Jury hung for man charged in house fire that killed child

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. (KCTV) – Nicholas Ecker, indicted in 2022 in a house fire case that killed a toddler, faced a hung jury on Tuesday, October 1.

Ecker was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated arson with risk of bodily injury and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Previous coverage: Man accused in fatal house fire pleads not guilty

The jury found Ecker guilty of first-degree murder, but could not agree on the other two counts.

The Shawnee House Fire gutted the family’s home in February 2022. Court documents revealed the toddler’s body was found in a crib inside the home.

Photo by Nicholas Ecker, provided by the family.(KCTV5 News)

Karlie Phelps, the toddler’s mother, was charged with involuntary manslaughter along with numerous other criminal charges related to the case.

Previous coverage: Mother charged in arson of Shawnee child, accused of intimidating witness

A conference hearing for Ecker is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16.