The Murder of Marcy Renee Conrad

If you’ve seen the 1987 film River’s Edge, starring Keanu Reeves, you’re already familiar with one of the most intriguing fictionalized versions of this disturbing case. The movie is available on MGM+ and is worth the hour and a half.

Marcy Renee Conrad, 14, and Anthony Jacques Brussard, 16, were so close that many people thought they were a couple. Friends and family confirmed they never dated.

A Fatal Decision to Skip School

On November 3, 1981, Marcy skipped her last class of the day at school and headed to hang out with Anthony at his house in Milpitas, California. Milpitas, a quiet town in Santa Clara County in Silicon Valley, borders San Jose.

During the visit, Anthony strangled Marcy and sexually assaulted her dead body. He dumped her half-naked remains in a nearby ravine

Anthony did not feel remorse or regret after killing Marcy. He was proud of what he had done. So much so, he wanted everyone at school to know. He bragged to all his friends and even showed Marcy’s body to at least 10 people who doubted his story. Those included his friend’s 8-year-old brother. Those friends told others, and within a day or so, nearly everyone in town knew Marcy had been killed. One of the friends kicked Marcy’s body and threw leaves over her. One girl stole a patch off the blue jeans she wore.

Students Call Police

Two days passed before two students and an 18-year-old notified police. Authorities recovered Marcy’s body and charged Anthony with first-degree murder. When asked why they did not notify the police, students who knew about the murder claimed they were scared and did not want to get in trouble.

They were stoner kids, the reserved heavy metal music-loving kids who would not snitch on their friends. Even Marcy’s ex-boyfriend saw her body and stayed quiet.

Anthony claimed to be high on LSD when he killed Marcy and blamed her for his decision to kill her.

”I was on drugs: LSD,” Broussard claimed. “Marcy had a tendency to mouth off. She was sitting on my lap. …Basically, what happened was that I just grabbed her, and she was dead.”

25 to Life

Two girls, ages 13 and 14, came forward claiming Anthony had molested them, but those charges were later dropped after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was denied parole several times over the years. He was granted parole in April 2023 and appears to be active on TikTok.

The student who kicked Marcy’s body was also charged and sentenced to three years in prison.

Rest in peace, Marcy Conrad.

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