Bernie Tiede Wins Appeal, Granted New Sentencing Hearing

Convicted killer Bernie Tiede was granted a new sentencing hearing by The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas. Although he was convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison, Tiede will remain free on $10,000 bond pending a new sentence.

Tiede was charged and convicted in the 1996 death of 81-year-old Marjorie Nugent. According to police records, he befriended Nugent in a plot to embezzle millions of dollars. Prior to his arrest, Bernie Tiede stole an estimated $3 million dollars from the elderly woman.

Prosecutors argued that the theft and murder were clearly premeditated. As reported by the Dallas Morning Views, Tiede initially denied involvement. However, he later confessed the disturbing details surrounding Nugent’s death.

“I took the rifle and I shot Marjorie in the back. She fell face first. Marjorie was still breathing heavily, so I shot her again… I didn’t want her to suffer. I then dragged Marjorie by the feet from the garage to the freezer… I placed her into the freezer and covered her with a… white sheet. I then covered her with the food. I took a water hose and washed the blood from the garage. I swept up the bullets along with some leaves and threw them away.”

As he provided a full and candid confession, Bernie Tiede was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Fifteen years later, the convicted killer appealed both the conviction and sentence.

In the appeal, Tiede’s attorneys argued that the defendant was sexually abused as a child. They further claim that their client suffered abuse at the hands of his victim. According to the appeal, Bernie Tiede killed Marjorie Nugent “while in a dissociative state brought on by alleged abuse.”

In May, Tiede was released from prison pending the outcome of his appeal. Although the appeals court denied his request for a new trial, they have ruled that the defendant is entitled to a new sentencing hearing.

In their ruling, the appeals court ordered Bernie Tiede to surrender to the Panola County Sheriff. However, he will likely remain free on $10,000 bond.

Marjorie’s granddaughter, Shanna Nugent, said the family is devastated.

“There is no happy ending here. A confessed, convicted murderer is free. And any chance for justice for my grandmother is likely gone.”

Tiede’s story was made famous in the 2011 film Bernie. The dark comedy, which starred Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley MacLaine, outlined the confessed killer’s life leading up to and including Nugent’s death.

The Nugent family is concerned that the film raised Bernie Tiede to celebrity status. They are further concerned that the confessed killer has essentially gotten away with murder.

[Image via Amazon]