It was a minor mistake.
Anthony “Tony” Marudas opened the door of his Volkswagon bug into someone’s leg. Words were exchanged. The person pulled out a knife and stabbed the 19-year-old to death. It was Nov. 10, 1979.
The whole incident lasted less than a few minutes, but the consequences ended Anthony’s life.
A witness saw what happened and had been walking with the suspect but has never come forward and identified the killer.
Marudas grew up in Lakewood.
His mother Patricia remembered him as an independent boy who always found things to do to occupy his time.
“I remember my brother as this little white-haired boy who excelled in sports of all kinds,” his sister recalled for a profile for Families of Victims of Homicide and Missing Persons. He and his friends made a bike ramp that they used for jumping with their stingray bikes.
Tony Marudas attended Alameda High School.
He liked skiing, mountain climbing, basketball, football, wrestling, golfing and bowling, according to his family.
After graduating from high school he worked in construction with his father.
“He was trying to find out what he wanted to do,” Patricia Marudas said. “He didn’t want to go to college.”
On the night he was killed, Patricia Marudus got onto his son for buying so many gadgets for his prized dark blue Volkswagon that he kept in his closet and never installed. The car was always freezing inside because the heater didn’t work. But before he went out the door that night, she stopped him.
“I’m not mad at you,” she told him. “I love you. I’m so glad I talked to him.”
Tony had an appointment with his minister that night. He had been studying scriptures with him. But when the minister didn’t show up for the appointment Tony went cruising with two of his friends to Denver.
His mother believes Tony and his two friends had some beers. They wanted to find a place to use the restroom.
According to a Denver Post story at the time, Tony drove his car into an alley in the 1500 block between Glenarm and Tremont places.
As he opened his door, it hit one of two men walking together in the alley, Marudas’ friends later told police.
“It was a stupid mistake,” Patricia Marudas said.
There was an exchange of words.
The suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Tony in the chest near the heart.
“There wasn’t even a fight,” Patricia Marudas said. “He just stabbed him. I wonder how he lives with himself.”
The suspects simply walked away and the killer has never been identified.
That night Patricia Marudas said she got a call from police and was told that Tony was at Denver General Hospital. When they arrived at the hospital they were told Tony was dead.
“I walked in and there was my son. He was behind a curtain. He was dead. I went into shock. I don’t remember that much about it.”
Over the years, Patricia Marudus has wondered what her son’s life would have been like. Who he would have married? What he would have named his children.
“It was so long ago. You never get over losing your kids.”
Anyone with tips about who killed Marcus are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Call Denver Post staff writer Kirk Mitchell at 303-954-1206 or follow him on Twitter @kmitchellDP.
