In a packed courtroom, a Minnesota judge Thursday sentenced a man to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing his first wife, 13 years after he shot and killed her, and Lied to investigators that it happened during a burglary.
Several friends and family members of Heidi Felkus gave emotional victim testimony before a judge sentenced Nick Felkus, 40, for his crimes. For years, Nick Philcus has claimed her innocence and that a mysterious intruder was involved in her death.
However, prosecutors argued there was no evidence to support his claims of intruders and suggested he lied about his wife’s debts. “Every murder is a tragedy. This one in particular was egregious. For years, he hid his identity behind his back,” said Elizabeth Raming, Assistant District Attorney for Ramsey County, Minnesota.
On April 25, 2010, Heidi Firkus called 911 and, according to the tone of the call, the couple’s home was broken into and they stopped talking after being shot. Police found her dead and her husband had been shot in the leg.
’20/20′ Delves Into Heidi Firkus’ Murder and 13-Year-Old Episode investigation. Nick Firkus told investigators he struggled with the intruder for a shotgun that went off, hitting him and his wife.
Felkus also told officials the couple had serious financial problems and should be deported, but he and Heidi kept it a secret from family and friends.
However, investigators are still looking into Nick Firkus’ role in his wife’s death, especially given the inconsistencies in his story. There was no sign of a break-in at the home, and only Nick Fercus’ DNA was found on the shotgun.
Philcus was arrested in May 2021 and charged with first- and second-degree murder. Nick Fercus killed his wife to escape the stigma of her financial hardship, prosecutors said.
The jury convicted Nick Firkus on two counts on February 10 after deliberating for four hours. Heidi Firkus’ brother Peter Erickson has slammed Nick Firkus in his impact statement.
“Because of the lies we were told the day after her murder and the pressure to believe them, it was almost impossible for us to end our grief when the shock of Heidi’s murder began. It didn’t take long to realize that. Nick told us I Who is the sister,” he said.
