So what was Celeste's role in this murder? Celeste Beard Johnson (born February 13, 1963), more commonly known as Celeste Beard, is an American convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence at the Lane Murray (SHU) in Gatesville, Texas, for the 1999 murder of her millionaire husband, Steven Beard. Following her release, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, and reports mention that she was taken off parole in August 2021. Thats quite a fall from the fairy-tale life, says friend Marilou. I hate to admit it, but the only reason why they could have turned on me was for the money. Jennifer Beard, Self: On the Case with Paula Zahn. The anger of my. The jury awarded Celeste Beard a life imprisonment sentence in 2003. Several witnesses saw no unusual problems in Johnson and Beard's marriage, and DeGuerin alleged that Johnson's daughters lied on the witness stand because they would inherit no money if their mother was acquitted. Furthermore, she was also fined $10,000 for her second charge. He disgusted her.. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Secrets of a Gold Digger Killerpremieres Sunday, June 13, at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime. Its a case of obsession, says DeGuerin, Celestes attorney. In 2006, Celeste Beard tried to appeal her conviction and claimed that the evidence presented in her original trial was inadequate for the guilty verdict, but to no avail. Jennifer and Kristina testified that they once walked in on Celeste and Tracey kissing. Obviously, I was a horrible mother. Celeste Beard's daughters Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz during an interview. deeply sorry for that. Finally, on January 22, 2000, a blood clot led to his demise. One of the victims sadly didnt survive, and Jennifer reportedly needed ten surgeries to recover from the wounds directly to the stomach, leaving her struggling with stamina. Celeste suffered from depression and met Tracey, who was an alcoholic, while they were both being treated. Is 12 Desperate Hours Based on a True Story? Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death, Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated. Tracey reportedly did not. In November 2017, Jennifer was shot multiple times by her then-roommate Randall Gaston Jones at their Halloween party in Austin, Texas. Tracey Tarlton is psychotic. Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz, Beard's daughters, decided to testify against their. On October 2, 1999, an intruder broke into Beards home in the early hours of the morning and fatally shot him, ABC News reports. The twins would also testify that their mother would tell them she married Steven for his money, that he disgusted her, and then when he died she would get all of his money. Judie Winn Murder: Where is Patricia Tito Now? display: block; When Tarlton was arrested for drunk driving and Johnson bailed her out, Beard, angered by the relentless phone calls, demanded that Tarlton stop contacting the couple. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Celeste Beards lawyers claimed at trial that the tape had been spliced, that Celeste never said that, and that it made it appear worse than it was. Everything You Want to Know. In the pages of her journal, Tracey writes of her most private feelings. [8] According to Beard's accountant, Johnson spent $321,000 in October and November 1999, an additional $249,000 by December 10 and another $100,000 in the six weeks ending March 31, 2000. He was incredibly wealthy and, at 70, was significantly older than Celeste. Celeste Beard was convicted of murdering her millionaire husband in 2003. Did I want to testify against my mom? And I'm sorry that I wasn't the mother that you needed me to be.. I would tell them that I always loved them, she said. Tarlton confessed to the shooting and was arrested at home six days after the shooting, was charged with assault. A family photo showing Steven Beard, Celeste Beard and her daughters Kristina and Jennifer. It makes me sick, Celeste toldOxygen. Self - Steven Beard's Daughter (segment "Texas, Money and Murder") Edit Did You Know? How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh Celeste Beard Johnson, then 17 years old, and her first of many husbands, welder Craig Bratcher, gave birth to identical twins Jennifer and Kristina in the early 1980s. Beard was later released from the hospital, but succumbed to a blood clot on January 22, 2000. I am innocent of this crime that I am convicted of. Four years after they were married, Steve would be shot in their home by someone wielding a 20-gauge shotgun. "I was devastated," said Celeste. I did love Tracey, as a friend, says Celeste. Celestes daughters also testified against their mother and, in turn, reaffirmed Traceys testimony. Both of her daughters told ABC News they dont forgive her. Tracey claims they entered into a romantic relationship, while Celeste maintains they were always just friends and Tracey was confused. On October 2, 1999, millionaire Steven Beard was shot while he was asleep in his home in Texas. On October 2, 1999, Tracey broke into the Beard household and shot Steven while he was sleeping. One of the victims regrettably died, while Jennifer apparently required 10 surgeries to heal from the wounds to her stomach, which left her short of breath. Beard, a retired Fox Broadcasting executive and self-made multi-millionaire more than twice her age, was a widower whose wife had died of cancer. A family photo showing Steven Beard, Celeste Beard and her daughters Kristina and Jennifer. While Celeste is now behind bars for her husband's murder, she did not shoot Beard that October night. They both believed Tracey and their mother were more than just friends. Scorned Lover's Week: Texas vs. Celeste Beard, "Marriage, Money and Murder Vol. That's what landed her a life sentence and a featured role in the first ever "Snapped" episode. Shortly after the shooting, police arrested Tracey Tarlton, who was a family friend, in connection with the murder after they linked her personalized shotgun to the shell that was found at the scene of the crime. So I just started taping our conversations when they would get out of hand.. Secrets of a Gold Digger Killeris a TV movie starringDexteralum Julie Benz as Celeste. The defense also tried to argue the twins were testifying against their mother for money, but they denied that. I just wish somebody could come forward and help me." #inline-recirc-item--id-a6126aac-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Tarlton remained silent until July 2000, when she read in a local newspaper that Johnson had remarried six months after Beards death and realized that their relationship was a sham. Each case is divided up into two episodes one episode is comprised of the accused individual telling their side of the story, while the second episode is from the victims perspective. What would make Celestes own children betray her? He was funny. Oxygengave an update on Celeste in November 2020, reporting that she remains in custody in Texas and will not be eligible for parole until 2042. . On October 29, Jennifer along with two others, were shot numerous times by her then-roommate Randall Jones at her Halloween party in Austin, Texas. I used to beg them, Call him dad. Shes been diagnosed as having delusions, as hearing voices that arent there, as seeing things that arent there., DeGuerin made the case that Tracey had a mental condition that created rich fantasies that led to murder: The sexual relationship existed solely in Traceys mind. The Mogul's New, How Rich Is The Island Boys Net Worth? But, it was her supposed lover who pulled the trigger. According to People, "five months after Beard died, she [Celeste] married a carpenter named Cole Johnson." They have two million reasons to lie, says Celeste. According to Oxygen, Celeste loved spending Steve's money at an alarming rate. Tarlton has kept to herself and has not participated in any of the shows about her story. DeGuerin had Traceys secret diary. They were married on February 18, 1995, with Beard's family and friends . tried to make it easy for her. In arecent episode ofWho Do You Believe?, Jennifer and Kristina Beard finally light on the events of nearly 25 years ago as they saw them. The show featured interviews with Celeste, her two daughters, and other people in the case. Tracey testifies that from the first day they met, Celeste often complained that Steven was abusive toward her. Coming to the twins current whereabouts, although both Jennifer and Kristina prefer to keep their lives well away from the spotlight these days, we do know that another tragedy struck them in 2017. During her time at the facility, Celeste came across another patient, Tracey Tarlton. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The prosecution focused heavily on the alleged relationship between Celeste and Tracey. When Celeste Beard was charged with murdering her husband, Beard's twin daughters had to decide if they would bringing forward a crucial piece of evidence in court that could be used against her. She talked to people about how she hated him. Born in 1963, Johnson, 59, is known as a convicted murderer. Celeste Beard Johnson talks about her relationship with her daughters who testified against her, revealing she hasn t talked to them in years but insisting she did the best she could. She will be eligible for parole on April 1, 2042. "[3] She claimed that her adoptive parent, Edwin Johnson, physically abused her as a child and that she attempted suicide during puberty. It came out that her lesbian partner Tracey Tarlton shot Steven in his sleep on October 2, 1999. KENS 5 News reported that Tarlton was paroled in August 2011 "after spending over a decade behind bars." And what the Bible actually says is that the love of money is the root of all evil. The former, along with two others, was shot multiple times at her Halloween party in Austin, Texas, on October 29 by her then-roommate Randall Jones. [14], The case was covered on such news documentaries and true crime programs as American Justice, Snapped (1st episode), Deadly Women, Vengeance: Killer Millionaires, Reasonable Doubt, and ABC's 20/20. In November 2017, Jennifer was shot multiple times by her then-roommate Randall Gaston Jones at their Halloween party in Austin, Texas. Following her third unsuccessful marriage in 1993, Celeste and her girls moved to Texas, where she met and married widower Steven Beard, a man 35 years her senior. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. [11][12] Johnson continues to maintain her innocence for 19+ years and as of 2019[update] is imprisoned at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville. Johnson was then charged with his murder in March 2002. Once they established a link between Tracey and Celeste, they visited Tracey and discovered that she was in possession of a shotgun. You can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram. Steven Beards attorney, David Kuperman, who drew up the family will, testifies that Celeste stood to inherit millions more dollars in cash and property if Steven died. The people who know me and know my story have been very, very supportive of me, and I would not have been able to make it without these people, she said. Background [ edit] Celeste Johnson's biological parents are unknown. I do not agree, for a minute, that theyre motivated by money. Kristina, who has made a successful career as Kristina Fritz in California, claims that her sister is unable to work and consequently relies on her for financial support. According to Jennifer and Kristina, whom hed officially adopted a month before they turned 18, while he was truly yearning for friendship, she was only pursuing his money. 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