On the morning of December 16, 2022, 32-year-old Alexandra Lee Pennig was found dead in her downtown Saint Paul apartment from a gunshot wound to the left side of her head. Her boyfriend, 44-year-old Matthew Ecker, called 911 and told police Pennig had taken his handgun from his backpack, loaded it, locked herself in the bathroom and shot herself. Officers found Pennig in the bathroom with the handgun on her chest and her left hand resting on top of it.

Investigators reported several inconsistencies in Ecker’s account. Blood in the bathroom appeared already dried; the handgun had little to no blood on it; Pennig had no obvious blood on her left hand, and family members said she was right-handed, making a self-inflicted wound to the left side of the head questionable. First responders also noted the bathroom sink was dry despite Ecker saying he had washed his hands. Detectives recovered a small metal piece from the bathroom door lock underneath Pennig’s head, suggesting the door had been forced before she was shot and fell.

Does anyone have information about Alexandra’s last night or her circle of friends and partners that could help clarify what happened?