AUSTIN, TX — Magen Fieramusca was sentenced to 55 years in prison with the possibility of parole for the 2019 murder of her friend Heidi Broussard and the kidnapping of Broussard’s newborn daughter, Margo Elizabeth Carey. The case inspired the 2023 Lifetime drama Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard, now streaming on Netflix.
Disappearance and Murder
On December 12, 2019, 33-year-old Heidi Broussard and her two-week-old daughter went missing after Broussard dropped her 6-year-old son at school. Her fiancé, Shane Carey, reported them missing when they failed to return home in Austin, Texas.
A week later, Broussard’s body was discovered in the trunk of a car registered to Fieramusca in Jersey Village, Texas. The cause of death was ruled ligature strangulation. The infant was found unharmed inside Fieramusca’s residence.
Investigation and Evidence
Authorities linked Fieramusca to the crime through surveillance footage showing her car at Broussard’s apartment complex on the day of the disappearance. A neighbor reported seeing a woman with a small infant enter the vehicle.
FBI agents later approached Christopher Green, Fieramusca’s ex-boyfriend, who mistakenly believed the baby was his. Fieramusca was arrested and charged with kidnapping and capital murder, with prosecutors alleging she strangled Broussard with a leash and her hands.
Fake Pregnancy Allegations
In the months before the murder, friends and acquaintances believed Fieramusca was pregnant at the same time as Broussard. Prosecutors argued that she faked the pregnancy to execute a plan to kill Broussard, steal the baby, and present the infant as her own. It remains unclear whether she was ever actually pregnant.
Outcome for the Baby
DNA testing confirmed that the infant found at Fieramusca’s home was Margo Elizabeth Carey. The child was returned to her family and continues to live with her father. Carey has shared updates on social media, remembering Broussard on anniversaries of her death and celebrating milestones with Margo.
Film Adaptation: Stolen Baby
The Lifetime movie closely follows the major events of the real-life case. Anna Hopkins portrayed Broussard, while Emily Osment played Fieramusca. A disclaimer notes that, while based on actual events and official records, some characters, dialogue, and timelines were altered for dramatic purposes.
