Juvenile suspect in the shooting death of his New Hampshire chiropractor parents, was adopted from Russia as a toddler along with his older with his brother nine years ago
The 11-year-old boy charged with killing James Eckert, 48, and Lizette Eckert, 50, at the family’s home in Alton, New Hampshire on March 15.
Eckerts adopted the boy and his older brother from a Russian orphanage in 2010, when the children were aged 2 and 4, respectively
The Eckerts who homeschooled the boys along with their biological daughter, raised farm animals on their property, took part in Bible study and did not own a television
The 11-year-old has not been named but has been charged in juvenile court with second-degree murder after killing both parents with single shots to the head
James and Lizette Eckert both chiropractors reportedly, were struggling with a mountain of debt
Chiropractor and ultramarathon runner James Eckert, [right], and his wife, Lizette [left], of nearly 22 years who was also a chiropractor, were killed in March by the 11-year-old boy they adopted from Russia as a two-year-old, along with his older brother in 2010 New details have emerged about the 11-year-old boy who was charged last month with murdering a married couple in New Hampshire, including that the child was the victims’ son whom they adopted from Russia as a toddler nearly a decade ago.
James Eckert, a 48-year-old chiropractor and ultramarathon runner, and his wife of nearly 22 years, 50-year-old Lizette Eckert, also a chiropractor, were fatally shot March 15 in their Alton home.
Police said Lizette Eckert was found dead of a gunshot wound the head.
Jim Eckert, a chiropractor in the area, was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Autopsy results revealed his cause of death was also a single gunshot wound to the head.
According to local police, the gunman was the 11-year-old boy who was arrested in nearby woods wearing a pair of pajama pants, but at the time authorities did not provide the relationship between him and the Eckerts.
James Eckert, a 48-year-old chiropractor and ultramarathon runner, and his wife of nearly 22 years, 50-year-old Lizette Eckert, also a chiropractor, were fatally shot March 15 in their Alton home.
Police said Lizette Eckert was found dead of a gunshot wound the head.
Jim Eckert, a chiropractor in the area, was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Autopsy results revealed his cause of death was also a single gunshot wound to the head.
According to local police, the gunman was the 11-year-old boy who was arrested in nearby woods wearing a pair of pajama pants, but at the time authorities did not provide the relationship between him and the Eckerts.
Extremists: The Eckert husband and wife, both chiropractors were shot dead inside their Alton, New Hampshire, home on March 15. The couple homeschooled their two adopted sons and biological daughter, raised farm animals on their sprawling property, took part in Bible study and did not own a television
However, the Eckerts’ pastor has since disclosed to NBC10 Boston that the juvenile suspect was the couple’s adopted son.
A new expose published by The Boston Globe shedding light on the secretive Eckert family and their long history of financial woes reveals that the parents, who also had a biological daughter, adopted the 11-year-old and his older brother from a Russian orphanage in 2010, when the boys were two and four years old, respectively.
The adoptions were arranged by the Indiana-based agency KidsFirst Adoption.
Russian laws require American parents to provide updates about their adopted children every year, but according to the head of the Indiana adoption agency, the Eckerts stopped doing that after three years.
The couple’s friends and family have described the 11-year-old as happy but quiet and shy.
The two Russian siblings and their stepsister were all being homeschooled by their parents, who raised farm animals on their sprawling property, took part in Bible study and did not own a television.
A new expose published by The Boston Globe shedding light on the secretive Eckert family and their long history of financial woes reveals that the parents, who also had a biological daughter, adopted the 11-year-old and his older brother from a Russian orphanage in 2010, when the boys were two and four years old, respectively.
The adoptions were arranged by the Indiana-based agency KidsFirst Adoption.
Russian laws require American parents to provide updates about their adopted children every year, but according to the head of the Indiana adoption agency, the Eckerts stopped doing that after three years.
The couple’s friends and family have described the 11-year-old as happy but quiet and shy.
The two Russian siblings and their stepsister were all being homeschooled by their parents, who raised farm animals on their sprawling property, took part in Bible study and did not own a television.
Happier times: James Eckert, [top right], and his wife, Lizette, [top center], adopted the two brothers [front row] from Russia in 2010. The younger of the siblings allegedly shot and killed their adoptive parents inside their home on Mar 15
James was a chiropractor and ultramarathon runner, and his wife of nearly 22 years was also a chiropractor.
According to the Globe, the Eckerts abruptly relocated to New Hampshire from Maine in 2012 after racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit card debt, unpaid student loans and $550,000 in missed mortgage payments.
Pastor Sam Holo, of the Community Church of Alton, said that a few dozen parishioners were close to James and that he had known him for three years.
‘He was a man of integrity,’ Holo said in an interview. ‘We’ve lost a good one in that sense.’
According to media reports James and Lizette Eckert [photo], abruptly relocated to New Hampshire from Maine in 2012 after racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid debts
The two bonded, Holo said, over their Christian faith and their desire to live life as the Bible dictated. Eckert was also passionate about health and recently talked of starting a health website, he said.
James was pronounced dead after he was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Lizette was found inside the family’s home with gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy revealed they both died from a single gunshot wound to the head. They were laid to rest on March 22.
Their 11-year-old son was initially charged with one count of reckless second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The charges filed are under the juvenile system. It has not been confirmed, but he could be facing additional charges now that James Eckert has died from his injuries.
Because of the suspect’s age, authorities are limiting information made available to the public.
The investigation is ongoing.
James was pronounced dead after he was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Lizette was found inside the family’s home with gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy revealed they both died from a single gunshot wound to the head. They were laid to rest on March 22.
Their 11-year-old son was initially charged with one count of reckless second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The charges filed are under the juvenile system. It has not been confirmed, but he could be facing additional charges now that James Eckert has died from his injuries.
Because of the suspect’s age, authorities are limiting information made available to the public.
The investigation is ongoing.
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