Marudas, Anthony

Anthony “Tony” Marudas was the middle child of three. He had an older sister Diana and a younger brother Jerry.
When he was still a child his mother Patricia remembers that “…Tony could amuse himself and never required the constant attention some children do…”. This flair of independence made him a joy to raise as he wasn’t prone to causing trouble with his siblings.
Tony graduated from Alameda High School in 1979 and as many young people do, remained in contact with his friends. His father was in construction and Tony chose to follow those footsteps and embarked on career in the same industry.
Tony’s sister Diana: “I remember my brother as this little white haired boy who excelled in sports of all kinds. He was a great swimmer and baseball player. He also played basketball, football, wrestled, golfed, bowled, dived and biked all over the place. When we were young, Tony and some of the boys in our neighborhood made a bike jump for their stingray bikes and I remember my dad taking home movies of them. We used to ride our bikes at what we called “the bike hills” on Wadsworth Blvd and Florida in Lakewood. I remember going to church together as kids and that Tony rediscovered his faith and committed to a steadfast relationship with Jesus as a young adult. Tony worked construction with Steve Romero and his father. Toni’s life was taken from him at the young age of 19 just 10 days before my 21st birthday. He had been planning to move in with me at the end of that November. I wonder what our relationship would have grown into, and if he would have married and had children?
Tony was murdered by a stranger who has never been identified. On that night Tony had a meeting with his Minister but for reasons unknown his Minister didn’t make the meeting. He then decided to do exactly what most teenagers with cars did back then, go cruising with your buddies around Wheaton Street. Tony had a “Bug” and he along with two friends did exactly that. They made a “pit stop” in some alley and when he opened his car door it hit a stranger. That stranger pulled a knife and fatally stabbed Anthony.
The night was still young and despite two witnesses the killer was never identified.
If you have information about this crime, please call Lt. Jon Priest, 720-913-6697, or CrimeStoppers, 720-913-7867.