Image courtesy of Austin Police Department
In December 2019, a missing person report out of Austin, Texas, made headlines. Heidi Broussard, a 33-year-old mother of two, disappeared along with her newborn baby, Margo. The search was immediate and intense, as loved ones and law enforcement tried to figure out what had happened to the young mother and her child.
Heidi’s partner, Shane Carey, quickly reported her missing after she failed to return home from dropping off their son at school. Her car, purse, and personal belongings were still at her apartment, but Heidi and the baby were gone. There were no signs of forced entry or struggle, which only deepened the mystery.
The Friend No One Suspected
As investigators dug deeper, suspicion started to focus on someone close to Heidi—a woman named Magen Fieramusca. Magen had been friends with Heidi for years. The two had met as teenagers and had remained close into adulthood. What no one realized at the time was that Magen had spent months pretending to be pregnant, all while plotting something unthinkable.
Magen had convinced people around her that she was expecting a baby due around the same time as Heidi. She went as far as faking a baby bump and staging baby showers. When Heidi gave birth to Margo, Magen’s lies were at risk of being exposed. Instead of coming clean, she chose a horrifying path.
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A Cold and Calculated Plan
On December 12, Magen lured Heidi to her car, strangled her with a dog leash, and stuffed her body into a duffel bag. She then drove over 150 miles to Houston, where she planned to raise Margo as her own child. Authorities later found Heidi’s body in the trunk of Magen’s car outside the home of Magen’s ex-boyfriend. Inside the house, baby Margo was found alive.
The betrayal was staggering. Heidi had trusted Magen. They had shared pregnancy updates, doctor visits, and personal moments. To discover that Magen had not only faked her own pregnancy but had also killed Heidi to steal her baby shocked everyone who knew them.
Justice for Heidi
In 2023, Magen Fieramusca pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. She was sentenced to 55 years in prison and will not be eligible for parole until 2047. The plea deal spared Heidi’s family from the trauma of a lengthy trial, but no sentence could ever fully account for the pain caused by such a cold and calculated act.
The case drew national attention and left many asking how someone could go so far to maintain a lie. It also raised awareness about fetal abduction and the dangers of fake pregnancies. While Margo was rescued and is now safe, she will grow up with a heartbreaking story surrounding the loss of her mother.
Final Thoughts
The murder of Heidi Broussard is a tragic reminder that evil can hide behind the mask of friendship. Heidi didn’t lose her life to a stranger—she was betrayed by someone she had loved and trusted for years. It’s a chilling story of obsession, deception, and a friendship that turned fatal.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
