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

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It was a week earlier Christmas successful 2022, erstwhile Saint Paul, Minnesota, constabulary serviceman Ching Vang and his partner Officer Justina Hser set disconnected connected their regular patrol of nan city.

Natalie Morales | "48 Hours" contributor: The overnight hours, it's December 16th, 2022. What clip do you get that call?

Officer Ching Vang: On that night, nan telephone came successful astir 2:50.

Officer Ching Vang: … dispatcher stated that a female was changeable successful nan head. … my partner and I, we went lights and sirens heading towards that call.

Natalie Morales: And is it … each units successful nan vicinity called successful astatine that time?

Officer Ching Vang: Yes. … beautiful much, each portion hop connected that telephone to travel and assist.

Within minutes Vang, Hser, and respective different officers — assemblage cameras rolling — arrived astatine nan location, a residential flat building. Matthew Ecker, nan man who had placed nan 911 call, fto them successful and directed them to an flat connected nan 2nd floor.

Vang was nan first to participate nan apartment.

Officer Ching Vang: I retrieve stepping in, nan bath was to nan right, nan very first door.

ALEX PENNIG'S DEATH INVESTIGATION BEGINS

Alex Pennig, 32, was lying look up pinch a azygous gunshot coiled to her near temple.

Officer Ching Vang: I noticed … a batch of humor astir her head.

Vang had instantly spotted nan weapon laying connected Alex's near shoulder; her manus resting connected top. A squad of officers looked astir nan mini workplace flat and questioned neighbors. No 1 had heard anything.

In nan hallway, Hser was talking to Ecker.

OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): (to Ecker) You sewage to support breathing. You sewage to support breathing.

Officer Justina Hser: He was … connected nan level by himself. So, I conscionable went and approached him and conscionable started talking to him.

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

Natalie Morales: Were you concerned astir him?

Officer Justina Hser: I was. … because astatine nan clip we didn't cognize what was going connected …

OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): I cognize it's shocked. I cognize it's hard.

Officer Justina Hser: I conscionable told him to conscionable slow down. Take your time. We're not successful a rush, whenever you're ready, I'm — I'm fresh to listen.

Ecker did yet calm down and he started talking —

OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): Were you guys arguing aliases something?

MATTHEW ECKER: No.

— telling officers he lived almost 3 hours distant but drove to Alex aft she placed a frantic telephone to him earlier.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam) So I came present to thief her consciousness safe.

Ecker told constabulary Alex had gotten into a conflict pinch her existent boyfriend. His sanction was Shane Anderson — that things had gotten physical, and she was frightened of what he mightiness do. So, Ecker took his weapon and brought it pinch him to Alex's apartment.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): …because I was worried that her fellow would travel …

Natalie Morales: So, he was going there, he said, to protect her?

Officer Justina Hser: Yes.

Ecker arrived astatine Alex's astir 2 p.m. Anderson wasn't there.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): You cognize we were conscionable hanging out.

That evening, he said, they went retired to section bars. When they walked into a spot called Camp Bar, Anderson was inside.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): He came to her, they were arguing, and I came crossed and I stood successful betwixt them and past he punched me.

Anderson deed him, he says, and past was kicked retired of nan bar.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): … and past her and I sat location and talked pinch different group for different 45 minutes. We came backmost here, and I thought everything was fine. And past she conscionable grabbed nan gun.

OFFICER HSER: Did she make immoderate threat, earlier that —

MATTHEW ECKER: Not —

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

MATTHEW ECKER: I didn't —

OFFICER HSER: Or wounded herself?

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

And pinch nan weapon successful her hand, she backed into nan bathroom, he says, and locked nan door. Moments later a azygous changeable rang out. Ecker says he quickly collapsed nan doorway unfastened and saw Alex connected nan floor. He told nan officers he tried utilizing his nursing skills to extremity nan bleeding by putting unit connected nan wound.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): … I tried to do what I could.

OFFICER HSER: OK.

MATTHEW ECKER: And past I washed my hands.

OFFICER HSER: Then you washed your hands?

MATTHEW ECKER: Correct. That's why I don't person thing connected my hands.

OFFICER HSER: And past you, past you called nan police?

MATTHEW ECKER: Yeah.

The news that Alex had fired a weapon — taking her ain life — was unfathomable to Alex's parents Mary Jo and Jim Pennig.

Mary Jo Pennig: That conscionable was wholly retired of characteristic for Alex.

Jim Pennig: She had ne'er changeable a gun. … Didn't for illustration guns … truthful it didn't make immoderate sense.

And Alex's mom Mary Jo Pennig had conscionable texted pinch her girl a fewer hours earlier and she didn't look depressed astatine all.

Mary Jo Pennig: She was doing good … you cognize and that's what's hard.

Detectives Abby DeSanto and Jennifer O'Donnell were called to nan scene.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: You get a telephone successful nan mediate of nan night, truthful you cognize it's not good.

Inside nan flat location was intoxicant and six bottles of medicine medications, including antidepressants and amphetamines, each prescribed to Alex. But if that suggested possibly Alex had been depressed and took her ain life, location were different things that didn't look to adhd up successful Ecker's account. The first was nan position of Alex's body, opportunity nan investigators.

CBS News animation still based connected crime segment grounds

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: The doorway to nan bath was ajar and you instantly spot Alex's feet connected either broadside of nan door.

If Ecker had surgery down nan bath doorway after proceeding nan gunshot — arsenic he told officers he had —

CBS News animation/ schematic practice of detective's mentation

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: We deliberation that if that had been nan lawsuit … her legs, would've been swept down nan door.

And moreover though Ecker had said he washed his hands earlier calling 911 —

Det. Abby DeSanto: When responding officers arrived nan descend was dry. … and if, he had said, you know, he called nan constabulary correct distant that descend astir apt would've been still bedewed …

The detectives decided to return a deeper look astatine Ecker's story. He had told constabulary his only ngo that time was to protect Alex from Shane Anderson, nan fellow he claimed was violent. And successful fact, location were these holes successful nan closet doorway — holes Ecker said Shane was responsible for.

Det. Abby DeSanto: — crossed from nan bathroom, kinda for illustration punch marks.

The detectives were now eager to speak pinch Anderson.

A PUNCH CAUGHT ON TAPE

Hours aft Alex Pennig was recovered dead, constabulary were astatine her fellow Shane Anderson's beforehand door.

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

OFFICER: Did you perceive what happened?

Shane Anderson: It's nan astir devastating sound connected my doorway I've ever had successful my life. … 2 constabulary officers … they asked maine who Alex was and I said, "that's my girlfriend."

SHANE ANDERSON (police bodycam): Is she OK?

OFFICER: She's passed away.

SHANE ANDERSON: No!

SHANE ANDERSON (drops to nan floor): … Al — Al — Alex Pennig? You're kidding maine (crying).

Shane Anderson: And, I don't know, blacked retired aft that beautiful much.

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

Anderson says he was hopeless for answers, and willingly went to nan constabulary position to speak pinch detectives DeSanto and Dan Zebro.

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): … I want to cognize what happened to her.

DET. DAN ZEBRO: OK, that's what I'm trying to fig out. OK, truthful …

Anderson told nan detectives he had been making love Alex for astir 4 months and painted a rosy picture.

Shane Anderson: She was sweet. Like she was nosy … everything that you'd want successful a woman.

According to Anderson, they spent astir each time together and loved to lounge astir pinch her 2 cats.

Shane Anderson: I'm not a feline person. I'm much of a canine personification to beryllium honest, but, uh, she benignant of made maine a feline person.

He told nan detectives that though it was early successful their relationship, they were readying a early together.

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): Literally yesterday we were talking about, like, maine breaking my lease and moving into her place.

Shane Anderson We some wanted families …

Natalie Morales: So you imagined yourself pinch her?

Shane Anderson: 100%.

Anderson's explanation was successful stark opposition to what Ecker had told police. Ecker said Alex told him she was fighting pinch Anderson and frightened of him. But erstwhile nan detectives asked, Anderson denied it.

DET. DAN ZEBRO (police interview): So, did nan statement that you guys had successful that greeting did it get beingness astatine all?

SHANE ANDERSON: No, no, not astatine all. God, no.

SHANE ANDERSON: It was about, uh, fundamentally why I haven't moved successful yet and for illustration why that was taking truthful long.

But what astir those punch marks successful Alex's apartment?

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): That was from a fewer weeks back, that was me, yes. … I was drunk. I didn't f****** put my hands connected her though.

Shane Anderson: We based on for illustration a joined couple. Like, it wasn't — thing for illustration crazy aliases like, convulsive aliases for illustration weird.

But remember, Ecker told detectives Anderson was arguing pinch Alex conscionable hours earlier her decease astatine Camp Bar and Anderson moreover punched Ecker.

MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): … and I came crossed and I stood successful betwixt them and past he punched me.

Anderson didn't contradict hitting Ecker. He says seeing Alex pinch different man upset him.

SHANE ANDERSON (police interview): Alex showed up pinch for illustration a guy. … He doesn't look familiar. I person nary thought who nan f*** this feline is …

Shane Anderson: I was wondering why this feline is hanging retired pinch my girlfriend. And I decided to propulsion a punch, which I — is not successful my character, but it conscionable felt for illustration nan point to do astatine nan time.

Detectives DeSanto and O'Donnell reviewed information footage from wrong Camp Bar.

Det. Abby DeSanto: So, Camp Bar is nan past barroom Alex and Matthew went to.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: So, arsenic Alex and Matt walked in, Shane was sitting correct crossed from nan bar.

They took "48 Hours" done nan altercation. And we zoomed successful for a person look.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Matt was sitting present (on 1 broadside of nan bar, adjacent nan entrance) erstwhile they walked in. And past really oddly, Alex walked astir nan barroom and sat crossed nan barroom complete location (on nan other side).

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Shane walked complete to her first, and past she is talking to Shane and past Matt comes over, and it appears that he is introducing himself origin he, you know, holds retired his manus to, um, shingle hands pinch Shane and past location is simply a confrontation and Shane ended up assaulting Matt.

Natalie Morales: Shane past is asked to leave.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Yes.

Shane Anderson: I had nary thought that that was going to beryllium nan past clip that I ever saw her.

After Anderson left, nan footage showed Alex hanging astatine nan barroom pinch Ecker for astir different hr drinking and chatting. Detectives were nary person to knowing why, conscionable a small while later, she would — arsenic Ecker told them — return her ain life. And nan aesculapian examiner ruled that Alex's mode of decease could not beryllium determined. So detectives dug into her past looking for thing that could explicate what happened.

Sara Hanson: Well, she's been each hairsbreadth color. (laughs)

Gillian Kubitschek: Brunette, and past blonde, and past achromatic hair.

Sara Hanson: A small reddish successful there.

Gillian Kubitschek: Put a small reddish successful there, and it was for illustration she would conscionable beryllium each color.

Gillian Kubitschek and Sara Hanson person known Alex since people school.

Natalie Morales: Tell maine astir Alex, arsenic you knew her backmost then.

Gillian Kubitschek: Spunky a small kid afloat of energy. Always up to something.

Kubitschek played crystal lucky pinch Alex, and together they won a authorities championship.

Natalie Morales: What was she like?

Gillian Kubitschek: Fire connected ice. Luckily, I was ever connected her team, truthful I ne'er had to play against her, but she was feisty.

Sara Hanson: She was truthful fun. … I don't really retrieve thing different than happiness really in, particularly successful nan younger years

But detectives learned that arsenic a young big Alex struggled. Her parents Mary Jo and Jim Pennig said that successful college, Alex would get depressed, and she sewage hooked connected medicine pills.

Jim Pennig: It was very difficult.

Jim Pennig recalls 1 time successful 2016.

Jim Pennig: She went up to her room and took a fistful of meds and past had told her mom that she was attempting termination by meds. And past promptly threw it up —

Mary Jo Pennig: She threw it up —

Jim Pennig: — stuck her digit successful her pharynx and threw it up.

Mary Jo Pennig: I felt for illustration it was a outcry for thief

And they sewage Alex that help. Inspired by nan nurses who helped her recover, successful 2019 she sewage her licensed applicable nursing grade and was chosen to speak astatine graduation.

ALEX PENNIG (graduation speech): I person climbed retired of nan acheronian pinch imperishable scars, but a bosom of gold, and nan committedness that arsenic a nurse, I would effort my champion for group for illustration maine to not beryllium unsocial and thief them for illustration those nurses that helped me.

Mary Jo Pennig: Alex did make that prime to get well, and she did.

Natalie Morales: Her life was backmost connected track.

Mary Jo Pennig: Her life was connected track.

Detectives besides learned each astir Alex's history pinch Matthew Ecker. She met him successful 2020 erstwhile she sewage a occupation astatine a walk-in clinic. Her parents opportunity their girl described Ecker arsenic personification she worked with. But according to Matthew's parents Blaine Ecker and Terri Randall, location was a batch much than conscionable friendship. Alex and Matthew Ecker, they say, were having an matter backmost past moreover though Ecker was joined pinch 4 kids.

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

Randall says nan romance didn't last. In nan summertime of 2022 —

Terri Randall: They had ended nan beingness portion of their narration and were conscionable friends.

Still, she says her boy was a root of support for Alex. She says Matthew told her Alex was drinking heavy and arsenic a consequence mislaid respective jobs.

Terri Randall: .. she wouldn't show up. She'd spell connected a binge.

Without a job, Matthew Ecker's family says Alex struggled to salary her bills. So unbeknownst to her parents, Ecker stepped in. He gave Alex money and helped her salary her rent. Ecker's sisters Molly Hovland and Amie Keller aren't amazed their relative wanted to help.

Amie Keller: He cared for her and … he has a large heart, and he didn't want to conscionable locomotion away. … He couldn't locomotion away.

And conscionable 3 days earlier Alex died, Alex sent Ecker these matter messages:

"I unopen myself retired to nan world" "I needed a intelligence wellness break" and "I americium not very hopeful astatine nan infinitesimal astir life."

Even pinch those texts though, and Alex's past effort years earlier, detectives still weren't convinced she took her ain life.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Just because you say, I request a intelligence wellness day, aliases it's not a bully day, doesn't mean you're suicidal.

Detectives suspected Ecker was lying to them. And here's why. Remember, nan weapon was recovered connected Alex's thorax pinch her near manus connected it.

It turns retired Alex was right-handed.

MATTHEW ECKER CHANGES HIS STORY

When detectives DeSanto and O'Donnell reviewed information footage from Alex's flat building, they were capable to spot what happened aft Ecker and Alex near Camp Bar.

Alex Pennig, Matthew Ecker information camera video

Det. Abby DeSanto: So that's Alex and Matt. And they're conscionable successful nan vestibule of Alex's flat stepping in.

Natalie Morales: About 2 o'clock successful nan greeting aliases so.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Yes.

Natalie Morales: Time frame.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Mm-hmm.

PHOTOS: Tracking nan hours earlier a young Minnesota female became a execution victim

In nan video, Ecker and Alex tin beryllium seen stepping retired of position arsenic they spell up to her apartment. But a short while later, they locomotion backmost done nan lobby and retired nan door. Ecker would opportunity it was to get his headphones from his car. Alex returns to nan lobby and waits. For nan detectives, what happens adjacent is key.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: She seems impatient conscionable looking astatine her assemblage language.

They statement how, erstwhile Ecker returns, Alex doesn't clasp nan doorway for him, and really he shrugs his shoulders arsenic he follows down her. The detectives wonderment if Ecker and Alex had gotten into a fight.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Something was going connected pinch them. … that's huge, 'cause that's nan past clip we spot Alex alive

Twenty minutes later, astatine 2:50 a.m., Ecker placed that telephone to 911:

MATTHEW ECKER (to 911) : A woman who changeable herself successful nan caput …

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

MATTHEW ECKER: No!

911 OPERATOR: — is she breathing?

MATTHEW ECKER: No! No! No!

The lobby information footage had nary audio, truthful location was nary measurement to cognize for judge if nan 2 had gotten into a fight. But erstwhile Alex's family and friends saw it —

Gillian Kubitschek: You could show that she was mad. … You could show nan measurement she ripped, unfastened that door. You could show Alex stomp —

Sara Hanson: Yeah.

Gillian Kubitschek: — stomping in.

Mary Jo Pennig: Whenever she was mad, she'd, like, stomp. And she — I — it was visible successful this video. … truthful they were decidedly successful a fight.

But erstwhile detectives questioned Ecker, he denied immoderate problems.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): We were laughing connected nan measurement home. Everything was fine.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: You guys weren't arguing aliases anything?

MATTHEW ECKER: No.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: There's nary conflict pinch you two?

MATTHEW ECKER: Not betwixt us.

And Matthew Ecker's family believes location could beryllium a different logic for nan alteration successful Alex's demeanor. In nan footage, Alex is connected her phone. They wonderment if she was messaging Anderson and arguing pinch him astir nan altercation that had conscionable happened astatine Camp Bar.

Blaine Ecker: I genuinely judge there's a batch of information, a batch of texting. … and we deliberation having gotten those interactions … would've fixed america a batch much penetration into her authorities of mind.

But nan detectives couldn't get into Alex's telephone because nary 1 knew nan passcode. And Anderson said he had mislaid his telephone nan nighttime before, truthful they couldn't hunt his, either.

Natalie Morales: It seemed … location was immoderate benignant of speech happening. Was she talking to you astatine all?

Shane Anderson: I didn't person a phone, so.

Natalie Morales: Facebook connection aliases thing for illustration that?

Shane Anderson: Uh, no.

Unable to cognize for judge what was really happening successful nan lobby, erstwhile DeSanto and her workfellow Dan Zebro interviewed Ecker, they focused connected what he said happened successful nan apartment.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): How was she holding nan weapon erstwhile she's backing up to nan bathroom?

MATTHEW ECKER: She was, she had it down present first and past she cocked it, her near manus cocked it, but she ended up holding it to her near temple is what I remember.

ABBY DESANTO: OK.

DAN ZEBRO: Is she, she left-handed?

MATTHEW ECKER: She's not, that's what was weird.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: He said she did each this pinch her near hand, but past he told america she was right-handed. … you don't usage a limb pinch your non-dominant hand. … it's conscionable different inconsistency aliases different portion of nan puzzle that doesn't match.

There was besides nan nagging mobility astir nan descend being dry. Matthew had told first responders he washed his hands aft trying to thief Alex, which is why his hands were clean. But nan descend was barren erstwhile constabulary arrived. DeSanto asked if he did successful truth telephone constabulary correct away.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): OK. And past you called nan constabulary correct away?

MATTHEW ECKER: I sewage up and called nan police. Yeah.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: So you know, erstwhile you get humor each complete your hands and past you spell to nan descend and you —

MATTHEW ECKER: Yeah.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: — aliases nan grip to nan sink, right?

MATTHEW ECKER: Mm-hmm.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: There should beryllium humor connected that.

MATTHEW ECKER: There should beryllium yeah.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: And there's nary —

MATTHEW ECKER: There's nary humor connected nan grip of nan sink?

DET. ABBY DESANTO: And there's no, thing successful nan sink.

MATTHEW ECKER: I don't know. I conscionable —

DET. ABBY DESANTO: And nan descend is, nan descend —

MATTHEW ECKER: I rinsed my hand.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: The sink's dry. There's nary h2o aliases anything.

MATTHEW ECKER: No, I washed my hands successful nan sink. I did.

But DeSanto thought Matthew was lying. Either he hadn't helped Alex and didn't lavation his hands, aliases he had not called 911 correct away.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): Right now each this grounds does not adhd up.

MATTHEW ECKER: I can't —

DET. ABBY DESANTO: I conscionable want you to conscionable think. I conscionable want you to deliberation astir this and what, what you're —

MATTHEW ECKER: You're asking maine to confess to thing I didn't do.

DET. ABBY DESANTO: No I'm not. I'm asking you conscionable to deliberation astir it.

MATTHEW ECKER: I mean —

DET. ABBY DESANTO: We're conscionable gonna springiness you immoderate clip present conscionable to think, we gotta drawback that worldly anyway. ... Think astir everything that we discussed pinch you ... (The detectives locomotion retired of nan room and time off Ecker alone.)

But soon Ecker called them backmost in. It was much than 2 hours into his interview, and he wanted to alteration his story.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): So, nan alteration that I person … I did return nan weapon and I put it successful my suitcase. … I put it successful nan suitcase, went back, looked to her, and said, "yep," went backmost to nan suitcase, grabbed nan gun, and past put it backmost there.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Why would you move that gun?

Natalie Morales: Did he explicate why he moved nan gun?

Det. Abby DeSanto: He was scared.

Police sketch showing Pennig bath segment

When Ecker put nan weapon back, he said he put it connected Alex – nan measurement first responders recovered it, pinch her manus connected top.

DET. ABBY DESANTO (police interview): Then, why would you laic her manus backmost down connected nan gun?

MATTHEW ECKER: I was moving stuff, I was moving her, I was looking astatine her, that's each I cognize …

Det. Abby DeSanto: At that constituent we're, like, oh, what guiltless personification would do this?

Yet, Ecker continued to insist he was innocent.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): That weapon went disconnected down a closed door. … I did not sprout her. … I didn't termination her.

Natalie Morales: And he kept saying, nan doorway to nan bath was shut. … I don't cognize what happened — but you didn't bargain it.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Mm-hmm, no.

Natalie Morales: And neither did Detective Zebro.

Det. Abby DeSanto: No.

But nan detectives didn't cognize really they could beryllium it. And then, they discovered a caller portion of evidence.

Natalie Morales: This is simply a large portion of nan puzzle for you.

Det. Abby DeSanto: Yes.

A TINY PIECE OF METAL CONTRADICTS MATTHEW ECKER'S STORY

For hours, Ecker insisted he did not termination Alex, that she locked herself successful nan bath and fired nan shot. He said he had surgery unfastened nan doorway only aft nan weapon went off.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): I didn't wounded her.

MATTHEW ECKER (police interview): I — I heard nan weapon spell off, and that's erstwhile I opened nan doorway ...

But then, O'Donnell sewage a telephone from nan forensic portion processing nan scene.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Once Alex was moved … they recovered underneath wherever Alex had been laying was a information metallic portion …

Natalie Morales (holds up grounds photo): Which is this portion correct here.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Yes.

O'Donnell says it's a portion of nan bath doorway lock, and because it was discovered connected nan level nether Alex's head, it had to person gotten location while Alex was still alive.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: For us, it meant that nan doorway was forced unfastened earlier she was shot.

The detectives suspected Alex had locked nan doorway to get distant from Ecker.

Det. Abby DeSanto: I judge that Alex and Matthew sewage successful an statement … I judge that she went into nan bath to beryllium alone, not wanting to beryllium pinch him.

But erstwhile he collapsed unfastened nan door, they say, that mini portion of metallic from nan fastener landed connected nan bath floor.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: … he forced his measurement successful and changeable her.

Shot. They say, Alex fell connected apical of nan metallic piece. To nan detectives it was nan only measurement nan portion could person ended up nether her. Ecker was charged pinch second-degree murder. His family was stunned.

Blaine Ecker: It's like, no, there's sewage to beryllium a mistake.

Amie Keller: … it's conscionable not his character. … He's not gonna harm personification connected purpose.

They hired criminal defense lawyer Bruce Rivers.

Bruce Rivers: There's reasonable uncertainty each complete nan spot that this was a homicide.

Rivers says there's different mentation for really that metallic portion sewage nether Alex. He said it could person ended up nether her caput erstwhile Matthew Ecker attempted to thief her.

Bruce Rivers: … 'Cause he did assistance her caput up

But detectives constituent to nan measurement Alex was recovered pinch her legs straddling nan door. If Matthew Ecker had surgery unfastened nan doorway aft proceeding nan gunshot, detectives opportunity Alex's legs would person been pushed to nan side. But Ecker's defense lawyer says location was capable abstraction successful nan bath that erstwhile nan doorway was surgery open.

Bruce Rivers: … it went successful betwixt her legs. That is accordant successful my opinion, with, uh, her laying location and having … changeable herself …

And importantly, claims Rivers, if his customer had changeable Alex location would person been humor splatter connected him. And that's not nan case.

Bruce Rivers: … location was not 1 speck of humor connected his shirt, connected his pants, connected his face, anyplace whatsoever.

The detectives opportunity that's because Ecker astir apt had reached astir nan doorway while he was trying to unit his measurement successful and fired nan shot.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: I judge nan doorway shielded him, from nan first … humor splatter.

But Rivers says it makes overmuch much consciousness that Alex took her ain life and he says forensic testing proves Ecker wasn't nan 1 who fired nan weapon — it was Alex.

Bruce Rivers: … location was, um, uh, gunshot residue connected her near hand.

Natalie Morales: And was her DNA recovered connected nan gun?

Bruce Rivers: It was.

There was besides nary gunshot residue connected Ecker, and his DNA was not recovered connected nan gun. Detectives fishy that's because he wiped it cleanable earlier putting it connected Alex.

Det. Abby DeSanto: There should beryllium his DNA, it's your gun. You told america successful an question and reply that you grabbed nan weapon …. your hands were each complete that gun, but it was very clean.

Natalie Morales: He admitted … to having held nan weapon and moving nan weapon aft nan fact. Yet … nary of his DNA was recovered connected nan gun. How do you explicate that?

Bruce Rivers: That's not uncommon. … conscionable because you touched thing doesn't mean that DNA is gonna beryllium there.

At nan clip of her death, Alex had almost 3 times nan ineligible limit of intoxicant and 4 different medicine medications successful her strategy including Prozac and Valium. Although it wasn't nan origin of her death, to Rivers, it showed she was struggling. As did those texts she had sent Ecker conscionable a fewer days earlier her death:

"I unopen myself retired to nan world." "I needed a intelligence wellness break" and "I americium not very hopeful astatine nan infinitesimal astir life."

Bruce Rivers: She was depressed because of her financial conditions, depressed because of her occupation business … each these things compounded themselves.

But detectives would observe thing different astir those medicine medications recovered successful Alex's assemblage – it turns out, Matthew Ecker had prescribed them.

Det. Abby DeSanto: He didn't show america that he was prescribing her medicine …

Natalie Morales: During nan investigation, you recovered that out?

Det. Abby DeSanto: Yes. Yes.

As a licensed caregiver practitioner, Ecker had nan authority to constitute prescriptions. Though usually that authority is utilized for a patient. Alex was not.

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell:: … you would deliberation you would nonstop her to a expert and person her spot personification else.

Natalie Morales: Was his prescribing medicine considered forbidden though?

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell:: No … it's unethical, but it was not illegal.

According to Ecker's family, Matthew had bully reason.

Terri Randall: She was prescribed those medications primitively by a aesculapian doctor. … So she had asked Matt if he could refill them. … she would badger him …

And they constituent to aggregate texts Alex sent him days earlier her decease asking him to refill medications including:

"… I request you to nonstop successful my contiguous existent easiness Adderall script. …"

"Make judge I Have refills for my trazadone and metoprolol excessively please"

"I person for illustration 3 bottles of Prozac. So I'm GOOD pinch that"

Still, Alex's family and friends opportunity location is nary excuse.

Jim Pennig: I can't get complete that. As a caregiver practitioner, he should person known better.

Natalie Morales: So his emotion sorry for your girl aliases emotion for illustration he was doing this successful nan champion measurement to effort to thief her, you don't judge –

Jim Pennig: I don't.

Natalie Morales: — that's nan case.

Mary Jo Pennig: I don't astatine all.

Jim Pennig: I don't judge it astatine all.

Gillian Kubitschek: Especially for personification that has a history of … addiction. You don't prescribe it. … as a caregiver practitioner –

Sara Hanson: Right.

Gillian Kubitschek: — you opportunity "no."

In February 2024 Ecker's proceedings began. The detectives were assured they had an thought of why Ecker would person wanted Alex dormant and it centered astir their past romance.

Det. Abby DeSanto: … possibly she said that she was gonna telephone his woman and show his woman everything.

Natalie Morales: And arsenic acold arsenic a motive, what, what — would beryllium nan motive?

Det. Jennifer O'Donnell: Keep her quiet. So, nan woman doesn't find out.

Bruce Rivers: It judge would beryllium bully if location was immoderate grounds of that. I mean, it was conscionable sheer speculation. … there's nothing. Not 1 scintilla of grounds that they were successful immoderate benignant of conflict whatsoever.

Instead, Rivers says he's judge that nighttime everything came to a caput for Alex, and she couldn't return it anymore.

Natalie Morales: So erstwhile it boils down to it, this is simply a lawsuit astir what nan jury's gonna believe.

Bruce Rivers: Whether it's termination aliases homicide.

And because nan aesculapian examiner had ruled Alex's mode of decease "could not beryllium determined," Rivers brought successful a 2nd one, who came to nan aforesaid conclusion: "undetermined."

Bruce Rivers: If they can't find it was a homicide, neither tin you.

But what would nan assemblage think? When it was clip for deliberations everyone was nervous.

Terri Randall: It was evident to maine Matt was concerned.

Jim Pennig: Selfishly, arsenic a genitor of Alex, we wanted to judge that he was guilty, but believing it and proving it are 2 different things.

REMEMBERING ALEX PENNIG

In February 2024, aft 9 hours of deliberation, nan assemblage came to a determination astir Matthew Ecker: blameworthy of second-degree murder.

Jim Pennig: Matthew was guilty.

Jim Pennig: Once we heard that we were, we were very, we were very happy.

Mary Jo Pennig: A immense —

Jim Pennig: We were sad because —

Mary Jo Pennig: — it was a relief.

Jim Pennig: — it didn't bring Alex back, but astatine slightest location was immoderate justness served.

But for Matthew Ecker's family ...

Terri Randall: … it was for illustration a weapon successful nan heart. I — I couldn't moreover function.

Natalie Morales: What did you spot successful your relative successful that infinitesimal erstwhile nan assemblage publication nan verdict?

Amie Keller: Just absolute tragedy.

Molly Hovland: It was awful.

Amie Keller: Yep.

Two months later, connected April 3, 2024, Ecker was backmost successful tribunal for sentencing.

Alex's friend Gillian addresses nan court.

GILLIAN KUBITSCHEK (in court): Countless times I picked up nan telephone to telephone Al only to recognize I won't ever perceive her sound again.

Sara Hanson echoes their loss.

SARA HANSON (in court): Alex really was a once-in-a-lifetime benignant of friend …

Gillian Kubitschek: And I remember, Sara, you were giving your statement. And unfortunately, that meant I was astatine nan level of wherever Matt was. He was sitting and I was standing, and I conscionable kept looking complete astatine him, conscionable trying to consciousness something, you know, trying to fig retired what you're emotion and location was conscionable nothing, nothing.

Alex's parents Mary Jo and Jim Pennig implored nan judge to enforce a stiff sentence.

JIM PENNIG (in court): Our hearts person been surgery beyond repair and nan early trajectory of our lives has been changed forever. … and nan world mislaid a typical psyche and we mislaid our baby.

Ecker's family appealed for leniency.

TERRI RANDALL (in court): Matt is 1 of nan kindest and astir compassionate group we know. He has spent astir of his big life helping group and caring for people. … I genuinely judge that Matt has truthful overmuch much to connection to this world.

In nan end, Judge Deanne Hilgers sentenced Matthew Ecker to 30 years for sidesplitting Alex Pennig.

Amie Keller: I mean, him sitting successful situation for … 30 years, it's conscionable — that's conscionable not acceptable.

Molly Hovland: He's not a murderer. … he didn't do this.

Terri Randall: We will conflict until it's made right. And we will not springiness up connected him.

Ecker and his woman are now divorced, and she has afloat custody of their 4 children. His family says they person not been allowed immoderate interaction pinch nan kids.

Natalie Morales: It has to beryllium very difficult arsenic grandparents —

Blaine Ecker: It's terrible.

Natalie Morales: — not having that connection.

Terri Randall: Yeah.

Blaine Ecker: Absolutely terrible.

Terri Randall: I miss them truthful much.

Natalie Morales: Is location thing you would want them to cognize astir their dad?

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

As for Alex's family, location are questions they'd still for illustration Ecker to answer.

Mary Jo Pennig: Why'd you do it? Why?

Questions pinch answers that whitethorn ne'er come. What they do cognize is really they take to grant Alex. One measurement is done her emotion for animals, including a serendipitous encounter.

Jim Pennig: Somebody had dumped disconnected a — a small babe rooster. And somehow, it conscionable migrated to our house. … truthful we built a chickenhearted coop. And we now person 12 chickens astatine — astatine home.

Mary Jo Pennig: And it's decently named "Alex's Coop."

Jim Pennig: Yes.

Natalie Morales: I person a emotion Alex possibly had a manus successful bringing you that rooster.

Jim Pennig: I deliberation — I deliberation you're correct

Mary Jo Pennig: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

And each period nan Pennig's get together pinch Hanson and Kubitschek.

Gillian Kubitschek: And we conscionable beryllium location and talk and outcry and show stories that, oh, Al would not want america to beryllium telling Mary Jo. But we show them because we're like, we person to relive immoderate of these stories.

Alex's fellow Shane Anderson besides struggles.

Shane Anderson: … it's heartbreaking 'cause I — I emotion that woman and she deserves to beryllium here. She perfectly deserves to beryllium here.

The cemetery wherever Alex is buried is simply a short thrust from wherever her parents unrecorded and they sojourn her arsenic often arsenic they can.

Mary Jo Pennig: Hey Al.

Jim Pennig: I miss you kid … yeah.

Mary Jo Pennig: This is tough, emotion you honey.

Jim Pennig: Finally astatine peace. We miss you sweetheart.

Matthew Ecker is appealing his conviction.

Produced by Betsy Shuller and Hannah Vair. Elena DiFiore and Ryan Smith are nan improvement producers. Richard Barber, Gary Winter, and Michelle Harris are nan editors. Patti Aronofsky is nan elder producer. Nancy Kramer is nan executive communicative editor. Judy Tygard is nan executive producer.

48 Hours
Minnesota
Murder

Natalie Morales

Natalie Morales is simply a CBS News analogous and "48 Hours" contributor based successful Los Angeles. An award-winning journalist and anchor, Morales is besides a big of Daytime Emmy-winning talk show "The Talk."

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