♪ >>> THERE IS A SAYING HERE IN
MINNESOTA, MINNESOTA NIGHTS. AND THAT MINNESOTA NIGHTS ONLY
GOES SO FAR. AND HEIDI FIRKUS, SHE WENT ALL
THE WAY. SHE WAS GENUINE, AND SHE LOVED
DEEP. >> SHE DEFINITELY LIVED A LIFE
OF LOVE. THAT WAS THE MARK THAT SHE LEFT.
AND THAT'S HARD TO LET GO. >> YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TERRIBLE,
TERRIBLE INCIDENT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPING TO FIND
OTHER PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT MIGHT LEAD US IN A DIRECTION TO
OUR SUSPECT. >> APRIL 5th, 2010 AT 6:30 A.M.,
HEIDI FIRKUS CALLS 911. >> SOMEONE TRIED TO BREAK INTO
MY HOME. >> SHE TELLS THE STATE PATROL
DISPATCHER THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BREAK IN TO HER HOUSE,
AND SHE'S TRYING TO GIVE HER ADDRESS.
WHILE SHE'S ON THE PHONE, YOU CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE
PHONE GOES DEAD. APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE LATER,
NICHOLAS FIRKUS CALLS 911, SAYS THAT HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BOTH
BEEN SHOT. >> SOMEONE HAS BROKEN IN AND
SHOT ME AND MY WIFE. >> ARE YOU IN SAINT PAUL, SIR?
>> PARAMEDICS TOOK NICK TO THE AMBULANCE AND TRANSPORTED HIM TO
REGIONS HOSPITAL. HE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE LEG.
>> HEIDI WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK AS SHE WAS TRYING TO FLEE
TOWARDS THE KITCHEN. >> IT WAS A SHOTGUN BLAST THAT
KILLED HER RIGHT AWAY. THE SHOTGUN WAS LAYING INSIDE
THE FRONT DOOR AREA. THERE IS A FOYER.
NICK SAID HE HEARD SOMEBODY FIDDLING AROUND WITH THE DOOR
AND THAT HE THEN ARMED HIMSELF WITH A SHOTGUN AND THAT NICK AND
THE INTRUDER STRUGGLED OVER THE SHOTGUN.
THE RESPONDING OFFICERS WENT UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK, TRYING TO
TALK TO NEIGHBORS. >> I WAS NEXT DOOR HOUSE SITTING
WHEN THE CRIME HAPPENED. REALLY ALL I HEARD WAS KIND OF
THIS AGONIZING YELL OF, YOU SHOT HER, YOU SHOT ME.
>> IT NEVER FELT RIGHT. THE STORY NEVER MADE SENSE TO
ME. HE TELLS INVESTIGATORS THAT HE
GRABBED A SHOTGUN, LOADED IT WITH TWO SHELLS AND PROCEEDED TO
HAVE HEIDI GO DOWN THE STAIRS IN FRONT OF HIM TOWARDS THE VERY
DOOR THAT THIS ALLEGED BURGLAR WAS AT.
WHY HE WOULD SEND THE UNARMED PERSON DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU IS
BEYOND ME. TO ME, THERE WERE ONLY TWO
PEOPLE IN THAT HOUSE WHEN HEIDI WAS KILLED.
>> AND THEY WERE? >> NICK AND HEIDI.
>> IN ORDER TO BELIEVE THAT NICK KILLED HEIDI, YOU HAVE TO
BELIEVE THAT A GOOD MAN WITH NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE KILLED THE
WOMAN THAT HE LOVED MORE THAN ANYTHING IN LIFE FOR NO REASON.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE. WE CAN'T GET THERE.
♪
>>> WHILE THIS AREA OF SAINT PAUL WHERE HEIDI AND NICK FIRKUS
LIVED I WOULD CHARACTERIZE GENERALLY A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> BACK IN 2010, 9 YEARS BEFORE SHE TOOK CHARGE OF THE FIRKUS
CASE, DETECTIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS A PATROL COP WHO
WORKED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. >> DO YOU REMEMBER FIRST HEARING
ABOUT THE FIRKUS CASE? >> I DO.
>> PLEASE! PLEASE!
SOMEBODY JUST BROKE IN THE HOUSE AND SHOT ME AND MY WIFE.
>> IT WAS EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
>> THE 911 CALL WAS AT 6:30. >> NICK FIRKUS' STORY OF A
BURGLAR DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. >> MOST PEOPLE ARE HOME AT 6:30
ON A SUNDAY MORNING, ESPECIALLY IN A FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE
THAT. THE LAST THING BURGLARS WANT TO
ENCOUNTER ARE PEOPLE. >> DID POLICE HAVE ANY LUCK
TRACKING DOWN THE INTRUDER THAT POLICE DESCRIBED?
>> NO. >> I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY COME OUT
OF THAT HOUSE. >> BRANDON O'CONNOR WAS HOUSE
SITTING NEXT DOOR TO THE FIRKUS AND TAKING CARE OF KITTENS.
>> I WAS WOKEN UP BY THE KITTENS WALKING AROUND.
SOME NOISE GOT MY ATTENTION, SO I STUCK MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW,
KIND OF LISTENED. >> BRANDON SAYS HE RECALLS
HEARING A MUFFLED ARGUMENT COMING FROM THE FIRKUS' HOUSE,
LISTENING THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW.
>> THAT'S WHEN I ENDED UP HEARING WHAT SOUNDED LIKE
GUNSHOTS. >> AROUND THIS TIME, BRANDON
SAID HE ALSO HEARD THAT VOICE CRYING OUT.
>> KIND OF THIS AGONIZING YELL OF, YOU SHOT HER, YOU SHOT ME,
PLEASE, PLEASE, NO, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND THEN -- THEN IT WAS DONE. >> FIRST RESPONDERS RUSHED TO
THE SCENE. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO
FOR HEIDI. SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
NICK WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR A GRAZED GUNSHOT
WOUND TO HIS LEG. HE SEEMED NOT TO BE SURE WHETHER
OR NOT HEIDI HAD BEEN KILLED. >> LIKE YOU SAID, WE'LL DO OUR
BEST TO FIND OUT HOW HEIDI IS DOING, OKAY?
>> HOURS LATER, NICK WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE SAINT PAUL
POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> THEN NICK AND I STARTED TO
HAVE OUR CONVERSATION IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
>> SERGEANT JIM GRAY TOOK NICK'S STATEMENT.
>> THIS IS A VERY TRAUMATIC SITUATION, OKAY?
>> NICK SAID THE COUPLE ORDERED IN FOOD THE NIGHT BEFORE AND
WATCHED THE MOVIE "AVATAR." THEY WENT UPSTAIRS TO THEIR
BEDROOM AROUND 11:00 P.M. THE NEXT MORNING, NICK GOT UP
AROUND 6:00 A.M. TO GET A DRINK OF WATER FROM THE BATHROOM.
>> I GO BACK TO SLEEP. I FITFULLY SLEEP FOR 10 OR 15
MINUTES, AND I HEARD THE SCREEN DOOR OPEN.
I TRIED TO LET IT GO FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
BUT THEN I STARTED HEARING FIDDLING OUR DOORKNOB.
>> IS HEIDI STILL SLEEPING THEN? >> YEAH, LIKE A ROCK.
>> I KEPT TWO SHELLS FOR IT. SO WHEN I HEARD THINGS THIS
MORNING, I DID LOAD IT. AND THEN I WAKE UP HEIDI.
>> ACCORDING TO NICK, HE TOLD HEIDI SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO
BREAK IN AND TO CALL 911. AS SHE SPOKE WITH THE
DISPATCHER, THEY HEADED DOWNSTAIRS SO THEY COULD GET OUT
OF THE HOUSE. >> WHAT ADDRESS ARE YOU AT?
>> ALL RIGHT. SO ARE YOU GOING FIRST DOWN THE
STAIRS OR IS SHE BEHIND YOU OR IS SHE IN FRONT OF YOU OR WHAT?
>> SHE'S IN FRONT BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO MOVE HER ALONG
QUICKLY. >> NICK SAID AS THEY PASSED BY
THE FRONT DOOR IT BURST OPEN. >> THE GUY THAT WAS THERE, I
THINK HE GRABBED THE BARREL. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT
THE GUN WENT OFF. MY FINGER SLIPPED OUT OF THE
TRIGGER. >> NICK TOLD SERGEANT GRAY
DURING THE STRUGGLE THE GUNFIRED, STRIKING HEIDI WHO HE
SAYS WAS IN THE KITCHEN. >> OKAY.
SO THE GUN IS HERE CHEST HIGH. >> YEAH.
>> YOU AND I ARE LIKE THIS? >> YEAH.
>> I KNOW IT HID HEIDI. I HAD NO IDEA.
SHE WAS RUNNING AWAY. IT HIT HER IN THE BACK.
>> IT HID HER IN THE BACK? >> YEAH.
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.
>> IT CAN'T BE TRUE. THAT'S -- THERE IS NO WAY.
>> KATINA AND MARCUS MENTORED HEIDI AT CAL VARY CHURCH.
>> I THINK SHE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN'T NOT LIKE.
EVERYBODY LIKED HEIDI. >> SHE GENUINELY LOVED PEOPLE.
SHE WAS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY, ALWAYS FINDING FUN WAYS TO
ENGAGE PEOPLE. AND SHE WAS VERY LOYAL.
>> THE COUPLE MET AT THE CHURCH. AND IN 2005, HEIDI, 20, AND
NICK, 22, GOT MARRIED. >> NICK FIRKUS HAD A VERY WARM
AND ENGAGING PERSONALITY. ALWAYS SMILING.
HE CARRIED HIMSELF WITH CONFIDENCE AND HAD HIGH
CHARACTER, HIGH INTEGRITY IN THE CHURCH.
THAT WAS THE REPUTATION HE BUILT FOR HIMSELF.
>> BUT JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER HEIDI'S DEATH, SERGEANT JIM GRAY
FOUND HIMSELF QUESTIONING NICK FIRKUS' ACCOUNT.
HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE COUPLE WOULD LEAVE THE SAFETY OF
THEIR BEDROOM. >> WHEN YOU GO UPSTAIRS, I HATE
TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT MY HOUSE, I'M JUSTIFIED IN KILLING YOU, IF
YOU COME BREAKING IN MY HOUSE. >> NICK EXPLAINED THE COUPLE HAD
A PLAN IN PLACE. IF THEY WERE EVER IN A
PRECARIOUS SITUATION, THEY WOULD AVOID A CONFRONTATION AND ESCAPE
TO THEIR CAR IN THE GARAGE AND GET AWAY.
>> IF WE CAN SAVE OURSELVES, LET'S DO THAT INSTEAD OF GETTING
INTO A SITUATION LATER. >> HIS STORY DIDN'T MAKE A LOT
OF SENSE TO ME. >> SERGEANT GRAY STARTED PROBING
INTO THEIR MARRIAGE. >> DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> JUST THE NORMAL STUFF LIKE,
YOU KNOW, STRESSES ABOUT FINANCES AND QUALITY TIME AND
VACATIONS AND ALL THAT STUFF. >> BUT YOU GUYS AREN'T BEHIND IN
THE BILLS OR ANYTHING? >> WE ARE BEHIND ON THE BILLS,
WHICH IS STRESSFUL. IN FACT, WE WERE PLANNING ON
MOVING TOMORROW. >> MOVING WHERE?
>> WELL, WE HADN'T FIGURED THAT OUT YET.
AND THIS IS A HARD PLACE FOR US. WE FORECLOSED ON OUR HOUSE.
>> NICK REVEALED THEY WERE BEHIND ON THEIR MORTGAGE
PAYMENTS. AND JUST 24 HOURS AWAY FROM
BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME. >> WELL, THAT'S KIND OF -- I
MEAN, KIND OF CLOSE NOTICE. >> IT IS.
I THINK THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH KIND OF DEALING WITH
THE SHAME OF THE WHOLE THING. >> GRAY SAYS HIS SUSPICIONS WERE
RAISED. HE WAS STRUCK BY THE WAY NICK
ASKED ABOUT HEIDI. >> I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE FINAL
ANSWER ON HEIDI. >> SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
>> I FIGURED THAT. I MEAN --
>> IS THAT TYPICALLY HOW SOMEONE ASKED IF THEIR LOVED ONE OR
SPOUSE HAS BEEN KILLED? >> NOT ONLY IS THAT NOT TYPICAL,
BUT THEY WOULDN'T WAIT AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES INTO THIS
CONVERSATION TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
>> I HAVE WATCHED THE INTERVIEW OBVIOUSLY NUMEROUS TIMES.
AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE REACT TO TRAUMA DIFFERENTLY.
BUT THIS WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I HAD SEEN.
ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHED THAT INTERVIEW CANNOT HELP BUT BE
STRUCK BY NICK'S DEMEANOR DOING IT.
>> AND THAT WAS? >> THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER DAY.
THIS WAS JUST SOMETHING HE HAD TO GET THROUGH.
>> SERGEANT GRAY CONFRONTED NICK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.
>> PART OF ME WANTS TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS?
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. >> OKAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. >> ALL RIGHT.
WHY IS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT WANTS TO ASK THAT?
>> WELL, NICK, I'M A POLICE OFFICER, OKAY?
I GOT TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, ALL RIGHT?
>> AFTER THE INTERVIEW, NICK LEFT THE POLICE STATION.
THAT DAY, INVESTIGATORS RETURNED TO THE FIRKUS HOME WITH A SEARCH
WARRANT. GRAY SAYS IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE
ANYONE WAS PLANNING TO MOVE OUT THE NEXT DAY.
>> NOTHING WAS PACKAGED UP AT ALL.
THE CLOSET WAS STILL FULL OF CLOTHES.
THERE WAS STILL FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
>> AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE. >> WE DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF
FORCED ENTRY INTO THE HOUSE. BASED OFF OF THE PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE, HIS VERSION OF THE INCIDENT COULDN'T
BE PLAUSIBL. >>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF NICK'S
STORY ABOUT THE
>>> 48 HOURS AFTER NICK FIRKUS SAID AN INTRUDER SHOT AND KILLED
HIS WIFE HEIDI, POLICE WENT BACK TO THE CRIME SCENE TO CHECK OUT
HIS STORY. >> HE TOLD US THERE WAS A LIFE
AND DEATH STRUGGLE INSIDE THE HOUSE.
>> BUT SERGEANT GRAY SAYS THE EVIDENCE AT THE CRIME SCENE
DIDN'T MATCH NICK'S ACCOUNT. >> THERE WAS A VASE, SOME
RECEIPTS, A BEER BOTTLE, AND NONE OF THAT WAS KNOCKED OVER.
SO THAT KIND OF RAISED SUSPICION TO US THAT IF THERE WAS A
STRUGGLE, WHY WASN'T THIS STUFF KNOCKED OVER?
>> SERGEANT GRAY SAYS HE EXAMINED THE FRONT DOOR FOR
SIGNS OF A BREAK-IN AND DID NOTICE SOME MARKINGS.
>> BUT IT WASN'T ANYTHING NEW THAT WOULD LEAD US TO BELIEVE
THAT THE DOOR HAD BEEN FORCED OPEN THE DAY OF THE MURDER.
>> IN HIS INTERVIEW, NICK SAID HE HEARD SOMEONE FIDDLING WITH
THE FRONT DOOR FROM UPSTAIRS. >> ARE YOU JUST GOING LIKE THIS?
>> YEAH. >> KIND OF LIKE THAT?
>> YEAH. JUST SHAKE THE KNOB AND SHOVING
THE DOOR. >> THAT DAY SERGEANT GRAY AND
HIS COLLEAGUES DID A REENACTMENT.
>> APRIL 27th, 2010. >> TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD
HEAR THE FRONT DOOR SHAKING FROM THE BEDROOM.
>> I'M IN THE BEDROOM. >> THEY WERE UPSTAIRS IN THE
BEDROOM. >> I'M AT THE FRONT DOOR.
LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GUYS ARE READY.
I'LL TRY TO KNOCK FOR 15 SECONDS THEN.
>> WE ARE READY. >> THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME
FIDDLING WITH THE DOOR. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> SERGEANT GRAY SAYS HE ALSO DOUBTED NICK'S STORY ABOUT THE
COUPLE'S EVICTION. IN A SCHEDULED MOVE THE DAY
AFTER HEIDI WAS SHOT. >> THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE
ANYTHING BOXED UP OR PACKAGED UP TO GO.
THERE WERE A FEW EMPTY BOXES IN THE DINING ROOM AREA.
THERE WAS NOT A GRAND STACK OF BOXES OR ANYTHING FOR THAT
MATTER THAT WOULD LEAD US TO BELIEVE THEY WERE GOING TO PACK
UP ALL IN ONE DAY. >> MEANWHILE, HEIDI'S MENTORS
FROM CALVARY CHURCH WERE LEARNING THE DETAILS ABOUT HER
DEATH AND THE EVICTION. >> IT JUST DIDN'T ADD UP.
JUST SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT WITH THAT STORY.
>> IT SEEMED SO OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT SHE WOULD BE
MOVING AND NOT HAVE NOTIFIED ANYONE, NOT HAVE ANYTHING
PREPARED FOR THAT BECAUSE SHE PLANNED THINGS OUT, AND SHE
LIKED THINGS TO BE ORDERLY. >> ON APRIL 30th, 2010, FIVE
DAYS AFTER HER PASSING, THEY ATTENDED HEIDI'S FUNERAL.
>> THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE FUNERAL WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTION.
>> AT THE FUNERAL, MARCUS AND KATINA SAY THEY WERE STRUCK BY
NICK'S DEMEANOR. >> I REMEMBER GOING THROUGH THE
RECEIVING LINE AND SHAKING HIS HAND.
THERE WAS NO GRIEF SHOWING. >> IT JUST FELT LIKE HE LACKED
EMOTION. >> MARCUS SAYS HE WENT AS FAR AS
ASKING SOME OF THE COUPLE'S FRIENDS IF NICK COULD HAVE SHOT
HIS WIFE. >> AND THE ANSWER WAS, NO, THERE
WAS NO WAY THAT NICK KILLED HEIDI.
HE LOVED HER. THERE IS NO WAY HE COULD HAVE
DONE THAT. I WASN'T SO SURE ABOUT THAT.
>> FROM WHAT WE GATHERED DURING OUR INVESTIGATION, NICK AND
HEIDI WERE IN A LOVING RELATIONSHIP.
THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS OR ISSUES THAT ANYBODY SAW.
>> YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING NICK FIRKUS IS NO WAY IN
THE WORLD COULD HE HAVE COMMITTED A VIOLENT ACT.
>> THE DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING, NICK'S FAMILY HIRED ATTORNEY JOE
FRIEDBERG WHO ADVISED NICK TO STOP TALKING TO THE POLICE.
>> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO REALIZE THAT HE WAS BEING LOOKED
AT AS A SUSPECT. >> WHEN INVESTIGATORS ASKED NICK
TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR ARTIST TO DRAW A SKETCH OF THE INTRUDER,
FRIEDBERG ADVISED HIM NOT TO. >> THEY WERE GOING TO USE IT AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER INTERVIEW HIM.
>> INSTEAD, NICK AND HIS ATTORNEY HIRED THEIR OWN SKETCH
ARTIST. >> IT WAS QUITE ODD THAT NICK
WOULD WORK WITH A PRIVATE SKETCH ARTIST.
>> AND BROUGHT THAT DRAWING TO POLICE.
>> AND AT THAT POINT, WE WERE BASICALLY TOLD THAT NICK WOULD
NOT BE ANSWERING ANY MORE QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO OUR
INVESTIGATION. >> INVESTIGATORS RELEASED NICK'S
SKETCH TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT DIDN'T GENERATE ANY LEADS.
THEY KEPT WORKING THE CASE. NICK MOVED OUT OF THEIR HOME A
FEW WEEKS AFTER HEIDI'S DEATH. TWO MONTHS LATER, HE BEGAN A
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE SISTER OF ONE OF HEIDI'S BEST FRIENDS,
RACHEL SANCHEZ, WHO WAS GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE.
>> AT THE TIME I THOUGHT BECAUSE WE SHARED SOMETHING TRAUMATIC,
THERE WAS A DEEP CONNECTION THERE BECAUSE I HAD COME OUT OF
SOMETHING TRAUMATIC MYSELF IN A RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK NICK SEEMED TO BE HANDLING THINGS WELL.
IT FELT LIKE HE WAS VERY GROUNDED.
HE WAS WITH HIS FRIENDS A LOT, AND THEY WERE PROCESSING
TOGETHER. SO I THINK JUST HIS -- HIS
STEADINESS WAS AN ATTRACTIVE QUALITY.
>> RACHEL SAYS THE TWO BONDED OVER THEIR FATE.
THEY BEGAN DATING IN THE SPRING OF 2011.
>> AT THE TIME, GOD PLAYED A BIG PART IN MY LIFE, AND I THINK
THAT'S ANOTHER QUALITY THAT I SAW IN HIM, THAT HE LOVED GOD
LIKE I DID. >> ONE YEAR INTO THEIR
RELATIONSHIP, NICK PROPOSED. >> I KNEW IT WAS COMING.
WE HAD LOOKED AT RINGS BEFORE. AND, SO, IT WASN'T REALLY A HUGE
SURPRISE. >> AND A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE
COUPLE MARRIED. THEY STARTED A FAMILY.
>> WE DID HAVE KIDS PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> AND SOON WERE THE PARENTS OF THREE CHILDREN.
>> HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES HIS KIDS SO MUCH.
>> ANDREW AND EMILY ERICKSON ARE FRIENDS SOFT NICK.
THEY SAY FOR A LONG TIME NICK DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT HEIDI'S
MURDER. >> YEAH.
IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF ROOM FOR HIS GRIEF
DURING THAT TIME. >> BUT THEY SAY WHEN HE DID TALK
ABOUT IT, HIS STORY WAS ALWAYS THE SAME.
>> WHAT DID HE TELL YOU? >> SAME THING HE'S ALWAYS TOLD
EVERYONE FROM THE FIRST DAY, SAME THING HE'D TELL YOU TODAY,
THAT SOMEONE WAS BREAKING INTO THE HOUSE AND THEY WERE GOING TO
TRY TO GET OUT AND THERE WAS AN ALTERCATION AND TRAGICALLY HEIDI
WAS KILLED. >> INVESTIGATORS STILL DID NOT
BELIEVE THAT STORY. BUT FIVE YEARS AFTER HEIDI'S
HEALTH, WITH LITTLE MOVEMENT IN THE CASE, THEY FINALLY GOT A
BREAK. SOMEONE CALLED IN A TIP.
>> THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE SKETCH.
>> AND PUT A NAME TO NICK'S SKETCH.
>> SOMEBODY CALLED AND SAID, I HAVE AN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS
GUY. I THINK I KNOW WHO I
>>> AFTER FIVE YEARS WITHOUT A BREAK IN HEIDI FIRKUS' MURDER
CASE, OUT OF THE BLUE, A TIPSTER CALLED POLICE WITH A NAME.
AFTER SEEING THIS SKETCH OF THE SUSPECT.
BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, SAYS INVESTIGATOR SIPES.
>> HE WAS ALREADY IN PRISON ON THE DAY OF HEIDI'S DEATH.
>> NICK'S SECOND WIFE, RACHEL, SAYS HER HUSBAND RARELY TALKED
ABOUT THE CASE BEING SOLVED. >> I HAD ASKED HIM, ARE YOU
GOING TO PUT EFFORT INTO SEEING IF YOU COULD FIND THE PERSON
THAT DID THIS. HE DIDN'T REACH OUT TO ANYONE AS
FAR AS I KNOW. I KNOW THAT FROM HIS LAWYERS HE
WAS TOLD TO JUST STAY SILENT. >> POLICE FOUND IT ODD NICK
NEVER CHECKED IN. >> THERE WERE FOUR INVESTIGATORS
ON THIS CASE. HE NEVER CONTACTED ANY ONE OF
US. >> THUZ WITH CASE CONSIDERED A
COLD CASE? >> THE PROSECUTORS JOINED THE
INVESTIGATION IN 2015. >> THERE JUST WAS NOT A LOT OF
NEW INFORMATION COMING IN. >> HEIDI'S FAMILY WOULD CHECK
IN. ON HER BIRTHDAY, IS THERE ANY
NEW DEVELOPMENT? >> AND THERE WOULD BE NEW
DEVELOPMENTS WHEN THE DETECTIVE TOOK OVER HEIDI'S CASE IN 2019.
>> SEEING IT WITH A FRESH SET OF EYES MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. >> I THINK SIPES RESTARTED
SOMETHING. >> SHE DUG DEEP, REVIEWING THE
ENTIRE CASE FILE, INCLUDING AN EXAMINATION OF A FINANCIAL TIME
LINE SHE COMPILED WITH THE HELP OF THE FBI.
>> I HAD THE LUXURY OF LOOKING BACK ON ALL OF THESE THINGS
SEVERAL YEARS LATER. >> SHE LEARNED NICK WORKED AT
HIS FAMILY'S CARPET INSTALLATION BUSINESS.
THEY WERE CONTRACTORS FOR HOME DEPOT.
HEIDI WAS A CLERK AT A FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY IN SAINT PAUL.
THEIR COMBINED INCOME WAS ABOUT $70,000 A YEAR.
>> THEY SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE ON TOP OF ALL THE BILLS BEFORE THEY
BOUGHT THE HOUSE. >> BUT THE HOME PURCHASE IN 2007
STRAINED THE COUPLE'S FINANCES. >> AND THAT HOME WAS JUST TOO
MUCH FOR THEM. >> BY THE TIME HEIDI DIED IN
APRIL OF 2010, THE COUPLE WAS DEEPLY IN DEBT.
>> HE HAD NOT PAID THE MORTGAGE IN 22 MONTHS.
>> IN FACT, THE COUPLE HAD LOST THEIR HOME TO FORECLOSURE AND
WOULD BE FORCED TO MOVE OUT. BUT SIPES DISCOVERED HEIDI
APPARENTLY HAD NO IDEA. AFTER REVIEWING THE COUPLE'S
TEXTS AND E-MAILS, SHE SAW NO EVIDENCE NICK EVER TOLD HEIDI
THEY WERE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE. >> THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM TO INDICATE SHE HAD ANY IDEA THE
DEPTH OF THEIR FINANCIAL ISSUES. I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THROUGH
THE FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION ATTORNEYS THAT THERE WAS NO
PAPERWORK HEIDI HAD SIGNED, THAT NOBODY EVER TALKED TO HEIDI,
NOBODY MET HEIDI. HEIDI DIDN'T GO TO THE EVICTION
HEARING ON MARCH 8th, 2010. >> NICK AND HEIDI'S FAMILY AND
FRIENDS DIDN'T KNOW THE COUPLE HAD TO RELOCATE.
>> AND IF SHE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING, SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
THE DAY OFF. >> SO SHE WAS PLANNING TO GO TO
WORK? >> YES.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK HE KEPT HER IN THE DARK SO LONG?
>> I BELIEVE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHAME OF WHAT HE HAD
DONE, HOW IT WOULD LOOK, THAT HE COULDN'T COME CLEAN WITH HER.
YOU KNOW, IT HAD GOTTEN TOO BIG AT THAT POINT.
>> AND WHEN SIPES TALKED TO THE COUPLE'S FRIENDS, SHE LEARNED
WHY NICK WANTED TO HIDE THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
>> SHE WAS DESCRIBED AS HIS FRIENDS AS BEING WISE AND BEING
THE PERSON THEY WOULD GO TO FOR ADVICE.
>> NICK FIRKUS PRESENTED AS SOMEBODY THAT HAD THE BIGGER,
TOUGHER LIFE QUESTIONS FIGURED OUT.
WHAT KIND OF PERSON DO YOU WANT TO BE, WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH GOD. >> WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU AS
YOU'RE INVESTIGATING THE CASE AND YOU SEE SOMEONE IN THAT TYPE
OF PERSONALITY? >> IT JUST BECAME EASIER TO SEE
THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO DID NOT WANT HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY
TO KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH HE HAD FAILED.
>> SIPES SAYS SHE DISCOVERED MORE OF NICK'S LIES, WHEN SHE
LEARNED ABOUT A CONVERSATION HEIDI HAD WITH A FRIEND JUST THE
DAY BEFORE SHE DIED. >> HEIDI HAD TALKED TO US ABOUT
HOW NICK HAD TOLD HER THAT THEY WERE VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT.
IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND $180,000 TO $200,000 WORTH OF IDENTITY
THEFT. WASN'T TRUE.
THEY WEREN'T THE VICTIMS. THIS IS ALL UNTRUE.
>> BUT AS SIPES TRIED TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE WAS A CONNECTION
BETWEEN NICK'S LIE AND HEIDI'S DEATH, HE LEARNED NICK AND
RACHED HAD DIVORCED. >> I REMEMBER VERY WELL.
>> AND THAT NICK HAD ALSO KEPT SECRETS FROM HER.
>> DID RACHEL EVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHY THEIR MARRIAGE
DISSOLVED? >> SHE DID.
THERE WERE FINANCIAL ISSUES BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
NICK WAS LYING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.
>> THIS IS A STORY THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE, AND IT DIDN'T
END WELL. THAT TERRIFIED ME.
>>> COULD THERE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN AN INTRUDER?
>> AFTER SPENDING 19 MONTHS DIGGING DEEP INTO THE FIRKUS
CASE FILE, REVIEWING CRIME SCENE PHOTOS, 911 CALLS --
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT SHE WAS WEARING?
>> -- AND NICK'S VIDEO INTERVIEW.
>> SHE WAS RUNNING AWAY. >> INVESTIGATOR NICOLE SIPES HAD
COME TO ONE CONCLUSION. >> WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHAT
HAPPENED IN THAT FOYER, AND THERE WAS NO THIRD PERSON.
>> YOU NEVER FOUND ANYONE ELSE'S DNA?
>> NO. NO DNA EVIDENCE, NO PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE, NO SIGN OF A STRUGGLE. TO ME, THERE WERE ONLY TWO
PEOPLE IN THAT HOUSE WHEN HEIDI WAS KILLED.
>> AND THEY WERE? >> NICK AND HEIDI.
>> AS PART OF THE NEW INVESTIGATION, SIPES REACHED OUT
TO NICK'S SECOND WIFE, RACHEL. WHAT DID SHE KNOW?
>> IN 2020, SHE CAME TO MY DOOR, AND I WAS LIKE WHY ARE YOU HERE?
SHE WAS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HEIDI FIRKUS.
>> AT FIRST RACHEL, THEN DIVORCED FROM NICK, SAID SHE WAS
RELUCTANT TO TALK. >> YOU ARE ASKING FOR A LOT WHEN
YOU GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO. BUT I ALSO NEW IT WAS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO AND IT WAS FOR TRUTH.
>> SHE TOLD SIPES NICOLAIED ABOUT THEIR FINANCES DURING
THEIR MARRIAGE. >> I SAW A LETTER SAYING WE
HADN'T PAID OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND WE WERE GOING TO GET EVICTED
IN 2020 IF WE DIDN'T PAY THEM. >> WHEN I SAW THAT I WAS LIKE,
OH, NO. LIKE HE WAS DEFINITELY REPEATING
THE SAME THINGS AS HE DID WITH HEIDI WITH ME.
>> DURING THAT TIME, RACHEL SAYS NICK'S DISHONESTY STARTED TO
MAKE HER QUESTION WHETHER HE HAD ALSO LIED ABOUT HEIDI'S DEATH.
>> AND I SAID, WE GOT TO SIT DOWN AND TALK.
>> RACHEL SECRETLY RECORDED THE CONVERSATION ON HER PHONE.
>> YOUR ACTIONS HAVE CAUSED ME TO JUST DISTRUST YOU COMPLETELY.
>> IF THERE AS GOING TO BE A CONFESSION, I WAS GOING TO MAKE
SURE I COULD PROVE HE SAID IT. >> AND THE FACT THAT YOUR LYING
WAS SO EASY FOR YOU TO DO IN FRONT OF ME OVER AND OVER AND
OVER MAKES ME THINK -- >> THAT I COULD MURDER MY WIFE?
>> THAT I -- THAT YOU COULD LIE ABOUT SOMETHING.
>> THAT I COULD MURDER MY WIFE? >> YES.
>> WHEN I LISTEN, THE SILENCE KILLS ME.
HE'S ANGRY AT ME. HOW DARE I THINK THOSE THINGS?
WHY AREN'T YOU SAYING YOU DIDN'T?
TELL ME I'M NOT RIGHT. >> RACHEL LATER SHARED THE
RECORDINGS WITH INVESTIGATOR SIPES.
>> THE BEHAVIOR HE EXHIBITED IN HIS MARRIAGE WITH RACHEL WAS
ALMOST DUPLICATIVE OF HOW HE HID THINGS FROM HEIDI.
>> WE CANNOT LET THIS MAN BE OUT ON THE STREET ANY LONGER.
>> FOR PROSECUTOR ELIZABETH LAWMAN, THE TIME HAD COME TO
ACT. >> I TOLD SERGEANT SIPES WE'RE
CHARGING HIM. LET'S DO IT.
>> 11 YEARS AFTER HEIDI WAS SHOT TO DEATH, ON MAY 19th, 2021, A
SAINT PAUL POLICE SWAT TEAM ARRESTED NICK FIRKUS AT HIS
HOUSE AND CHARGED HIM WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
A GRAND JURY ULTIMATELY INDICTED FIRKUS ON FIRST AND
SECOND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES. >> OUR MINDS WERE ABSOLUTELY
BLOWN. >> HEIDI'S FRIENDS, MARCUS AND
KATINA, WERE RELIEVED. >> IT IS HARD TO SAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT EMOTION YOU EVEN PUT TO IT.
IT IS HARD TO SAY EXCITED. >> YEAH.
I FELT GRATEFUL. >> WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> NICK'S FRIENDS EMILY AND ANDREW.
>> YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT A GOOD MAN WITH NO HISTORY OF
VIOLENCE KILLED THE WOMAN THAT HE LOVED MORE THAN ANYTHING IN
LIFE FOR NO REASON. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE.
WE CAN'T GET THERE. >> AFTER REMAINING FREE ON BAIL
FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, ON JANUARY 27th, 2023, NICK FIRKUS WENT ON
TRIAL. PROSECUTORS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED
TO CALL NICK'S SECOND WIFE RACHEL TO TESTIFY OR USE HER
TAPED CONVERSATION WITH NICK. THE JUDGE RULED HER TESTIMONY
AND THE RECORDING HAD NO BEARING ON THE CASE.
>> I WENT IN TO IT WITH AN OPEN MIND.
>> NATALIE MICHAEL SERVED ON THE JURY.
>> DID HE APPEAR LIKE A MAN WHO WOULD KILL HIS WIFE?
>> NO, HE DID NOT. >> A LOT THROUGH THE TRIAL HE
WAS PUTTING HIS HEAD DOWN. WHEN THEY SHOWED THE PHOTOS OF
THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, HE SEEMED LIKE HE REALLY
WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. >> I THINK NICK IS SOMEONE THAT
LIVED TWO LIVES. >> THEY TOLD THE JURORS NICK
FIRKUS STAGED A BURGLARY BECAUSE HE WAS DESPERATE AND ASHAMED.
HIS SECRETS WERE ABOUT TO BE REVEALED TO HEIDI AND EVERYONE
ELSE. >> ALL OF HIS CARDS OF LIES ARE
ABOUT TO CRUMBLE. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AS A
COMPLETE FAILURE, A LIAR TO HIS FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY.
AND, INSTEAD, HE'S A VICTIM. HE WALKS AWAY FROM THIS
SUPPORTED BY HIS FRIENDS, SUPPORTED BY HIS FAMILY.
>> NICK HAD NO REASON. >> NICK'S LAWYERS JOE FRIEDBERG
AND ROBERT RICHMOND SAY THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
>> THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT MURDERING THE WOMAN EVERYONE
AGREED HE LOVED THAT WOULD HELP HIS SITUATION.
>> AND THEY SAY THE STATE'S CONTENTION THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT THE COUPLE'S FINANCES SIMPLY WAS NOT TRUE.
>> NICK SAID SHE WAS IN ON ALL OF THE MAJOR DECISIONS.
HE WOULD SAY TO US THAT THEY'RE MAKING HEIDI OUT TO BE AN
IMBECILE. >> AT FIRST I WAS WONDERING HOW
SHE COULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE FINANCES OR SOME OF THE
FORECLOSURES, SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING.
>> BUT NATALIE MICHAEL SAYS THE PROSECUTION'S CASE DID NOT HINGE
ON MOTIVE. >> THE PROSECUTION SAID IT
REALLY IS WAS THERE AN INTRUDER IN THE HOUSE OR WAS THERE NOT AN
INTRUDER? >> IT WAS OUR POSITION THAT
THERE HAD BEEN AN INTRUDER EXACTLY THE WAY NICK DESCRIBED
TO THE POLICE ON THE 911 CALL. >> SOMEBODY JUST BROKE IN THE
HOUSE AND SHOT ME AND MY WIFE. >> AT THE SCENE, THE INFORMATION
THAT NICK GAVE AT THE SCENE IS THAT THIS INTRUDER CAME INTO THE
HOUSE. >> AT THE HOSPITAL.
>> HE JUST CAME IN. >> AND TO SERGEANT GRAY.
>> GUY THAT WAS THERE, I THINK HE -- HE GRABBED THE BARREL.
>> NICK'S LAWYERS SAY POLICE DIDN'T FIND THE INTRUDER'S
FINGERPRINTS OR DNA AT THE SCENE BECAUSE, AS NICK TOLD IN
INVEST INVESTIGATORS, THE INTRUDER WAS
WEARING GLOVES. >> GLOVES.
>> SHEHE WAS WEARING GLOVES. >> YOU DON'T ALWAYS LEAVE DNA.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE COVERED.
>> BUT PROSECUTORS SAY THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE MISSING FROM THE
SCENE BESIDES FINGERPRINTS. >> THIS IS A PHYSICAL MODEL TO
SCALE CREATED BY THE FBI. >> I FELT THAT IT WAS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RECREATE HOW SMALL THAT ENTRYWAY
IS. >> LET'S SAY THE INTRUDER GETS
IN. THEY HAVE THE STRUGGLE.
>> AND THEY HAVE THIS LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE RIGHT IN THIS
AREA WITH NOTHING DISTURBED. >> ON THE TABLE.
>> EXACTLY. >> AND THEN HEIDI GETS SHOT
SQUARE IN THE BACK IN A VERY CLEAR SHOT.
>> THIS ANIMATION CREATED BY THE FBI SHOWS THAT THE BULLET THAT
KILLED HEIDI WAS MOST LIKELY SHOT FROM SHOULDER LEVEL.
>> THE HEIGHT AT WHICH HEIDI IS SHOT FITS EXACTLY ON NICK'S
SHOULDER TO AIM AND TO FIRE. >> NICK'S ATTORNEYS SAY THERE
WAS DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT SHOWED THERE WAS AN INTRUDER.
>> IN FACT, THERE WERE TOOL MARKS IN THE DOOR WHICH WOULD BE
CONSISTENT WITH SOMEONE WEDGING A SCREWDRIVER BETWEEN THE FRAME
AND THE DOOR. >> ATTORNEY JOE FRIEDBERG SAYS
FIRKUS' NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR TESTIFIED HE HEARD A VOICE.
>> YOU SHOT HER. YOU SHOT ME.
PLEASE, PLEASE, NO, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
>> THAT MEANS THERE MUST HAVE BEEN ANOTHER PERSON IN THAT
HOUSE. NICK WAS TALKING TO A THIRD
PERSON WHEN HE SAID THAT. >> BUT PROSECUTORS SAY BRANDON
MAY HAVE MISHEARD NICK WHILE HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE 911
DISPATCHER. >> SOMEBODY JUST BROKE IN MY
HOUSE AND SHOT ME AND MY WIFE. >> HE IS SCREAMING ABOUT BEING
SHOT. AND HE DID THAT OVER ALMOST
SEVEN MINUTES. >> PLEASE!
>> STAY ON THE PHONE WITH ME, OKAY?
>> NICK FIRKUS DID NOT TAKE THE STAND.
AFTER AN 11-DAY TRIAL, THE CASE WENT TO THE JURY.
>> IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THIS CASE, THERE IS REASONABLE DOUBT.
>> YEAH. >>> SEE MORE EVIDENCE
>>> IT WAS A HARD FOUGHT
LITIGATED TRIAL. >> AS THE STATE AND NICK FIRKUS'
DEFENSE TEAM PRESENTED THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS ON FEBRUARY
10th, 2023. >> WE HAD GREAT CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE THAT WHAT NICK SAID HAPPENED DID NOT HAPPEN.
>> ATTORNEYS ON BOTH SIDES WERE HOPE FUL THE JURY WOULD MAKE TH
RIGHT DECISION. >> IT IS NOT ENOUGH IF YOU HAVE
A HUNCH. THERE WAS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE
THAT NICK MURDERED HIS WIFE. >> IN HER CLOSING ARGUMENT,
PROSECUTOR CROCKER SAID FIRKUS SHOT HEIDI WHILE SHE WAS ON THE
PHONE WITH THE 911 OPERATOR. >> SOMEONE IS TRYING WHAT?
>> THAT ENDS WITH A LOUD NOISE AND THE CALL GOES DEAD.
WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE GUNSHOT.
>> ACCORDING TO PHONE RECORDS, 65 SECONDS PASSED FROM THAT
MOMENT UNTIL FIRKUS MADE HIS 911 CALL.
>> PLEASE! PLEASE, SOMEBODY JUST BROKE IN
THE HOUSE. >> CROCKER REENACTED FOR JURORS
WHAT SHE BELIEVED NICK FIRKUS DID BEFORE HE MADE THAT CALL.
>> I WALKED OVER IN THE COURTROOM TO ROUGHLY AS FAR AS
HEIDI WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND, COUCHED DOWN, TURNED HER
OVER TO CHECK FOR A PULSE TO BE SURE THAT HE WAS, IN FACT,
DECEASED, WALKED BACK OVER, PICKED UP THE FIREARM AND
DEMONSTRATED HOW HE COULD SHOOT HIMSELF AND CALL 911.
>> WHERE IS THE GUY THAT SHOT YOU?
>> AT 65 SECONDS, THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL OF THAT
TO HAPPEN. >> TO PROVE THEIR THEORY FIRKUS
SHOT HIMSELF IN THE THIGH, THEY POINT TO MARKS LEFT BY SHOTGUN
PELLETS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT DOOR.
>> WHEN HE SHOT HIMSELF, WE BELIEVE THAT NICK WAS ABOUT
HERE, WHICH IS HOW YOU WOULD BRACE YOURSELF PROBABLY AGAINST
THE DOOR IF YOU WERE DOING IT TO YOURSELF.
>> BUT FIRKUS' ATTORNEYS CHALLENGED THE 65-SECOND TIME
FRAME. ATTORNEY ROBERT RICHMOND SAYS
PHONE RECORDS ALSO SHOW FIRKUS MISDIALED TWO NUMBERS BEFORE
GETTING THROUGH TO 911, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOOT HIMSELF.
>> WHAT THEY REENACTED WAS 65 SECONDS, WHICH WAS IGNORING THE
TWO MISSED DIALS, WHICH HAPPENED AT 38 SECONDS, THE FACT THAT WE
CANNOT FIND THE INTRUDER IS NOT EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS NO
INTRUDER. AND IF ANYTHING, BECAUSE OF THE
NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, BECAUSE OF THE TOOL MARKS, BECAUSE OF THE
38 SECONDS, WE FEEL THAT THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THAT THERE WAS
AN INTRUDER. >> THIS ISN'T BLIND BELIEF.
>> NICK'S FRIENDS EMILY AND ANDREW WERE CONVINCED THE
PROSECUTION FAILED TO PROVE FIRKUS WAS THE SHOOTER.
>> WE WERE OPEN TO HEARING INCONSISTENCY OF WHAT NICK SAID.
BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. >> ON FEBRUARY 10th, 2023, THE
JURORS GOT THE CASE. AND IN FIVE HOURS RETURNED WITH
A VERDICT. >> MY LAST TEXT TO NICK WAS, IT
HAD TO BE -- I SAID THERE IS NO WAY THEY GOT TO GUILTY THIS
QUICKLY. WE RUSHED TO THE COURTHOUSE, AND
WE WERE SO WRONG. >> NICK FIRKUS WAS FOUND GUILTY
ON TWO COUNTS OF MURDER. PREMEDITATED AND INTENTIONAL.
>> I BELIEVE JUSTICE WAS SERVED. >> MARCUS AND KATINA WERE IN THE
COURTROOM WHEN THE VERDICT WAS READ.
>> JUSTICE MAY HAVE BEEN SLOW, BUT FORTUNATELY THE JURY GOT IT
RIGHT. IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS THE
BEGINNING OF HEALING. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW
CHAPTER. >> HEIDI'S MOM ACTUALLY SAID
THAT FOR SO MANY YEARS THEY HAD TO LIVE WITH NICK FIRKUS'
NARRATIVE, AND THEY KNEW IT WAS WRONG.
BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER NARRATIVE.
AND TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE HIM FINALLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE, IT
MEANT A LOT TO US. >> FOR SERGEANT SIPES, THERE IS
STILL THE MYSTERY OF WHAT LED TO THE COUPLE'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
>> WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY SAY WHAT THE MONEY
WAS SPENT ON. >> DOES THAT FRUSTRATE YOU?
>> GREATLY. I THINK IT WOULD HELP COMPLETE
THE PICTURE FOR SOME PEOPLE. >> ON APRIL 13th, 2023, NICK
FIRKUS WAS BACK IN COURT FOR A SENTENCING HEARING AND TO HEAR
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS. >> GROWING UP, HEIDI WAS THE
QUINTESSENTIAL LITTLE SISTER TO ME.
>> HEIDI'S BROTHER, PETER ERICKSON.
>> BECAUSE OF THE LIES WE WERE TOLD AS EARLY AS THE DAY AFTER
HER MURDER, IT'S BEEN VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND CLOSURE TO
OUR GRIEF. >> FIRKUS REFUSED TO ADMIT
GUILT. >> I DO MAINTAIN AND WILL
MAINTAIN TO MY DYING BREATH, MY INNOCENCE OF THIS CRIME.
MY BODY IS TO SERVE ANOTHER MAN'S SENTENCE, BUT MY SOUL --
MY SOUL REMAINS FREE. >> JUDGE CASTRO IMPOSED THE
MAXIMUM SENTENCE. >> IT IS THE SENTENCE OF LAW AND
JUDGMENT OF THIS COURT THAT YOU BE COMMITTED TO THE COMMISSION
OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE REMIAINDR OF YOUR LIFE WITHOUT THE
POSSIBLY OF RELEASE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU, SIR.
GOD SPEED. >> MY KIDS ARE ALWAYS WHAT I
THINK OF FIRST. >> FIRKUS' SECOND WIFE, RACHEL.
>> THEY LOST IN THIS, TOO, BECAUSE ONE DAY THEY HAD A DAD
THEY THOUGHT WAS SOMEBODY, AND THE NEXT DAY HE'S NOT THAT
PERSON ANYMORE. >> SHE OFTEN THINKS ABOUT HEIDI,
TOO. >> I LIKE TO THINK I HAD A
CONNECTION WITH HEIDI. SHE DIDN'T GET TO HAVE THE VOICE
THAT I HAVE NOW. SO I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT MY VOICE
IS SOMETHING SHE WOULD BE PROUD OF.
>> HEIDI WAS A GENUINE, LOVING, SINCERE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WANTED
TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. SHE WOULDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO
BECOME BITTER OR ANGRY BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE HAD TO EXPERIENCE.
I THINK THAT HEIDI WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO CHOOSE TO LOVE
REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.