On April 21, 2024, Investigation Discovery airs an episode of 48 Hours titled “Death at the Front Door – Who Shot Heidi Firkus?” focusing on the 2010 murder of Heidi Firkus and the subsequent investigation that spanned over a decade.
The episode focuses on the tragic events of April 25, 2010, when Heidi Firkus, a 25-year-old resident of Saint Paul, Minnesota, made a frantic call to 911, reporting an intruder in her home. During the call, a loud noise, believed to be a shotgun blast, is heard, followed by Heidi’s screams. Just 65 seconds later, her husband, Nick Firkus, also calls 911, claiming that an intruder had broken in and shot both him and his wife.
First responders rushed to the scene, where Heidi was pronounced dead, and Nick was found with a gunshot wound to his leg. Nick recounted a story of a confrontation with an intruder, claiming that during the struggle, his gun accidentally discharged, resulting in Heidi’s death. However, certain elements of Nick’s account raised suspicions among investigators.
Branden O’Connor, a neighbor who was house-sitting next door, reported hearing a muffled argument and what sounded like gunshots. He also recalled hearing a male voice crying out, “You shot her, you shot me. Please, please, no.” This added a layer of complexity to the investigation, raising questions about the presence of a potential third person.
Sergeant Jim Gray, who worked on the crime scene, noted inconsistencies between the evidence and Nick’s narrative. The area near the front door, where the alleged struggle occurred, showed no signs of disturbance, casting doubt on Nick’s story. Additionally, investigators discovered financial troubles within the Firkus household, including overdue bills and impending eviction, which Nick had kept hidden from Heidi.
Years later, Nick’s second marriage to Rachel Sanchez ended in divorce, and suspicions resurfaced. Investigator Nichole Sipes took charge of the case and reached out to Rachel, who provided an audio recording that played a pivotal role in the investigation. Rachel also shared her concerns about Nick’s dishonesty and financial secrecy, mirroring Heidi’s experience.
Eleven years after Heidi’s death, Nick Firkus was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, later receiving an indictment for first-degree murder. Prosecutors argued that Nick had staged the burglary to conceal his financial failures and shame. They contended that he would have been exposed as a liar and a failure to his friends and community.
The trial of Nick Firkus commenced, and prosecutors presented a 3D model of the Firkus home, created by the FBI, to demonstrate the unlikelihood of Nick’s story. They also developed an animation of the crime, showing how Heidi was shot. Nick’s defense team, however, maintained his innocence, pointing to tool marks on the door as evidence of a break-in and the presence of an intruder.
On February 10, 2023, after an 11-day trial, Nick Firkus was found guilty on two counts of murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Nick continues to maintain his innocence and is appealing his conviction.
48 Hours: Death at the Front Door – Who Shot Heidi Firkus? airs on Investigation Discovery at 10:00 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2024.
