Andrew Conley Says He Was Inspired by 'Dexter' to Strangle Brother
Teen Says Killing Was Like Satisfying A Craving For A Hamburger
By EMILY FRIEDMAN
Dec. 4, 2009 —
An Indiana teen who has allegedly admitted strangling his little brother likened the murder to satisfying a craving for a hamburger and told authorities he was inspired by the television series "Dexter."
Anthony Conley, 17, is charged with murdering his 10-year-old brother Conner on Saturday night, allegedly strangling the boy and then stuffing his head in a plastic bag so that blood wouldn't "get everywhere," according to Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard.
"It's disturbing that a 17-year-old would want to kill under any circumstances, let alone his own brother," said Negangard. He described Conley as "emotionless" when he was interviewed by police.
According to Negangard, Conley turned himself into authorities the day after he allegedly murdered his brother. But the night before, Conley said he stopped at his girlfriend's home to give her a "sweetheart ring." The couple also watched the movie "The Green Mile," which focuses on the lives of prison guards on death row.
"His girlfriend described him as the happiest he had been in a long while," said Negangard.
Conley's lawyer, Gary Sorge, was not available for comment. Conley, who was scheduled to appear in court today, is being held without bail at Switzerland County Jail in Vevay.
Nobody answered calls made to the Conley's Rising Sun, Ind., home.
Teens Alleges He Was Inspired by TV Serial Killer Dexter Morgan
Negangard said that when Conley was asked to explain his behavior by investigators the teen said he identified with Dexter Morgan, the main character in Showtime's "Dexter," which chronicles the life of an undercover Miami blood spatter expert who doubles as a serial killer.
"Conley said that he just 'felt like him,'" said Negangard.
Reached for comment, a Showtime spokesperson had no comment.
This is the second murder that was allegedly inspired by "Dexter." Last year, a 29-year-old Canadian man Mark Twitchell mimicked a story line from the drama when he allegedly killed 39-year-old Johnny Altinger. Twitchell was dubbed a "fervid fan" of the show in local reports.
Melissa Rosenberg, the show's executive producer, told Canwest News Service at the time that this was a "worst fears" situation, and one that the show's creators "worried about from the beginning."
In interviews with investigators, Conley also allegedly likened his desire to kill to a craving a person gets when they want a particular food.
"He analogized the murder to when someone wants a hamburger," said Negangard. "He said that when someone wants a hamburger they've just got to have it."
Conley allegedly admitted to strangling his brother on Saturday night when their parents were both at work. Stuffing his brother's dead body in the back of his car, he then drove to his girlfriend's house where he spent the night.
Sometime the next day, authorities said Conley dumped his brother's body in a park just a few hundred yards from where the 10-year-old attended elementary school.
The next morning Conley was asked by his parents – both of whom Negangard said work night shifts – where his little brother was. Conley told his parents that his little brother was at his grandmother's home, which is apparently not unusual.
But when asked to pick up his brother a few hours later, Conley drove to the police station and turned himself in.
"The defendant walked into the police station and indicated that he had killed his brother," Negangard said. Later, Conley told authorities that he had been having trouble sleeping, the prosecutor said.
Conley was apparently recently pulled out of school, but a reason was not given, according to authorities.
Conley Case Comes in Wake Of Several Other Teen Crimes
Because of state law, Conley is not eligible for the death penalty but could be sentenced to 65 years in prison.
Prosecutors have said they will campaign for Conley to get life without parole if he's convicted.
Conley's alleged murder of his brother comes in the wake of several other gruesome teen crimes.
Fifteen-year-old Alyssa Bustamante was charged in October for strangling her 9-year-old neighbor after allegedly digging a grave for the girl in their Missouri neighborhood.
And five Florida teenagers, one just 13 years old, were charged with throwing rubbing alcohol on 15-year-old Michael Brewer and lighting him on fire over a videogame debt. Brewer was burned over 65 percent of his body, but survived.
In October, six teens allegedly gang raped a 15-year-old girl outside her Richmond, Calif., high school homecoming dance.