unnamed boy
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CANDID ID: KS_22_2144
AGE
Infant
STATE
Kansas
DATE OF DEATH
2/13/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On February 13, 2022, at approximately 12:50 a.m., a 17-month-old boy died in a house fire at his mother Karlie Phelps' family home on W. 69th Terrace in Shawnee, Kansas. The child's biological father, Nicholas Ecker, 28, was captured on a Ring camera arriving at the home and setting it on fire. The child's mother had left the toddler home alone for most of the night to visit a friend in Wyandotte County. An autopsy revealed the child was alive when the fire started and suffered severe burns. The fire was preceded by a history of domestic violence: Ecker was on probation for aggravated domestic battery and illegal firearm possession, had violated a protective order on February 4, and had sent threatening text messages to Phelps hours before the fire. Ecker was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson, but his trial ended in a hung jury. Phelps pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child and was sentenced to three years' probation.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The Kansas City Star article states: "Phelps left the toddler home alone for most of the night to visit a friend in Wyandotte County, according to court documents, and returned to find the house on fire." A 17-month-old toddler was left home alone, constituting inappropriate supervision. Additionally, Phelps pleaded guilty to both involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child.

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The child's death was caused by a deliberately set fire. The Kansas City Star article states: "An autopsy revealed that the child was alive when the fire started, court records show, and suffered severe burns." The father intentionally set fire to the home knowing the child was inside, constituting an inflicted injury through arson.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

Nicholas Ecker is the child's biological father and was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson for setting the fire that killed the child. The Kansas City Star article states: "Prosecutors contend he intentionally burned down a Shawnee home belonging to his ex-partner Karlie Phelps, killing their 17-month-old son — who prosecutors say he knew was inside the home."

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The child's biological mother, Karlie Phelps, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The Kansas City Star article states: "Phelps left the toddler home alone for most of the night to visit a friend in Wyandotte County." She pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child in August 2022.

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Nicholas Ecker was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with the child's death. The first FOX4 article states: "The district attorney's office charged 28-year-old Nicholas Ecker with first-degree murder and aggravated arson." Karlie Phelps was also charged with involuntary manslaughter per the second FOX4 article.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Domestic violence is extensively referenced. The first FOX4 article states: "Howe said a history of domestic violence led to the deadly fire on Sunday." It also notes Ecker "was also on probation for aggravated domestic battery." The Kansas City Star article adds: "Ecker was charged with domestic violence in two separate incidents, one occurring week before the fire." Phelps had also sought a restraining order against Ecker earlier in 2022.

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

The Kansas City Star article states that prosecutors presented text messages showing Ecker was "threatening to harm himself" in messages sent to Phelps hours before the fire. While this could be manipulative behavior common in domestic violence contexts, threats of self-harm reference mental health concerns.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

The first FOX4 article states: "The 28-year-old was also on probation for aggravated domestic battery and illegal possession of a firearm as well." These are prior convictions predating the fatal fire. Additionally, the Kansas City Star article notes: "Ecker was charged with domestic violence in two separate incidents, one occurring week before the fire." The February 4, 2022 protective order violation and felony stalking charge also predate the February 13 fire.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

Several notable details are present. First, the murder trial ended in a hung jury, as reported by the Kansas City Star: "Johnson County jurors were unable to come to a unanimous decision on whether Ecker was guilty of the first two charges." This means a retrial is likely. Second, Ring camera footage captured Ecker setting the fire: "Footage captured on a Ring camera belonging to Phelps showed Ecker arriving at the house and setting it on fire." Third, Phelps' sentence is notable: initially sentenced to 19 years for involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child, "a Johnson County judge opted to sentence her to three years' probation instead." Fourth, the DA's office was alerted to Ecker's protective order violation, but the fire occurred within 72 hours, suggesting a potential systemic gap in the response to the violation: "Howe said Police alerted his office of Ecker's violation and within 72 hours, the fire happened."

Lives Cut Short