Tracking the hours before a young Minnesota woman became a murder victim

On Dec. 15, 2022, Matthew Ecker was headed to work when he mentioned he received a frantic name from his former co-worker and buddy Alex Pennig. He mentioned Pennig informed him she received in a combat together with her boyfriend Shane Anderson and was petrified of what he may do. So, Ecker took his gun, which he olwned legally, and drove to Pennig’s St. Paul, Minnesota, house.

Ecker arrived round 2 p.m. He would later say his solely motive for going to Pennig’s was to guard her. 

Early the subsequent morning, Pennig was shot useless in her house. Detectives used surveillance footage to piece collectively her closing moments.

The altercation

Pennig and Ecker went out to some bars that night and ended up at Camp Bar at 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 16, 2022. Anderson was on the bar. Surveillance video exhibits he walked over to Pennig and started speaking to her. Ecker walked over to the 2 of them. Issues received heated, and when Ecker stepped in between Pennig and Anderson, Anderson punched him. Anderson was kicked out of the bar and Pennig and Ecker stayed for about an hour ingesting and chatting.

Matthew Ecker and Alex Pennig arrive dwelling for the night time

At 2:05 a.m., Pennig and Ecker arrive at her house constructing after strolling there from Camp Bar.

A return to the foyer

At 2:24 a.m., Pennig and Ecker are seen again within the foyer as they stroll out of the constructing. Ecker would later say he was going to his automotive to get his headphones. Pennig (pictured) returned first and waited within the vestibule for Ecker. She paces round her telephone.

Alex Pennig final seen alive

Ecker returns two minutes after Pennig at 2:30 a.m. The 2 then stroll via the foyer and return as much as Pennig’s house. That is the final time Pennig was seen alive.

St. Paul law enforcement officials arrive on scene

At 2:50 a.m., Ecker referred to as 911 and reported that Pennig shot herself within the head. St. Paul law enforcement officials raced to the house constructing and Ecker allow them to inside at 2:56 a.m.

Matthew Ecker’s story

After main law enforcement officials to Pennig’s house, Ecker sat within the hallway, showing distressed and emotional. Officer Justina Hser approached him and started asking him what occurred. Their dialog, which lasted almost an hour, was captured on her physique digicam. Ecker informed her the whole lot was effective between him and Pennig and that they didn’t have an argument. He mentioned she grabbed his gun out of his backpack, backed into the lavatory and locked the door. Moments later, Ecker mentioned he heard a shot, so he broke open the lavatory door to seek out Pennig laying on the ground with a gunshot wound to her left temple.

The weapon

Responding officers positioned the gun. It was on Pennig’s chest together with her left hand resting on high. They famous that this appeared odd. One officer then moved the gun to the sink (pictured) to position it in a protected place.

Notable proof

Ecker had informed officers he washed his fingers after making an attempt to assist Pennig, which is why his fingers have been clear. However the officers seen that the lavatory sink was dry after they arrived. If Ecker had simply washed his fingers, detectives believed the sink most likely would have nonetheless been moist.

An absence of proof on Matthew Ecker

Ecker was interviewed by detectives round 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 16, 2022. He had no seen blood on his physique or his garments. It was later found that Ecker additionally had no gunshot residue on him.

The defining proof

Whereas Ecker was being interviewed on the police station, the forensic unit processing the scene notified detectives that that they had discovered a brand new piece of proof as soon as Pennig’s physique was moved. It was a metallic piece of the lavatory door lock, and it was found on the ground the place Pennig’s head was. The detectives suspected that when Ecker broke open the door, that small metallic piece landed on the lavatory ground. In keeping with the detectives’ principle, Ecker broke open the lavatory door, then Pennig was shot and fell on high of the piece. They are saying this proves the lavatory door was pressured open earlier than Pennig was shot, and that Ecker had lied to them.

The accused: Matthew Ecker

On Dec. 19, 2022, Matthew Ecker is formally charged with second-degree homicide. Ecker denies killing Alex Pennig.

The trial of Matthew Ecker    

On Feb. 8, 2024, Ecker’s trial begins. Eight days later, on Feb. 16, 2024, he’s discovered responsible of second-degree homicide.

Matthew Ecker sentencing

On April 3, 2024, Ecker is sentenced to 30 years in jail. 

Extra from CBS Information