UPDATE
Ty Carey, the father of Broussard’s fiance, Shane Carey, said during a Monday night vigil that baby Margot is scheduled to return home to their family tonight. According to Ty Carey, hospital records confirmed the infant’s identity. DNA test results are still pending.
Children’s Protective Services is no longer seeking temporary custody of the infant, according to ABC 13.
Original Story
Authorities are still waiting on DNA test results in connection with a baby likely abducted from her mother, and a mystery man is now claiming he is the father.
NBC News reports that an unknown man says he is the father of baby Margo, an infant girl who vanished with her mother, Heidi Broussard, on December 12, from their Austin apartment. Broussard’s fiance, Shane Carey, also claims to be the father. Carey lived at the apartment with Broussard, a 6-year-old son, and Margo.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities found Broussard’s deceased body in the trunk of a Nissan parked at a home in Houston, off of Bo Jack Drive in the city’s NW side on Thursday. The Nissan is registered to Magen Fieramusca, according to officials, who was Broussard’s long-time friend.
Fieramusca is now behind bars facing kidnapping and tampering with evidence (a corpse) charges.
Harris County’s Cy-Fair Fire Department found an infant alive inside the home, believed to be Heidi’s 3-week-old daughter, Margo. The baby was taken to a local hospital for evaluation but showed no signs of visible trauma.
The baby is currently in foster care while officials await DNA testing results to officially confirm the infant’s identity.
“We do ask for DNA to be tested to make sure that the people who are coming forward and saying that they’re relatives are actually relatives,” Tiffani Butler with the Department of Family and Protective Services told ABC 13.
NBC’s Sam Brock told the TODAY Show that both Carey and the unknown man are allegedly claiming Margo.
“Shane has said he is Margo’s father,” Brock said. “But there’s reportedly another man out there who’s making the exact same claim.”
Possible Kidnapping Motive
Austin law enforcement sources previously alleged that Fieramusca pretended to be pregnant alongside Heidi, but secretly plotted to take her baby. Fieramusca had a baby registry listed on Amazon, with a due date of December 1.
According to KVUE, Fieramusca may have been “showing off” a baby to friends and family members, which could have possibly triggered a tip to law enforcement.
CrimeOnline previously spoke with a friend of Heidi’s as part of our investigation. While she wishes to remain anonymous, we can confirm that she is not Fieramusca.
Timeline of Heidi’s Disappearance
Heidi was last seen dropping her son off at Cowan Elementary School in Austin on Thursday morning at around 7:50 a.m. Friends and family said she dropped the boy off at a book fair at the school.
Authorities said Heidi and Margo returned home afterward, at the Club at Summer Valley apartments off of West William Cannon Drive and South First Street. At some point, after they arrived home, both mom and baby disappeared. The apartment complex is around three miles away from the elementary school.
Heidi’s fiance, Shane Carey, reported her missing at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, around 12 hours from the last time he said he spoke to her.
Carey said he arrived home from work at around 2 p.m. on Thursday and didn’t see Heidi or baby Margot. He claimed Heidi’s belongings, aside from her cellphone, were left behind, along with the baby’s belongings.
Carey reportedly told authorities that he received a call from their son’s daycare at around 6 p.m. Apparently, no one had picked the boy up yet. Carey, who is also the father of Margot, said he subsequently contacted 911.
Carey explained that he didn’t call police beforehand because he thought Heidi had gone to her friend’s home in the same apartment complex.
“Everything was like she was home,” Carey told FOX 7. “I mean that’s why I thought she was at her friend’s house…..Her car seat is upstairs, her purse is upstairs, her ID, wallet; there are no signs of her taking the baby. She would never leave her car door unlocked. Her car door was unlocked. So that’s a weird sign.”
The pair have been together around a decade, according to Carey. He said he’s never known Heidi to have enemies and doesn’t know of anyone who would want her harmed.
“I just don’t see why no one heard any screams or anything out here so we’re trying to put the puzzle pieces together,” Carey said.
Carey said when he tried to call Heidi on Thursday afternoon, it went straight to voicemail.
“It’s just the only thing gone is [Broussard] the baby, her keys and her cellphone, which has been off since I tried to call her at 1:40,” Carey said.
On Friday, authorities said that they have no reason to believe that Carey had anything to do with Heidi’s disappearance or death.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Magen Rose Fieramusca, Heidi Broussard/Police Handout]
