Suvechha Sarkar
On December 16, 2022, the murder of Alexandra Lee Pennig, fondly known as Alex, shocked the community of St. Paul, Minnesota. Investigation revealed her former coworker and friend, Matthew Phillip Ecker, to be the killer. While the entire attention fell on him, his family could not believe that their loved one could commit such a heinous crime. CBS’ ’48 Hours: The Strange Shooting of Alex Pennig’ focuses briefly on his family’s side of the story and how the case unfolded. It features interviews with his loved ones — parents, Blaine Ecker and Terri Randall, and sisters, Molly Hovland and Amie Keller.
Matthew Ecker is Currently Incarcerated at a Minnesota Prison Facility
Matthew Phillip Ecker was born on September 13, 1978, to Blaine Ecker and Terri Randall, and he grew up with his two sisters, Molly Hovland and Amie Keller. He worked as a Registered Nurse and was married to Elizabeth Ecker, and they had four children together. According to his parents, while he was still married, he allegedly had an affair with his former coworker, Alexandra Lee Pennig, lovingly called Alex, whom he met at a walk-in clinic in 2020. They also claimed that they had allegedly broken off their physical relationship by the summer of 2022. However, on December 15, 2022, Matthew went to Alex’s apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota, armed with a gun, when Alex allegedly called him in panic because she was in a violent fight with her boyfriend, Shane Anderson. Matthew called 911 around 2:50 am to inform them that Alex had shot herself.
Matthew claimed that when they returned around 2 am on December 16, 2022, she suddenly took the gun from him and pointed it at her head while backing into the bathroom. He alleged hearing a gunshot following that, only to break the bathroom door lock to find her on the floor. However, as the investigation continued, his conflicting accounts about what happened and multiple circumstantial clues pointed to him as the killer. The most damning evidence was a piece of metal from the door lock found under Alex’s head, which could have only landed there if the bathroom door lock had been broken before she was shot. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on December 19, 2022. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison on April 3, 2024. He is serving his time at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater in Bayport, Minnesota, with his projected release date in February 2044.
Terri Randall and Blaine Ecker Seek Comfort in the Presence of Their Family
During Matthew’s sentencing hearing, his mother, Terri Randall, had taken to the stand to plead for leniency, stating, “Matt is one of the kindest and most compassionate people we know. He has spent most of his adult life helping people and caring for people. … I truly believe that Matt has so much more to offer to this world.” After Matthew was sentenced to 30 years in prison, it broke the hearts of his parents, Blaine Ecker and Terri Randall. Speaking on that matter, his mother expressed her grief, stating, “…it was like a knife in the heart. I — I couldn’t even function.” She and Blaine have since stated they were going to keep fighting until everything is made right, which in their eyes means their son’s freedom. They believe in his innocence with their whole heart.
Blaine and Terri also expressed how terrible they feel since they are no longer allowed to see four of their grandchildren. That is because after Matthew and his wife got divorced upon his conviction, she got full custody of their kids and has since reportedly decided to keep them away from their paternal family. As of writing, Terri resides in the quiet town of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and is retired. Although life has slowed down for her a little, the pain of losing her son to prison remains ever-present. To this day, she never misses a chance to share emotional memories with her son on her social media.
In her day-to-day life, Terri finds her strength in the presence of her daughters, Molly and Amie, and her grandchildren. Just like Matthew’s mother, Blaine also shares the pain of the absence of his son. He is currently married to the love of his life, Lisa Ecker, and always makes sure to balance the sorrow in his life with gratitude for his wife. From time to time, Blaine posts loving tributes to his son, holding onto the good memories. Besides that, he often expresses pride over his loved ones, which shone especially in April 2025, when he celebrated his granddaughter’s commitment to serving and protecting others upon joining the force.
Molly Hovland and Amie Keller Stand Strong Together With Their Families by Their Side
While speaking about the time Matthew was charged with murder, Amie Keller expressed, “… it’s just not his character. … He’s not gonna harm somebody on purpose.” Similarly, Molly Hovland defended her brother, stating, “He’s not a murderer. … he didn’t do this.” After the judgment was passed, the sisters could only describe the experience as “Just absolute tragedy” and “It was awful.” Amie further expressed her disbelief while speaking about Matthew’s sentencing, saying, “I mean, him sitting in prison for … 30 years, it’s just — that’s just not acceptable.” As of writing, Molly has settled down in the small community of Delta, Minnesota, with her husband, Nick Hovland, son, and daughter.
Molly earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and works as a Registered Nurse (RN) at Lake Region Healthcare, devoting her days to healing others. By balancing her job and personal life hand-in-hand, her life is filled with a comforting rhythm. However, behind the scenes, a part of her always remains in mourning for her brother. Molly often shares memories with Matthew on her social media, further highlighting how much his absence from her life means to her. Similarly, Amie also carries the same sibling bond in her heart. The two sisters have remained incredibly close, leaning on each other through every joy and hardship.
When Molly’s husband suffered a severe injury while traveling in Alaska in 2024, Amie was by her side, helping her raise funds through the GoFundMe initiative, offering care, and providing the emotional support only a sister can. Amie also serves as a Registered Nurse and seeks comfort in the presence of her husband, two daughters, and son. In September 2024, she shared a bittersweet photo of her, Molly, and Matthew, where she penned down her emotions, writing, “Love you Matt. My heart is breaking every day.” Although the sisters have lost their brother from their daily life, his presence has never truly faded.
Read More: Shane Anderson: Where is Alex Pennig’s Boyfriend Now?
