A Kansas man on probation is accused of burning down a house with an infant inside, officials said.
Nicholas Ecker, 28, is charged with felony murder and aggravated arson in connection with Sunday's blaze in Shawnee, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.
NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City, Missouri, reported that a baby boy died in the fire.
Police and the district attorney's office both declined to comment on the relationship, if any, between the baby and the suspect.
“Our hearts go out to the family,” Shawnee Deputy Fire Chief Corey Sands said. “Shawnee is a tight-knit community. Our hearts go out to everyone.”
Ecker was being held on $1 million bond and was expected in court Tuesday.
Court records show Ecker was charged with aggravated domestic battery and firearm possession by a felon in 2019. The battery charge was dropped; he was sentenced to a year and a half in prison and a year and a half of probation on the firearm charge.
Ecker was again charged with aggravated domestic battery last month. He was charged earlier this month with violation of a protection order, which was amended to a stalking charge Monday.
Ecker's attorney, who has represented him before, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
