'Close friend' of missing Austin mother implicated in her death, kidnapping baby
AUSTIN, Texas - Magen Fieramusca, the so-called ‘close friend’ of murdered South Austin mother Heidi Broussard has been implicated in her death and her daughter Margo Carey’s kidnapping.
One of Broussard’s best friends, Caressa Rachelle Nolte, told FOX 7 Austin that Fieramusca and Broussard met at church camp at age 11. There, they seemingly forged a lifelong friendship.
Fieramusca was even in the delivery room with Broussard when she had her daughter, Margo. She appeared to be pregnant at the same time and even had an online baby registry with the same due date as Broussards.
Those close to Broussard are left wondering if Fieramusca was ever pregnant at all. She told friends she had her baby girl Luna, within the past few weeks.
Broussard and Margo disappeared on December 12. Police seemingly got their break Friday when a volunteer fire department responded to a Houston-area home for a welfare check on a baby now believed to be Margo.
Broussard's body was found in the trunk of a vehicle parked behind the house, she had been strangled to death.
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“We do have one person that has been arrested and charged. The charges that have been filed at this point are two charges of kidnapping and one charge of tampering with a corpse,” said Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, on Friday.
Police aren’t releasing the suspect's name but the charges match Fieramusca's. She was transported from the Houston area to the Travis County jail Friday evening. Her car was present at the crime scene.
“It gives you that stomach feeling you know? You get kind of sick cause you just like, you know the world is nasty. Why would this happen to somebody so nice like that?” Broussard’s neighbor, Taylor Riordan told FOX 7 Austin.
Texas EquuSearch, a non-profit that had volunteered to search for the missing mother and baby confirmed to FOX 7 Austin, that they had spoken with Fieramusca prior to her arrest, and she appeared “enthusiastic” to help find the pair.
“Why would she go and destroy this wonderful family? It’s disturbing, very disturbing.” Riordan said.
Broussard’s mother, Tammy, tells FOX 7 Austin her daughter’s body will eventually be transported to her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, where she will be laid to rest.
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