Front Page Detectives
or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS

Minnesota man arrested for 2010 murder of his wife, victim ‘would want us to have the truth,’ family says

minnesota

May 20 2021, Published 5:24 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

A Minnesota man who allegedly fatally shot his wife over a decade ago is under arrest and charged with second-degree murder, authorities said. 

On May 19 just after 5 a.m., a SWAT team served an arrest warrant on Nicholas James Firkus, 38, at his Mounds View home and took him into custody, according to St. Paul police.

Article continues below advertisement

On April 25, 2010, Heidi Marie Firkus, then 25, was fatally shot in the back in the kitchen of the home she shared with the suspect, and her death was ruled a homicide. 

Nicholas Firkus claimed to investigators he heard a noise at around 6:30 that morning, woke up his wife, grabbed his double-barreled shotgun and she followed him downstairs to check out the situation, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Article continues below advertisement

Prosecutors claimed Firkus gave varying accounts about what happened next, according to television station KARE. First, he allegedly said an intruder grabbed the gun and shot his wife. He then claimed the gun fired while he struggled with the intruder, prosecutors said. He also alleged he was struck in the leg when the gun went off a second time. 

MORE ON:
COLD CASES
Article continues below advertisement

Prosecutors noted forensic investigators never recovered foreign DNA on the firearm, discovered no evidence of a struggle in the home and couldn’t match the angle of the bullet fired into the victim with the scenario the suspect presented to police.

Detectives also learned the pair may have been in debt and about to lose their home.

“They have found no evidence that Heidi was in any way aware of the dire financial straits the couple was in, or the pending eviction/foreclosure scheduled for the following day,” a criminal complaint reads, according to the Star Tribune. “The house was fully furnished and nothing was packed.”

After Firkus’ arrest in the 11-year-old case, the victim’s family released a statement thanking authorities for their perseverance. “We are hopeful that these charges will finally bring out the truth and result in justice for Heidi,” they said. “Even though we know we can't have her back, we believe Heidi would want us to have the truth.”

Firkus was booked into the Ramsey County Jail and faces up to a 40-year sentence if convicted of murder.

Advertisement

Become a Front Page Detective

Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.

More Stories

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.