A Killer Among Friends
Encyclopedia
A Killer Among Friends is a 1992 made-for-television movie that aired on CBS
on December 8, 1992. Based on a true story, the film stars Patty Duke
as a mother grieving for her murdered daughter (Tiffani Amber Thiessen
) and sets out to find the killer.
The film is based on the real life murder of Michele Avila.
) is a typical all American teenage girl, who has a falling out with her best friend Ellen Holloway (Margaret Welsh) and doesn't return home. Jenny's mother, Jean (Patty Duke
), is worried for her daughter, and three days later, Jenny's body is discovered in a creek
with a 100 pound log across her back. Furious about the murder, Ellen and Jean both try and track down the killer. Ellen and Ellen's baby daughter, Celeste, move into Jean's house. Ellen had wanted Jenny's room, but Jenny's mother had Ellen sleeping in her bedroom, as Jenny's room was later turned into a nursery
for when her grandchild would visit.
Three years later with the police
still unable to solve Jenny's murder, Kathy Pearl, another friend of Jenny, comes forward out of guilt
. Kathy tells the police she was brought along with the girls (Jenny, Ellen, and Carla) when they attacked Jenny by slapping her, chopping off pieces of her hair, and then finally drowning
her. Kathy claims they did it because they believed Jenny had slept with their boyfriends, but during the trial it was revealed that the plain and overweight Ellen was jealous of Jenny's popularity and beauty and wanted "to be her". Kathy told the police she fled town because Ellen threatened her if she talked.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
on December 8, 1992. Based on a true story, the film stars Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
as a mother grieving for her murdered daughter (Tiffani Amber Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen is an American actress best known for her roles as Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell and as Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210. She is also known for her role on Fastlane as Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers...
) and sets out to find the killer.
The film is based on the real life murder of Michele Avila.
Plot
Jenny Monroe (Tiffani-Amber ThiessenTiffani Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen is an American actress best known for her roles as Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell and as Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210. She is also known for her role on Fastlane as Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers...
) is a typical all American teenage girl, who has a falling out with her best friend Ellen Holloway (Margaret Welsh) and doesn't return home. Jenny's mother, Jean (Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
), is worried for her daughter, and three days later, Jenny's body is discovered in a creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
with a 100 pound log across her back. Furious about the murder, Ellen and Jean both try and track down the killer. Ellen and Ellen's baby daughter, Celeste, move into Jean's house. Ellen had wanted Jenny's room, but Jenny's mother had Ellen sleeping in her bedroom, as Jenny's room was later turned into a nursery
Nursery (room)
A nursery is usually, in American connotations, a bedroom within a house or other dwelling set aside for an infant or toddler. A typical nursery would contain a crib , a table or platform for the purpose of changing diapers , as well as various items required for the care of the child...
for when her grandchild would visit.
Three years later with the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
still unable to solve Jenny's murder, Kathy Pearl, another friend of Jenny, comes forward out of guilt
Guilt
Guilt is the state of being responsible for the commission of an offense. It is also a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has violated a moral standard, and bears significant responsibility for that...
. Kathy tells the police she was brought along with the girls (Jenny, Ellen, and Carla) when they attacked Jenny by slapping her, chopping off pieces of her hair, and then finally drowning
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
her. Kathy claims they did it because they believed Jenny had slept with their boyfriends, but during the trial it was revealed that the plain and overweight Ellen was jealous of Jenny's popularity and beauty and wanted "to be her". Kathy told the police she fled town because Ellen threatened her if she talked.
Cast
- Patty DukePatty DukeAnna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
as Jean Monroe - Tiffani-Amber ThiessenTiffani ThiessenTiffani Thiessen is an American actress best known for her roles as Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell and as Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210. She is also known for her role on Fastlane as Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers...
as Jennifer Anne "Jenny" Monroe - Margaret Welsh as Ellen Holloway
- Angie Rae McKinney as Carla Lewis
- David Cubitt as Greg Monroe
- Janne Mortil as Kathy Pearl
- Loretta SwitLoretta SwitLoretta Swit is an American stage and television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best-known for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H.-Early life:...
as Detective Patricia Staley - Debra Sharkey as Sheryl Monroe
- Chad TodhunterChad TodhunterChad Todhunter is a Canadian/American actor, born in British Columbia. He is best known for his roles on numerous television series.-Career:Todhunter began his career as a member of the Vancouver Youth Theatre...
as Adam Monroe - Ben Bass as Steve
- William S. TaylorWilliam S. TaylorWilliam Sylvester Taylor was the 33rd Governor of Kentucky. He was initially declared the winner of the disputed gubernatorial election of 1899, but the Kentucky General Assembly reversed the election results, giving the victory to his opponent, William Goebel...
as Detective Mike Collins - Babs Chula as Diane
- Matthew BennettMatthew BennettMatthew Ray Bennett is a Canadian actor, writer and director. At the age of 20 he moved from his hometown of Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia to pursue an acting career...
as Dan - Heather and Shannon Beaty as Celeste
- Barry PepperBarry PepperBarry Robert Pepper is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing roles like Sergeant Michael Strank in the Clint Eastwood film, Flags of Our Fathers, Private Daniel Jackson in Saving Private Ryan, Roger Maris in 61*, Ned Pepper in True Grit and for his recent role as Robert F...
as Mickey Turner - Lisa VultaggioLisa VultaggioLisa Vultaggio is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as Hannah Scott on General Hospital.-Personal life:...
as Susan