadly, that meant I used to be on the degree of the place Matt was. He was sitting and I used to be standing, and I simply saved wanting over at him, simply attempting to really feel one thing, you understand, attempting to determine what you feel and there was simply nothing, nothing.

Alex’s mother and father Mary Jo and Jim Pennig implored the decide to impose a stiff sentence.

JIM PENNIG (in court docket): Our hearts have been damaged past restore and the long run trajectory of our lives has been modified without end. … and the world misplaced a particular soul and we misplaced our child.

Ecker’s household appealed for leniency.

TERRI RANDALL (in court docket): Matt is likely one of the kindest and most compassionate folks we all know. He has spent most of his grownup life serving to folks and caring for folks. … I actually consider that Matt has a lot extra to supply to this world.

In the long run, Choose Deanne Hilgers sentenced Matthew Ecker to 30 years for killing Alex Pennig.

Amie Keller: I imply, him sitting in jail for … 30 years, it is simply — that is simply not acceptable.

Molly Hovland: He is not a assassin. … he did not do that.

Terri Randall: We’ll struggle till it is made proper. And we won’t surrender on him.

Ecker and his spouse at the moment are divorced, and she or he has full custody of their 4 youngsters. His household says they haven’t been allowed any contact with the youngsters.

Natalie Morales: It must be very laborious as grandparents —

Blaine Ecker: It is horrible.

Natalie Morales: — not having that connection.

Terri Randall: Yeah.

Blaine Ecker: Completely horrible.

Terri Randall: I miss them a lot.

Natalie Morales: Is there one thing you’ll need them to learn about their dad?

Molly Hovland: That he loves them and cares for them and misses them and we love them.

As for Alex’s household, there are questions they’d nonetheless like Ecker to reply.

Mary Jo Pennig: Why’d you do it? Why?

Questions with solutions which will by no means come. What they do know is how they select to honor Alex. A technique is thru her love for animals, together with a serendipitous encounter.

Jim Pennig: Someone had dumped off a — just a little child rooster. And by some means, it simply migrated to our home. … so we constructed a rooster coop. And we now have 12 chickens at — at residence. 

Mary Jo Pennig: And it is correctly named “Alex’s Coop.”

Jim Pennig: Sure.

Natalie Morales: I’ve a sense Alex perhaps had a hand in bringing you that rooster.

Jim Pennig: I feel — I feel you are proper

Mary Jo Pennig: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

And each month the Pennig’s get along with Hanson and Kubitschek.

Gillian Kubitschek: And we simply sit there and speak and cry and inform tales that, oh, Al wouldn’t need us to be telling Mary Jo. However we inform them as a result of we’re like, we’ve got to relive a few of these tales.

Alex’s boyfriend Shane Anderson additionally struggles.

Shane Anderson: … it is heartbreaking ‘trigger I — I really like that lady and she or he deserves to be right here. She completely deserves to be right here.

The cemetery the place Alex is buried is a brief drive from the place her mother and father dwell and so they go to her as usually as they will.

Mary Jo Pennig: Hey Al.

Jim Pennig: I miss you child … yeah.

Mary Jo Pennig: That is robust, love you honey.

Jim Pennig: Lastly at peace. We miss you sweetheart.

---

Produced by Betsy Shuller and Hannah Vair. Elena DiFiore and Ryan Smith are the event producers. Richard Barber, Gary Winter, and Michelle Harris are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.