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Murder of Marcy Renee Conrad

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Marcy Renee Conrad
BornFebruary 5, 1967
DiedNovember 3, 1981(1981-11-03) (aged 14)
Milpitas, California, U.S.
OccupationStudent
Known forMurder victim

The murder of Marcy Renee Conrad (February 5, 1967 – November 3, 1981) was perpetrated by Anthony Jacques Broussard, a 16-year-old high school student. Conrad's death gained national attention due to the age of her killer, forcing a re-evaluation of California statutes regarding juvenile sentencing for violent crimes.[1] The case triggered widespread media coverage, as a stark example of social disaffection among suburban youth.[2]

The murder of Marcy Renee Conrad, and subsequent events, were the inspiration for the screenplay of the Tim Hunter film River's Edge.[3]

Murder

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Marcy Renee Conrad, 14, was raped and killed by 16-year-old Anthony Jacques Broussard in his home in Milpitas, California, on November 3, 1981.[4] Her body was transported in Broussard's pickup truck into nearby hills and dumped in a ravine.[1] An autopsy confirmed that Conrad had been raped and then murdered by strangulation. In his later testimony, Broussard admitted to having sex with Marcy's corpse after her death.[5]

After the murder, Broussard invited friends from Milpitas High School to view Conrad's corpse.[1] Reports indicate that Broussard bragged about her death at school, and showed the body to at least 10 people.[1] One of the students, 16-year-old Kirk Rassmussen kicked leaves over her body. He was later charged and sentenced to three years in a juvenile facility and charged as an accessory. [5] After two days, one student and one 18-year-old notified the police. When the other Milpitas students were asked why they had not alerted the police, they responded that they "did not want to get in trouble."[1]

Broussard pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years to life. He was denied a new trial in 1985[6] and was repeatedly denied parole.[7][8] As of April 6, 2023, Broussard has been paroled from California State Prison, Solano.[9]

In culture

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The murder partially inspired the screenplay for the 1986 film River's Edge.[10]

The murder, and River’s Edge, are mentioned in John Darnielle’s 2022 novel, Devil House.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Law: Age of Accountability". Time. New York City: Time, Inc. December 14, 1981. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  2. ^ Mathews, Jay (December 6, 1981). "California Suburb Sorts Out Fear and Confusion in Teen Slaying". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Bunting, Glenn F. (July 4, 1987). "'River's Edge' Not Quite as He Recalls : Commentary". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  4. ^ "Yesterday's Crimes: What Really Happened at the River's Edge". June 5, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Teen's plea linked to testimony he had sex with corpse". The San Bernardino County Sun. July 22, 1982. p. 18.
  6. ^ "Milpitas Youth Loses Plea in 1981 Strangling of Girl". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California: Hearst Corporation. January 19, 1985.
  7. ^ Hoover, Ken (August 17, 1996). "Parole Denied to Killer Of Milpitas Teenager". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California: Hearst Corporation.
  8. ^ Life Prisoner Parole Consideration Hearings September 2007 - page 9 Broussard, Anthony Jacques Archived October 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  9. ^ InmateLocator.cdcr.ca.gov - Broussard, Anthony Jacques Inmate #C56988. Retrieved April 18, 2023
  10. ^ Gilligan, Matt (May 9, 2017). "An Oral History of 'River's Edge,' 1987's Most Polarizing Teen Film". Vice. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
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