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]
Marcy Renee Conrad
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|---|---|
| Born | February 5, 1967 |
| Died | November 3, 1981(1981-11-03) (aged 14)
Milpitas, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Student |
| Known for | Murder victim |
The murder of Marcy Renee Conrad, and subsequent events, were the inspiration for the screenplay of the Tim Hunter film River's Edge.[3]
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.
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] After two days, one student and one 18-year-old, notified police. When the other Milpitas students were asked why they had not alerted 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[5] and was repeatedly denied parole.[6][7] As of April 6, 2023, Broussard has been paroled from California State Prison, Solano.[8]
The murder partially inspired the screenplay for the 1986 film River's Edge.[9]
The murder, and River’s Edge, are mentioned in John Darnielle’s 2022 novel, Devil House.
