I really tried not to pass any judgment on her. Celeste Beards story was told in a recent episode of the popular ABC show, which features an interview with Beard and her twin daughters, who testified against their mother when she was on trial for murdering their stepfather. According to Oxygen, Celeste loved spending Steve's money at an alarming rate. ABC News "She had her moments where she seemed like she was nice," said her other daughter, Kristina Fritz. Johnson married twice more before meeting Steven Beard while she was a waitress at a country club in Austin, Texas. In November 2017, Jennifer was shot multiple times by her then-roommate Randall Gaston Jones at their Halloween party in Austin, Texas. All Rights Reserved. I dont wake up one single day without feeling shamed still held for what I did, she toldKENS 5-TVlater that year. While Celeste is now behind bars for her husband's murder, she did not shoot Beard that October night. And I'm sorry that I wasn't the mother that you needed me to be.. On October 2, 1999, millionaire Steven Beard was shot while he was asleep in his home in Texas. According toPeople, five months after Beard died, she [Celeste] married a carpenter named Cole Johnson. Celeste had seemingly moved on from her husbands murder. Lifetimes Secrets of a Gold Digger sheds light on this case. She would say that he disgusted her, says Kristina. By 1999, the depression got so bad that Celeste claimed she was suicidal. 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. Celeste says her daughters are lying about everything, even their claims that they loved Steven. The three of them were explicitly named in Stevens will, alongside his children from his first marriage, so Celestes conviction guaranteed the girls a share of their mothers inheritance an estimated $2 million. Meanwhile, Stevens condition was quite critical though doctors managed to fix his wound to the best of their abilities. Reportedly, Celeste was also trying to poison and kill her fifth husband. Four years later, Johnson was convicted of capital murder and injury to an elderly individual, and sentenced to life in prison. I wanted a mom, Kristina told ABC News. For Celeste, who had two twin daughters and had been married multiple times, Beard "represented what she was looking for: stability, wealth and someone to take care of her," according to ABC. On being questioned, Celeste claimed that she was in another room when the shooting occurred. 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. He was amusing. When Tarlton implicated Celeste in the murder, her daughters had to decide whether they would testify at trial. "It makes me sick, Celeste told Oxygen. DeGuerin says it was Tracey who was the manipulator. They were married on February 18, 1995, with Beard's family and friends suspicious that Johnson had married him for his money. She needed me. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? During several days of detailed testimony, the twins back up many of Tracey Tarltons claims, beginning with Celestes true feelings for Steven. "Celeste had been changing his wounds with dirty hands," she said. I did love Tracey, as a friend, says Celeste. 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. A father of two daughters, a dog lover, a gym rat, a coffee connoisseur, and an all-around doughnut snob. Beard's two daughters testified against their mum in trial, and claimed she had sought a . Not in my case. Thats because the sisters believe they were completely ignored by Celeste not only did they hardly receive any love or compassion from her, but Jennifer cant even recall the last time they hugged. [21], Johnson and five other inmates published From the Big House to Your House, a cookbook that lists recipes that can be made in prison cells with ingredients from the prison commissary. It was kind of hard to keep up because she was always lying about something, adds daughter Kristina. . The latest episode of 20/20 tells the story of Celeste Beard, a woman who would go on trial for the murder of her husband, a self-made millionaire named Steven Beard. "She was Celestes friend, and they hung out quite a bit, Jennifer said. Celestes conviction gave the kids a piece of their mothers inheritance an estimated $2 million because they were specifically listed in Stevens will, alongside his daughters from his first marriage. has managed to do just that. However, Celeste's life was in Tarlton's hands who "finally agreed to testify against her friend" in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. She is serving her sentence at Lane Murray in Gatesville, Texas, and will be eligible for parole in April 2042, at the age of 80, according to Oxygen. Thats quite a fall from the fairy-tale life, says friend Marilou. Through a plea deal, Tarlton testified that it was Celeste who planned the murder. "You always hear blood is thicker than water. The police began to hear that Johnson had spoken negatively about Beard. They met at a mental hospital.. However, he promised to adopt her then 15-year-old daughters, which he did right before their 18th birthday. For two people who have had a dark story follow them for more than two decades, they're calm and measured while rehashing this tragic tale. Thus, to cure her depression, she chose to enroll herself in Saint Davids Pavilion, a mental health facility. Steven Beard Murder: Where Is Tracey Tarlton Now? At the end of the trial, Celeste Beard was convicted of capital murder. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. She wanted me to shoot him at Toro Canyon with my shot gun, says Tracey. She was sentenced to life in prison. Finally, on January 22, 2000, a blood clot led to his demise. However, the most conclusive piece of evidence was presented in the form of a voice clip that perfectly recorded Celeste speaking about how she got a hired killer to take Traceys life. The Mogul's New, How Rich Is The Island Boys Net Worth? ever be able to tell you just how much I love you. }, First published on May 12, 2003 / 2:37 PM. It came out that her lesbian partner Tracey Tarlton shot Steven in his sleep on October 2, 1999. As a result, episode 3 of its first season, which features the terrible 1999 homicide of self-made millionaire Steven Beard by his wife Celeste Beard, is no exception. "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. They additionally claimed that their mother would frequently drug Stevens food or drinks in order to sneak out to Traceys late at night. When is 20/20 coming out with Celeste Beard Johnson's episode? I saw her break apart the sleeping pill and put it in his baked potato, says Jennifer. display: block; He is obsessed with movies, comic books, and television shows, and he spends much too much money on collectibles. The twins claimed their mother married Beard only because of his money, reports say. She bought herself cars and jewelry, sometimes spending between $15,000 and $30,000 on daily shopping sprees.. She also had the additional conviction of injury to an elderly individual levied on her. At one point, Celeste was sitting on Traceys lap and I saw Celeste nuzzle Traceys ear.. display: none; You always hear blood is thicker than water. Johnson was then charged with his murder in March 2002. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Celeste remained unlucky when it came to love and had a string of failed marriages. Everything You Want to Know. Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated Moreover, the police found a shotgun cartridge near where the shooting took place. I really got attached to him, the latter once said about her stepfather, admitting that apart from providing the twins with some much-needed stability, he also treated them like family. Jennifer and Kristina were not motivated by money, according to the prosecutors, judge, or jury; they only wanted justice. Tarlton confessed to the shooting and was arrested at home six days after the shooting, was charged with assault. In fact, Celeste once bought a card that said, To the one I love. But she didnt give it to her husband, Steven. Jennifer and Kristina testified against their mother during her murder trial in 2002, describing all the information above, yet Celestes defense was that her daughters were greedy as well as manipulative. Is 12 Desperate Hours Based on a True Story? According to reports, Celeste made him agree to adopt both of her daughters. Although Tracey would eventually confess to shooting Steve, she quickly informed authorities that Celeste had asked her to do it. 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. In these recordings, which were introduced as evidence in Celeste Beards trial, she can be heard yelling at her daughters, crying hysterically, and using profanity. Born in 1963, Johnson, 59, is known as a convicted murderer. Celeste Beard's daughters Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz during an interview. According to Oxygen, Celeste loved spending Steve's money at an alarming rate. I would tell them that I always loved them, she said. Celeste Beard was convicted of murdering her millionaire husband in 2003. "I was devastated," said Celeste. Trivia: Fraternal twin sister of Kristina Beard, she was adopted by Steven Beard upon his marriage to her mother, Celeste Beard Johnson. It wasnt until a few months later that the shooter, Tracey Tarlton, disclosed to police the real reason behind the heinous crime. I want to call them the Menendez sisters.". I mean, I have to face that fact, adds Celeste. Evidently, they would both receive more money from Steve's estate if their mother was behind bars. Celeste and her daughters relocated to Texas following her third failed union in 1993, shortly after which she met and married widower Steven Beard, a man over 35-years-her senior. She met her birth mother only one time and was told, "I am not your mother, I was just your incubator. They met at a mental hospital.". Tracey Tarlton is psychotic. 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. Before his passing, the self-made millionaire could call 911 for help, telling the operator that "my guts are in my hands." I hate to admit it, but the only reason why they could have turned on me was for the money. He was incredibly wealthy and, at 70, was significantly older than Celeste. He disgusted her.. A family photo showing Steven Beard, Celeste Beard and her daughters Kristina and Jennifer. Celeste had seemingly moved on from her husband's murder. All of Celeste Beards possessions from her years of wealth and extravagant spending now fit in a single, small closet. 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. Celeste and her daughters relocated to Texas following her third failed union in 1993, shortly after which she met and married widower Steven Beard, a man over 35-years-her senior. She also says Celeste had an idea. 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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. Even after being arrested and charged with murder, Celeste maintained her innocence. Celeste Beard. They both believed Tracey and their mother were more than just friends. Celeste is innocent, and its all on my shoulders, says DeGuerin, Celestes lawyer. They were married on February 18, 1995, with Beard's family and friends . According to Oxygen, Celeste loved spending Steve's money at an alarming rate. They both believed Tracey and their mother were more than just friends. So many seconds, minutes, hours, days, years go by that I wonder if I will. The, Did Aaron Carter Have Siblings? Celeste Beard loved money more than she loved anything else. "But you don't know what's going to happen." Even with the reconciliation, Celeste started slipping into depression. Celeste got life in prison for her part in the crime, while Tarlton who testified against Celeste got 10 years in prison and 12 years of probation. Background [ edit] Celeste Johnson's biological parents are unknown. He was incredibly wealthy and, at 70, was significantly older than Celeste. Celestes daughters, Jennifer and Kristina, recently made news in relation to another murder case. [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. The Christopher Hoefling Murder -The 2017 murder of Christopher Hoefling in Evansville, Indiana is the topic of theInvestigation Discoverydocumentary series"The Murder Tapes" Season 7 Episode Lauren Harpe From Survivor 44 -Since its debut in 2000, 'Survivor' has become one of the most popular television programs ever. 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. Evidently, they would both receive more money from Steves estate if their mother was behind bars. I think those girls, the growing up they had to do with the defendant, is just something thats almost too horrible to imagine., Trending News Jennifer said that Celeste would sneak out at night and head to Traceys house after drugging Steve with sleeping pills. Jennifer and Kristina are a set of identical twins born around the early 1980s to then-17-year-old Celeste Beard Johnson and her first of many husbands, welder Craig Bratcher. She just said that Celeste wasnt going to live happily ever after while she rotted in jail.. Jennifer Beard was living with the shooter at the time, and also suffered multiple injuries. Source: Twitter/@whodoyouabc (video still). Where is Celeste now? That's what landed her a life sentence and a featured role in the first ever "Snapped" episode. She had a plan. 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. But you dont know whats going to happen.. I just saw this woman that I loved in a desperate situation trying to find a way to survive this man that was so awful, says Tracey on the stand. Celeste suffered from depression and met Tracey, who was an alcoholic, while they were both being treated. She was saying psychological, horrible stuff, said Kristina. Although Tracey would eventually confess to shooting Steve, she quickly informed authorities that Celeste had asked her to do it. Where are Celeste Beard's daughters now? Steven did not die on the spot and was shifted to a hospital. The police were quick in their investigation to find the shooter. #inline-recirc-item--id-a6126aac-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { "[3] She claimed that her adoptive parent, Edwin Johnson, physically abused her as a child and that she attempted suicide during puberty. Tarlton would go on to shoot Steven, which she said was upon Celestes request. ', 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. DeGuerin: In fact, youd kind of forgotten about the existence of this journal. past words has placed such an impossible distance between us and I am. Weitzel, lead prosecutor, disagrees. Kristina was adopted by Steven Beard when he married her mother, Celeste Beard Johnson, and has a fraternal twin called Jennifer Beard. Tarlton, disclosed to police the real reason behind the heinous crime judgment on.. 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