Summary
This article contains discussion of murder and sexual assault
Netflix’sHomicide: Los Angelesshowcases some of the most gruesome crimes that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has investigated. The third episode of theNetflix true-crime documentaryexplored what happened to Teresa Broudreaux, a 20-year-old mother whose body was discovered in Malago Cove by a surfer. Teresa was brutally murdered and sexually assaulted by an unknown perpetrator. Despite years of investigating, the police could not find out who was behind her murder, and so the crime became a cold case until it was reopened in 2013.
Teresa was married to Ronnie Fematt, who became the main suspect in the case. Ronnie and Teresa had been dating for two years before they got married. Their family and friends reported that the two had had a difficult relationship and were always arguing. The day before Teresa was killed,the couple had an argument at a party, and Teresa ended up going home alone.
Ronnie Fematt Was A Suspect In Teresa Broudreaux’s Death
Ronnie Fematt Was Innocent
Ronnie Fematt, Teresa’s husband, was brought in for questioning shortly after the police discovered her body, and he quickly became the main suspect. This was on account of the fight that was alleged to have happened on the night before she went missing. Additionally, the police did not have any other leads, and Ronnie was the most logical suspect to have because of his troubled past. However, the police ended up dropping Ronnie as a suspect because he had a solid alibi (viaLos Angeles Times).
In 2019, Robert Yniguez was convicted and sentenced to 15 years to life for Teresa Broudreaux’s murder.
The night Teresa went missing, Ronnie had been at a friend’s party, and several eyewitnesses corroborated his story. The police were not the only people who thought Ronnie was behind Teresa’s death. Teresa’s family,including her daughter Linda, believed he could have killed her mother because the couple frequently got into arguments. Ronnie’s community continued to treat him like an outcast even after the police stopped suspecting him (viaDaily Breeze).
Where Is Ronnie Fematt Now?
Ronnie Fematt Is Sober
Before he met Teresa, Ronnie was a drug addict, but he got clean after they became a couple. Following her death and the fact that he was ostracized by his community and her family, Ronnie turned back to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. However, several years after Teresa’s death,Ronnie became soberand even assisted the police in trying to find out who was behind Teresa’s murder. Fortunately, the police solved the case, which helped clear Ronnie’s name once and for all. Ronnie and Linda have rekindled their relationship, and he appeared inHomicide: Los Angelesto tell his side of the story (viaTUDUM).
Sources:Los Angeles Times,Daily Breeze,TUDUM
Homicide: Los Angeles
Detectives and prosecutors revisit their most challenging homicide cases in Los Angeles, delving into notorious crimes that have haunted the city. With a special focus on Hollywood’s darker side, the series offers firsthand accounts from those who solved these cases, blending true crime and dramatic storytelling.
