It’s the kind of phrase that sticks in your throat. She was almost home 20/20—the title of an episode that feels like a gut punch because of how relatable, and then how horrific, the situation became. We’ve all had that feeling. You’re blocks away. You can see the porch light. You’re safe. But for 18-year-old Sierra Bush, that safety was an illusion.
Sierra wasn't just another missing person's case in Boise, Idaho. She was a bright, "gender-fluid" student at Boise State University, known to friends as Simon. Smart. Quirky. Loved. When she vanished in September 2016, the community didn't just sit back. They searched. They hoped. Then, the news broke that her body was found in a creek near Idaho City. It wasn't an accident.
What Really Happened to Sierra Bush?
The she was almost home 20/20 episode peels back the layers of a case that honestly feels like a nightmare scripted for TV, except it’s real. Sierra had just started her freshman year. She was honors-track. On the day she disappeared, she had been at her father’s house. She was supposed to be heading back to her mom’s. She was right there.
Investigation is a messy business. For weeks, there was nothing. No digital footprint, no struggle, just a void. When a hiker found her body about 30 miles outside of town, the cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation. But why? Who would target a kid who spent most of her time in the "Creative Writing" club or playing League of Legends?
The answer, as it turns out, was much closer to home than anyone wanted to admit.
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The Arrest of Bruce Marchant
It took months. If you’re looking for a silver lining, it’s the persistence of the Boise PD. They eventually linked the crime to Bruce Marchant. He wasn't some random drifter. He was a former tenant of Sierra's father. He knew the layout of the house. He knew the routines.
Marchant had a long, violent history. We're talking decades of run-ins with the law across multiple states. This is where the story gets frustrating. You have to wonder how someone with that kind of "rap sheet" was even in a position to be living in a private residence near a young woman. It’s a systemic failure that the 20/20 episode touches on without being too "preachy."
- Marchant fled to New York after the murder.
- He was eventually arrested at a VA hospital.
- The motive? There isn't a "good" one. Just predatory opportunism.
Why This Case Still Haunts Idaho
People in Boise still talk about this. It changed things. It changed how students walked on campus. It changed how neighbors looked at the "guy in the basement apartment."
The she was almost home 20/20 coverage highlights the emotional wreckage left behind. Sierra's mother, Mary Helen Kelly, has been incredibly vocal about the need for better tracking of violent offenders and mental health resources. She isn't just a grieving parent; she's an advocate. She talks about Sierra/Simon with a level of grace that’s frankly hard to imagine if you haven't been in those shoes.
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The trial was its own kind of circus. Marchant eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, and rape. He got life without parole. Justice? Maybe. But it doesn't bring back the kid who loved cosplay and had a bright future in engineering or writing.
The DNA Evidence and the "Almost"
The "almost" in the title is the part that kills you. Sierra was literally within the "safety zone."
Modern forensics played a huge role here. Without the DNA found at the scene and the meticulous tracking of Marchant's movements, this could have easily become a cold case. The 20/20 episode does a solid job showing the "behind the curtain" tech that the FBI and local cops used to bridge the gap between a body in a creek and a suspect in a NYC hospital.
Marchant’s defense tried to lean into his history of mental illness. It’s a common tactic. But the level of planning—the kidnapping, the transport of the body, the flight across the country—suggested someone who knew exactly what they were doing. The court didn't buy the "diminished capacity" argument.
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Lessons for Personal Safety and Community Awareness
Watching she was almost home 20/20 isn't just about true crime voyeurism. It's a reminder of a few things we often forget in our "it won't happen here" bubbles.
First off, the "stranger danger" trope is often wrong. Sierra knew of Marchant. He wasn't a shadow in the woods; he was a person from her orbit.
Second, the importance of the first 24 hours. When Sierra didn't show up, her family didn't wait. They sounded the alarm immediately. In many cases, that's the difference between finding a lead and a trail going cold.
If you're looking for how to stay safer or keep your community safer, consider these points:
- Vetting is vital. If you're a landlord or renting out a room, a basic background check isn't enough. Look for patterns of escalating behavior.
- Digital check-ins. Use the "Share My Location" features on iPhones or Androids when walking alone, even in "safe" neighborhoods.
- Community networks. Groups like "Boise Faces" were instrumental in keeping Sierra's name in the headlines. Don't underestimate the power of a Facebook group when someone goes missing.
- Trust your gut. Sierra’s case involved someone who had been around the family. If someone feels "off," there's usually a reason.
Sierra Bush’s story is a tragedy of proximity. She was a talented, multi-faceted person who was just starting to figure out who she was in the world. While Bruce Marchant sits in a cell, the real legacy of this case is the push for better protection of vulnerable students and a reminder that "almost home" should be the safest place on earth, not the most dangerous.
To honor Sierra's memory, many in the Boise community have turned toward supporting LGBTQ+ youth and creative writing programs, the two areas where she felt most at home. If you want to make a difference, look into local programs that provide safe spaces for "at-risk" or "marginalized" students in your own city. Awareness is the first step, but action is what actually prevents the next tragedy.