September 1973 was supposed to be a regular night in Casper, Wyoming. It wasn't. Becky Brown (then Rebecca Thompson) and her 11-year-old half-sister Amy Burridge did what thousands of people do every single day. They went to the grocery store.
They never made it home.
What followed is one of the most harrowing accounts of survival and senseless violence in American history. It is a story that still haunts the residents of Natrona County, and for good reason. It involves a "flat tire" that wasn't an accident, a dark bridge, and a survival story that defies most logic.
If you think you know the case from headlines, there is more to it. Much more.
The Night Everything Went Wrong
Becky was 18. Amy was just a kid, only 11 years old. Around 9:00 p.m., they drove to a local grocery store for some quick shopping. When they came back out to their car, the tire was flat.
Bad luck? No.
It was later proven in court—specifically documented in cases like Kennedy v. Shillinger—that the tire had been intentionally sliced. This wasn't a random mechanical failure; it was a trap. Two men, Ronald Leroy Kennedy and Jerry Lee Jenkins, were watching. They were the "helpful" strangers who offered the girls a ride.
In a small town in the 70s, you trusted people. You shouldn't have, but people did.
The girls got into the car. Instead of being taken home or to a service station, they were driven out to the remote Fremont Canyon Bridge. This bridge sits about 130 feet above the canyon floor. It is a terrifying height.
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The Horror at Fremont Canyon
The details of what happened on that bridge are difficult to process. Both girls were subjected to horrific physical and sexual assault. But the nightmare didn't end with the assault.
The attackers decided they couldn't leave witnesses.
They threw Amy Burridge over the side of the bridge first. Imagine that for a second. An 11-year-old girl, tossed into the darkness from a height equivalent to a 12-story building. She didn't survive the fall.
Then they turned to Becky.
They threw her over too. They expected the canyon to swallow their secret. They were wrong.
Becky Brown fell 130 feet and hit the water of the Alcova Reservoir. Somehow, by some miracle of physics or sheer will to live, she didn't die. She had a broken back. She was shattered. But she was alive.
A Survival That Defies Explanation
Becky spent the night in the freezing water and on the rocky banks. She managed to pull herself up and hide. She knew they might come back to check if she was dead.
She was right. They did.
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She watched from the shadows as the men returned to the bridge, shining lights down into the canyon to see if there were any bodies floating. She stayed silent. She stayed still. Her 11-year-old sister was dead, and Becky was broken, but she didn't give up.
When morning finally broke, she dragged herself toward a road. A fisherman eventually found her.
Her testimony would eventually become the nail in the coffin for Kennedy and Jenkins. Because she survived, she was able to identify them. She became the ultimate witness.
The Legal Battle and the Shadow of Death
The trial was a media circus for Wyoming. On May 1, 1974, both Ronald Leroy Kennedy and Jerry Lee Jenkins were convicted of the first-degree murder of Amy Burridge and the rape and attempted murder of Becky Brown.
They were sentenced to death.
But the story doesn't end with a gavel. Due to changes in capital punishment laws during the 1970s (specifically the Furman v. Georgia fallout), their death sentences were eventually commuted to life in prison. For decades, the families had to deal with the reality that these men were still breathing while Amy was gone.
Kennedy tried to appeal his conviction multiple times. He claimed his counsel was ineffective. He claimed the pre-trial publicity made a fair trial impossible. In 1991, federal courts again reviewed his case in Kennedy v. Shillinger. Every time, the courts looked at the evidence—much of it provided by Becky's own words—and upheld the weight of the crime.
Why This Case Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we still talk about this. Honestly, it’s because the "flat tire" ruse is still a predator's tactic. It’s a reminder that situational awareness isn't just a buzzword; it’s a survival skill.
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Also, the Fremont Canyon case is a case study in the resilience of the human spirit. Becky Brown didn't just survive a fall; she survived the aftermath. She had to live in a world where her sister was taken and she was the one left behind to tell the story. That is a heavy burden.
People often search for "Becky Brown and Amy Burridge" because they want to know if justice was served.
Jenkins died in prison in the early 2000s. Kennedy remained behind bars for decades. While no amount of prison time "fixes" what happened at the bridge, the fact that they never walked free again is the only reason the community found any peace.
Lessons from the Fremont Canyon Case
There are real, actionable takeaways from this tragedy that still apply today.
- Trust your gut, not the "helper": If you have a flat tire or a car issue in a secluded area, stay in the vehicle with the doors locked. Call for professional help (AAA, police, or a known family member) rather than accepting a ride from a stranger who "happens" to be there.
- The "Vulnerability Trap": Predators often create the problem they offer to solve. Slicing a tire is a classic way to force a victim to rely on the attacker. If your car was fine five minutes ago and suddenly isn't, be extremely suspicious of anyone who immediately appears to help.
- The Power of Testimony: Becky's refusal to stay a "victim" and her bravery in the courtroom changed Wyoming's legal history. It reminds us that the survivor's voice is the most powerful tool in the justice system.
The Fremont Canyon Bridge still stands. It’s a beautiful spot, technically. But for those who know the names Becky Brown and Amy Burridge, it will always be a place of somber remembrance. It serves as a stark monument to a night when the worst of humanity met the very best of the human will to survive.
How to Stay Informed
To understand more about the legal intricacies of this case, you can review the public records of the Wyoming Department of Corrections or the federal court filings under Kennedy v. Shillinger, 759 F. Supp. 1554. These documents provide a cold, factual look at the evidence that secured the convictions. Many local Wyoming historians and true crime researchers continue to archive the impact this case had on rural safety protocols and victim advocacy laws in the West.
Next Steps for Personal Safety:
- Inspect your vehicle: Regularly check for signs of tampering if you’ve parked in public lots for extended periods.
- Emergency Kits: Keep a portable jump starter and a tire inflator in your trunk so you don't have to rely on anyone else's tools or "kindness."
- Share your location: Use modern technology. If you feel uneasy about a situation, share your real-time GPS location with a trusted contact immediately.