Scorned Lover's Week: Texas vs. Celeste Beard, "Marriage, Money and Murder Vol. Brown created and produced the British horror comedy series "Wreck," which is currently available on Hulu. However, Katina Lofton, who shared a cell with Tracey for two months, says she knows why. 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. However, there is hope. She said that she married Steve for his money, says daughter, Jennifer. Their marriage drew raised eyebrows not only from the community, but also from Celeste's twin daughters, Kristina and Jennifer, who said their mother married Beard only because of his money. Source: Twitter/@whodoyouabc (video still). Celeste suffered from depression and met Tracey, who was an alcoholic, while they were both being treated. But if Celeste goes free, Steven Beards will calls for the girls to get significantly less. They additionally claimed that their mother would frequently drug Stevens food or drinks in order to sneak out to Traceys late at night. So now, if you wish to learn more about the two women who have always believed in Celestes wrongful hand in the matter her daughters Jennifer and Kristina weve got the details for you. "She was Celestes friend, and they hung out quite a bit, Jennifer said. Tracey reportedly did not. Thus, to cure her depression, she chose to enroll herself in Saint Davids Pavilion, a mental health facility. 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. Reports claim that she met her birth mother just once while her father regularly abused her, which led her to allegedly attempt suicide. Jennifer and Kristina were not motivated by money, according to the prosecutors, judge, or jury; they only wanted justice. Did I want to testify against my mom? Tarlton has kept to herself and has not participated in any of the shows about her story. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She will be eligible for parole on April 1, 2042. Everything You Want to Know. They hated Steven. The, Did Aaron Carter Have Siblings? He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital. Once Steven agreed to her terms, she moved in with the millionaire and married him in February 1995. According to Kristina, who has established a good life for herself in California as Kristina Fritz, her sister can not even work anymore and thus relies on her for financial support. She met her birth mother only one time and was told, "I am not your mother, I was just your incubator. I hate to admit it, but the only reason why they could have turned on me was for the money. Tracey herself testified at Celestes trial and alleged that she had an affair with her. Johnson is also the mother of twin daughters, Kristina and Jennifer. When authorities spoke with Jennifer and Kristina, they could only think of one suspect: Tracey Tarlton. However, he promised to adopt her then 15-year-old daughters, which he did right before their 18th birthday. wrote a cookbook, "From the Big House to Your House," about meals she made in. I wanted a mom, Kristina told ABC News. To her credit, Tarlton is not proud of what she did and wants to move on with her life. Celeste says her daughters are lying about everything, even their claims that they loved Steven. I really tried not to pass any judgment on her. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "I was devastated," said Celeste. Celeste's defense team used money as a motivation for Kristina and Jennifer to lie during the trial. While he was able to make it to the hospital successfully, he ultimately died of complications from the gunshot wound four months later. It seemed like the perfect life, but drama ensued after Beard, whose net worth was estimated to be around $10 million, tried to put an end to Johnson's frivolous spending habits. Where are her daughters now? In terms of the twins current whereabouts, while both Jennifer and Kristina choose to keep their personal lives out of the public these days, we do know that they suffered another tragedy in 2017. By 1999, the depression got so bad that Celeste claimed she was suicidal. New information is revealed by each, and both parties are shown footage from the other side. The twins claimed their mother married Beard only because of his money, reports say. Home. This is when Tracey decided to reveal everything to the police. But neither the prosecutors nor the judge or jury believed that Jennifer and Kristina were motivated by money; they merely wanted justice. According to Oxygen, Celeste loved spending Steve's money at an alarming rate. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Reportedly, Celeste was also trying to poison and kill her fifth husband. display: block; -In the 1991 film "Boyz N the Hood," actor Lloyd Avery made his acting debut as a member of What Happened to the Daughters of Celeste Beard? Celestes argument was that her children were greedy and deceptive. On his death, the half interest in the homes, the tangible personal property and the club memberships, and $500,000 would go outright to Celeste," says Kuperman. Celeste is innocent, and its all on my shoulders, says DeGuerin, Celestes lawyer. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Mari Gilbert Is Getting a Closeup in Lifetimes The Long Island Serial Killer, Lifetime's 'A Murder to Remember' Tells the Chilling True Story of Candra Torres, Lifetimes Death Saved My Life Is a Ripped From the Headlines Tale of Pseudocide. ', Get to Know the Real Life Story Behind Secrets of a Gold Digger Killer, A Doctor by Day and Musician by Night 'Dateline' Examines the Murder of Buddy McCutcheon. }, First published on May 12, 2003 / 2:37 PM. The defense also tried to argue the twins were testifying against their mother for money, but they denied that. Celeste, in the film, clearly sees Steven as a ticket to a better life, for her and her daughters. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Steven did not die on the spot and was shifted to a hospital. The victim. Steven Beard Murder: Where Is Tracey Tarlton Now? If you want to know more about Celeste and where she is today, we have got you covered. She and two other wounded victims survived the shooting, but another party guest died from his injuries, according to theAustin American-Statesman. She is connected to a well-known Travis County murder case through her mom, Celeste Beard, who is serving a life sentence for capital murder after persuading her lover, Tracey Tarlton, to kill. New information is revealed by each, and both parties are shown footage from the other side. While the latter observed that her mother appeared unconcerned, her sister began recording what she assumed to be violent phone conversations from her, informing her that shed hired someone to kill Tracey, prompting them to draw the conclusion. The format addresses the true crime communitys passion for interaction, speculation, and armchair detective work (which, lets face it, isnt always a good idea). They then even went as far as to claim that their mother would often drug Stevens food or drinks to ensure she could sneak out to Traceys at night. They would gaze at each other lovingly and it wasnt the kind of affection that platonic girlfriends would share, says Brandy Whitten, a co-worker of Traceys who saw the two of them together at a party just a few months before Steven was shot. Once on trial, Celeste pleaded not guilty. But, of course, the big question is: What happened to Tracey Tarlton, the woman who admitted to shooting Steve Beard? .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Thats quite a fall from the fairy-tale life, says friend Marilou. Jennifer Beard was living with the shooter at the time, and also suffered multiple injuries. Shortly before her murder trial began in March 2002, Tarlton told police that Johnson had persuaded her to shoot Beard, claiming that he had emotionally abused Johnson to the point of suicide. In fact, Celeste once bought a card that said, To the one I love. But she didnt give it to her husband, Steven. While he was genuinely looking for companionship, she was only after his money, according to Jennifer and Kristina, whom hed legally adopted a month before they turned 18. Spiky TV's senior news writer is Stephan Gibbs. She was saying psychological, horrible stuff, said Kristina. The series, created Carolyn Wiger From Survivor 44 -CBS has debuted the 44th season of the renowned reality television series "Survivor" Diverse strangers attempt to survive in Contestant Carson Garrett From Survivor 44 -Since its launch in 2000, the CBS reality competition series 'Survivor,' developed by Charlie Parsons, has been a Where is Kevin Roby Now? Celeste was 32 years old when she married Steve Beard. What I was thinking about was Celestes instructions. Wreck Season 1 Ending Explained -Ryan J. Celeste says her daughters are lying about everything, even their claims that they loved Steven. She wanted me to shoot him at Toro Canyon with my shot gun, says Tracey. [13] Tarlton received a 10-year reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Johnson, and was released on parole in August 2011 and lives in San Antonio. As a docuseries that delves deep into compelling real-life cases from both sides of an offense (without any significant bias), ABCs Who Do You Believe? is as chaotic as it is intriguing. } 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. Tarlton later claimed that she shot Beard for Johnson, and in exchange for her testimony, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, ABC News notes. 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. Born on February 13, 1963, Celeste Beard had a difficult childhood. In a recent episode of Who Do You Believe?, Jennifer and Kristina Beard finally light on the events of nearly 25 years ago as they saw them. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Celeste Beard Johnson was convicted of murder, Steven Beard was murdered in October 1999, Shocking photo shows bedsheet where girl died weighing 23st - as mum JOKED about flies in squalid room, Man, 43, died after being held down by security guards at Sainsbury's, Man rushed to hospital with stab wounds after 'incident' at Hackney Central railway station as cops rush to scene, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). On November 18, ABC's 20/20 will premiere her episode titled . Their age gap especially raised eyebrows for Celeste's twin daughters from her first marriage, Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz. How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh Although they were no longer living with her, the twins said the relationship with their mother at that point was verbally and psychologically abusive. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Thats speaking now that Im removed from the project and shes out of my system.. Tarlton confessed to the shooting and was arrested at home six days after the shooting, was charged with assault. As of the time of this writing, Jennifer Beard has not seen her mother since the trial. Eventually, Steven was made aware of Celeste trying to steal precious jewelry that belonged to his late wife, causing the millionaire to file for divorce. On October 2, 1999, Tracey broke into the Beard household and shot Steven while he was sleeping. Based on Tarlton's statement, Johnson was arrested on March 28, 2002. For two people who have had a dark story follow them for more than two decades, theyre calm and measured while rehashing this tragic tale. A fundraiser was held in her honor. Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresseIP, Navigation et recherche lors de lutilisation des sites Web et applications Yahoo. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. He was released from the hospital on January 18, 2000, but had to be readmitted soon after. #inline-recirc-item--id-a6126aac-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death That part was true. 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. He was incredibly wealthy and, at 70, was significantly older than Celeste. They have two million reasons to lie, says Celeste. ABCs Who Do You Believe? is as chaotic as it is engaging as a docuseries that looks deep into compelling real-life instances from all sides of an incident (without any noticeable bias). Celeste was 32 years old when she married Steve Beard. Celestes daughters, Jennifer and Kristina, recently made news in relation to another murder case. On June 13, 2021, Lifetime aired Secrets of a Gold Digger Killer, a TV film that featured Julie Benz as Celeste. 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. TheAustin American-Statesmanreported that in October 2017, a mandressed as Santa Clausfor a Halloween party he helped throw, shot, and killed a partygoer. [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. I do not agree, for a minute, that theyre motivated by money. Who Are The Mothers And Daughters On sMothered Season 4?, Why Did Eminem Adopt His Daughters, Alaina and Steve? Jones later pleaded guilty to one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault, and at his sentencing hearing, Kristina testified that her sister needed 10 surgeries to recover from two wounds to the stomach and that she couldnt work and had trouble walking, as theStatesmanreported in 2019. [22], In 2017, Celeste's daughter, Jennifer, was wounded after a shooting while attending a Halloween party. Celeste Beard. And I know that attracted me, says Tracey. All of Celeste Beards possessions from her years of wealth and extravagant spending now fit in a single, small closet. deeply sorry for that. 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. According to several online reports, Chris Beard was married to Leslie Beard, who is an American journalist and author. 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