Celeste Beard Johnson Denied Parole Again in High-Profile Murder Case Involving Husband’s Death
AUSTIN, TEXAS – October 26, 2023 – The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has once again denied parole for Celeste Beard Johnson, the convicted murderer whose 2000 trial captivated national attention. Johnson, 56, is serving a life sentence for the 1999 shooting death of her husband, Steven Beard Jr., at their Austin home. The parole panel cited the severity of the crime and Johnson’s lack of remorse in its decision, which was announced earlier this week. According to official records, Johnson will not be eligible for another parole review until 2028. The case involved a complex plot where Johnson, along with a former lover, orchestrated the murder to claim a substantial inheritance.