Mortician who killed rich Texas widow freed from prison

CARTHAGE, Texas — A former mortician whose killing of a rich widow shook an East Texas town and later inspired a movie has been released on bond.

A judge set a $10,000 bond for Bernie Tiede Tuesday after recommending a reduction of his life prison term. Jail records show Tiede was released on bond Tuesday afternoon from the Panola County Detention Center in Carthage.

Tiede, who’s now 55, was convicted in 1999 for the shooting death of his 81-year-old longtime companion Marjorie Nugent in Carthage about 150 miles east of Dallas. The case inspired the 2012 dark comedy “Bernie” that starred Jack Black in the title role and Shirley MacLaine as Nugent.

The judge has agreed to let Tiede live with filmmaker Richard Linklater, who co-wrote and directed the film.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

A former mortician whose killing of a rich widow shook an East Texas town and later inspired a movie will soon go free, after the district attorney who prosecuted him agreed Tuesday to let him out of a life sentence.

A judge set a $10,000 bond for Bernie Tiede after recommending that his prison term be reduced. He was expected to be released later Tuesday. A state criminal appeals court must sign off on the sentence reduction while Tiede is out on bond.

The now-55-year-old Tiede, who was well liked in the close-knit community of Carthage, was convicted in the death of his longtime companion, Marjorie Nugent. The 81-year-old widow had a reputation among townspeople as a crotchety cheapskate. The case inspired the 2012 dark comedy “Bernie” starring Jack Black in the title role and Shirley MacLaine as Nugent.

The judge has agreed to let Tiede live with filmmaker Richard Linklater, who made the 2012 dark comedy and volunteered to take Tiede in. Tiede will be under strict bond conditions.

Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson agreed with Tiede’s appeals attorney, Jodi Cole, who said he deserved a lighter sentence because he was sexually assaulted as a child and also had an abusive relationship with Nugent before her death.

Psychiatrist Edward Gripon, who examined Tiede in January, testified Tuesday that Tiede and Nugent had a complex and abusive relationship. He said that combined with Tiede having been abused when he was younger pushed him to kill Nugent in a “brief dissociative episode.”

“He doesn’t come across in examination at all as a person probe to violence,” he said. “That set of circumstances … is not going to recreate itself.”

Davidson, who said he believes residents’ opinion of Tiede has changed “180 degrees,” called Tiede’s release “bittersweet.” He said he had a duty, however, to act once it was clear other factors had led Tiede to kill.

Tiede still faces a theft charge for spending Nugent’s money after her death, but Davidson said nothing will move forward on that until the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals approves the sentence reduction in the slaying case. No timetable has been set for when the court might act.

Nugent disappeared in 1996. Her corpse was found nine months later at her Carthage home about 150 miles east of Dallas, wrapped in a sheet lying among packages of frozen corn, pecans and meat. She had been shot in the back four times with a .22-caliber rifle.

Tiede had met Nugent in 1990 at the funeral of her husband R.L. “Rod” Nugent, who had made his fortune in oil and banking. The two would grow close, taking trips around the world, and Nugent signed a will leaving her estimated $10 million fortune to Tiede.

Tiede became known around town for his generosity. Townspeople have said he started scholarships, pledged money to a church building campaign and ran a fundraising drive for Boy Scouts. He also gave away large gifts, including several cars.

After Tiede was charged in Nugent’s killing, pretrial publicity led to the case being moved to San Augustine, about 50 miles southeast of Carthage. A jury there convicted him in 1999 and sentenced him to life in prison.

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