A Matter of Justice aka Final Justice True Story

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A Matter of Justice also known as Final Justice is a fact based movie based on the murder of Marine Chris Randall Brown. The movie premiered on NBC as a movie of the week in 1993. Mary Brown sold the rights to their story. The movie was filmed in Alma, Kansas. Starring Alexandra Powers, Patty Duke, and Martin Sheen.

Site Map

Saddest Parts of the Movie
Why Dusty and Rocky Didn't Serve Much Time
Jack and Mary's Divorce
Mary Brown's Obit
Kathy Brown's Death
My Interview with Dusty's Sister
Jack Brown's Obituary
Research on a Matter of Justice
Rocky Jackson aka Ralph G. Jackson
Mary Brown's Other Son
Other Cases of Murdered Marines

Documents Research

Chris Randall Brown's Murder : dedication memorial page


Click here for profile and update for Kathy 'dusty' Brown (also recent pic)


Update on baby Christy the child the movie is based on





 

Differences Between the Movie and the Real Case:

There was no man involved in the kidnapping of Christine. Dusty was accompanied by 2 or 3 other women. One named, Pat Shaw and Dusty's other sister Diane.

Mary Brown was not really present when Terrah Christine was found in Illinois. It was too much for her emotionally and physically. She had already faced several disappointments regarding the custody of Christine. Christine Brown was found with Charlene at a shelter in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Book Based on This Movie

Get this question a lot. As of yet, there is no book on the movie. This case continues to fascinate many people. Several people were working on a book. The movie's producer, who also happened to be Kathy Dusty Brown's public defender in the case, spoke of writing a book at one time. Mary Brown talked about writing a book, but she never published anything. Dusty's family asked me about writing a book with them, but I wasn't interested at the time, and now Dusty's last husband has also expressed interest in writing a book on this case. So maybe there is one for the future.

Saddest Parts of the Movie

Many of you have commented on how much this movie makes you cry. It makes me cry too...and every single time! I think that is why this movie has such a huge following. This movie was not made by Lifetime. It originally premiered on NBC. It was a high drama movie. The music just makes you break down in tears. I don't think anyone could have played the parents better than Patty Duke and Martin Sheen. Patty Duke captured the very essence of Mary Brown. I was told that Martin Sheen wanted Jack to appear "less likeable" in the film. The grandmother's portrayal was far from what the real lady was like according to sources.

The parts that make me cry everytime
1. The scene where Mary Brown is at the window and Chris is leaving
2. The part where Mary Brown screams and drops to the floor as Dusty tells her that Chris has been killed.
3. The entire funeral scene...especially when Jack tries to help Mary up, and she refuses to go with him, and he just walks away, and then he turns around to look at her one more time as if he is helpless.
4. The scene where Mary blames Jack. He looks hurt to the core, and he finally blames himself for letting Chris go.

What are the saddest parts for you?

Why Rocky and Dusty Didn't Serve Much Time in Prison

Feistymom,

I did get your questions this morning. The truth is I don't know. Rocky actually did 20 years in prison, and remember when he was first sentenced he sort of took the wrap for her. It was only after he learned that she had used him and virtually dumped him that he decided to tell the real story of what happened. This could have had an impact on how much time he actually served. Dusty didn't serve all of her time. I will have to go back through my notes in a few to check, but if I am not mistaken, I thought Dusty Brown's defense attorney told me that the judge felt sympathetic towards her. Let me double check that.

Update: 11:41am: I wasn't able to find a copy of the entire conversation that I had with Dusty's public defender. So I can't be sure if she said that. Someone did, I just can't remember who. Anyway, in my Rocky Jackson notes I had a comment that he made regarding his case:

"Confrontation with me". I regret it. I live with it everyday."

"The military found me guilty before I was even tried."

This part is not legible, but it says "Eligible for parole after 10 years. The Clemency Board told me to enjoy my time."

The notes on that part are choppy, which is why I didn't include them in the first notes. That's all I have on him for now. Hope that helps Fiestymom.

Mary Brown's Other Son

Thanks for that question fiestymom. Yes, Jack and Mary did have another son. They did not feature him at all in the movie. It is my understanding that he has had a really hard time dealing with seeing his mother and father go through what they have concerning Chris' death. He has also had to put up with a lot of problems stemming from Christy's behavior.

Jack and Mary Divorce

For anyone wondering about the obit. Yes, Jack and Mary Brown did divorce. I will look back through the rest of my notes tonight to find the exact date of the divorce. They were not able to make it after Chris' death I am told. There was a lot of resentment among other things. Jack remarried. Mary did not.