A married Minnesota father who fatally shot his mistress must serve 30 years in prison for her killing, Fox 9 reports.
This week, a judge handed down the sentence to 45-year-old Matthew Ecker, who was convicted in February of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 32-year-old Alexandra Pennig on December 16, 2022.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Ecker claimed that Pennig shot herself in the head while he was visiting her at her downtown St. Paul apartment. The pair were having an intimate relationship, even though Ecker was married and had children.
Ecker’s attorney alleged that Pennig had been grappling with depression and had attempted suicide before. But authorities identified various inconsistencies and suspicious behavior that led them to charge Ecker.
After the shooting, Ecker allegedly took the pistol and put it in his suitcase because, he said, he was afraid he would get in trouble. The gun was his and he had a permit for it. But after seeing Pennig on the bathroom floor, he put the gun on her chest. Investigators also noted the apparent cleanliness of the gun, despite the nature of the scene.
Ecker said he tried to plug the bullet wound to slow blood loss, but his hands were clean when officers arrived. He claimed that he washed them using soap before he dialed 911, yet the bathroom sink was dry, according to authorities.
Further, Ecker initially claimed that Pennig was still breathing when he found her and that he tried to save her life. But he later said he did not perform CPR and did not know what to do, even though he worked as an emergency room nurse practitioner.
Records show Ecker was refilling prescription drugs for Pennig, a registered nurse, and helped cover her rent. Ecker and his family lived in Fergus Falls, about 200 miles northwest of Pennig’s St. Paul apartment.
Ecker is expected to be held at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud, which is about 120 miles southeast of Fergus Falls.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Alexandra Pennig/Facebook & Matthew Ecker/Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office]
