Celeste Beard Johnson Denied Parole Again in 2023, Remains Behind Bars for Murder of Husband
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied parole for Celeste Beard Johnson, the Texas socialite convicted in the 1999 murder of her husband, millionaire Steven Beard, officials confirmed Wednesday. Johnson, 53, was found guilty in 2003 for orchestrating the killing of her 74-year-old spouse with the help of her lover, Tracey Tarlton, who shot Beard in their Lake Travis home. The parole board ruled on November 2, 2023, citing the severity of the premeditated crime and Johnson’s continued denial of involvement as factors for the decision. Her next parole eligibility date is set for March 2027. Johnson is currently serving a life sentence at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas. The case, which gained national attention for its intertwining of wealth, betrayal, and a dramatic 2004 television documentary, remains a point of public interest in the true crime community.