AUSTIN, Texas — Attorneys for Magen Fieramusca, the woman accused of kidnapping and killing Austin mother Heidi Broussard in 2019, appeared in court Wednesday morning for an update on her case.
Judge Selena Alvarenga set Fieramusca's arraignment hearing for Jan. 31. Her grand jury trial is set to begin on March 13.
In court Wednesday, Alvarenga stated that Fieramusca's case "needs to move" and that "both sides need a resolution."
"Fieramusca has been in custody for 1,119 days," Alvarenga said, also stating, "Fact of the matter is, this is a very old case."
In December 2019, Broussard and her infant daughter went missing after they were seen dropping off Broussard's son at school. About a week later, police found Broussard's body in the trunk of a car in Harris County. Officers found Broussard's daughter alive inside Fieramusca's home, where the car was parked. Investigators claim Fieramusca pretended the baby was her own.
Investigators later said Fieramusca kidnapped Broussard and the baby from their South Austin apartment. She is now facing numerous charges, including kidnapping and capital murder.
In May 2022, Alvarenga denied Fieramusca's attorneys' request that evidence be thrown out against her. The attorneys claimed that the evidence was illegally obtained when investigators entered the Harris County home without a search warrant.
Alvarenga ruled that Fieramusca voluntarily spoke with law enforcement at the home and understood her rights. Alvarenga also said that she believed law enforcement had reasonable, probable cause that a crime had been committed when they entered the home in pursuit of investigating a missing persons case.
She also said law enforcement had reason to believe Broussard's daughter could have been in imminent danger and, therefore, the warrantless entrance was justified.