Convicted Texas "trophy wife" Celeste Beard Johnson, serving a life sentence for orchestrating the 1999 murder of her millionaire husband, now claims she is innocent and alleges her twin daughters helped set her up.
In a recent episode of Court TV's "Interview with a Killer," which aired its season 4 finale on May 29, the 63-year-old inmate insisted she did not plan the shooting of her fourth husband, Austin media executive Steven Beard, who was 74 at the time of the attack.
Johnson said from prison that she believes her former lover, law enforcement, and her twin daughters, Jennifer Beard and Kristina Fritz, conspired to portray her as the mastermind behind the killing, according to People.
Beard was shot in the abdomen with a shotgun while sleeping at his upscale Texas home in October 1999 and died months later from complications doctors linked to the wound.
Prosecutors argued at trial that Johnson wanted access to Beard's fortune and enlisted her then-lover, Tracey Tarlton, whom she met in a psychiatric facility, to carry out the attack. In 2003, a Texas jury convicted Johnson of capital murder, and she received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
Tarlton admitted to pulling the trigger and testified that Johnson had manipulated her into believing that Beard was abusive and that they could share his wealth after his death.
Read more: Weapons-Obsessed Killer Jailed for Life for Stabbing 18-Year-Old Student, Accusing Victim of Racism
Her testimony, combined with financial records and statements from Johnson's daughters, formed a key part of the prosecution's case that Johnson orchestrated the plot for financial gain. Johnson now claims Tarlton lied on the stand to secure a plea deal and reduce her own punishment, AOL reported.
In the new interview, Johnson specifically accuses Jennifer and Kristina of turning against her for money linked to Beard's estate. When asked if she believed her daughters' cooperation with authorities was financially motivated, Johnson answered, "Yes, I do," but did not present new documentary evidence to support that allegation.
The daughters, who testified against their mother during the 2003 trial, have not publicly responded to Johnson's latest claims.
Court records continue to list Johnson's conviction and life sentence as active, and there are no indications in public filings of a new appeal or formal challenge based on her accusations against her daughters.
Law enforcement and prosecutors involved in the original case have not issued new statements in response to the televised interview, and Johnson remains incarcerated in a Texas prison, as per Yahoo News.
