Kansas woman charged in baby’s death faces new charges

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County woman already charged in the death of her young son in a fire has been charged with attempting to intimidate in witness in the case.

Karlie Mae Phelps, 28, was charged Thursday with violating a protective order and intimidation of a witness, both misdemeanors. Her attorney, Scott Toth, entered not guilty pleas for her during a virtual court appearance Friday, The Kansas City Star reported.

Phelps was charged in February with involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child after her son, who was born in 2020, died in a fire at her home in Shawnee on Feb. 13.

The child’s father, Nicholas Adam Ecker, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in the case. He also faces several charges involving domestic violence against Phelps this year.

Court records released this week showed Ecker, who was barred from contacting Phelps after he was charged with domestic violence, was inside the home minutes before firefighters responded to the blaze.

Phelps admitted to investigators that she left the child alone while she went to buy prescription pain medication and was not home at the time of the fire, according to court records.