That is what the original state's witness told us occurred in this case," Jodi Cole addressed the court in her closing statement. "When he pointed that gun at Marjorie Nugent's back, that justified the life sentence," Tanner said in her closing. Teen Appeals Prison Sentence for Murdering Friend and Taking a Smiling Selfie with His Body. Bernie Tiede, a former mortician, killed rich Texas millionairess, Marjorie Nugent, and buried her body in her deep freezer 20 years ago. The numbers ended up being approximately $3.8 million total," said Tanner. I think he has no remorse. "When I heard 99 years, I mean it was devastating," said Linklater. In 1985, the 27-year-old Tiede moved to Carthage, which had a population of just 6,500. Despite locals shock, Tiede and Nugent became inseparable and may have even shared a romantic relationship. Marjorie Nugent And Bernie Tiede were inseparable right up until her 1996 demise. We thought she might be in the hospital somewhere.. Even down at the court house, where local legend District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson ruled back then and still rules today everyone sensed something good had come to town. "Could Marjorie be mean?" Tiede's attorney is appealing his sentence. I just can't do this,'" Tiede explained. In the following few years, Bernie quit the funeral business and went into the Marge business, serving as both a traveling companion on cruises or jaunts to Thailand and Egypt, as well as a caretaker of sorts, tweezing stray chin hairs and clipping Marge's nails, says ID. She was alright.". Asked how so, Davidson replied, "I think that defines everything.". Go by the house. Bernie Tiede will be eligible for parole in 2029; he will be 70 years old. "He was a God to this town," said Susie Cockrell. 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. "Yes," he replied. He was just a loveable guy," Black said. I dont think I really understood how vulnerable widows are until that happened to me. Tonight, CBS's 48 Hours will re-examine the case in their episode "The Mortician, The Murder, The Movie. We just went everywhere. Marjorie Nugent's granddaughter calls Tiede "the worst kind of criminal". Van Sant asked. Neil Patmore is a former police officer, and private investigator. "Our folks surrounded him like mother hens. "I'm a gay man. After the film Bernie (2011) was released, attorney Jodi Cole became interested in Tiede's case and met with him, filing a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus, in which Tiede alleged that his constitutional rights were violated in the first trial because of newly discovered evidence. "Twenty years would have been the maximum sentence. And he was sold. It was in 1991," he replied. Spreading an estimated $2 million of Nugents money around town while pretending that she was still alive, Tiede invested in a western wear shop, pledged money to the church for a new wing, and bought cars for at least 10 people. Van Sant asked. "She was like a schoolgirl in love," said Shanna Nugent. Van Sant asked Tiede. After all, everyone loved Bernie. But it's not as simple as that," Black explained of Tiede staying. Bernie Tiede's mother was his father's first wife, Lela Mae Jester (19331960). "Well, I enjoyed singin' in the choir. Davidson then went to bat for the killer he had once helped convict. When Shanna was 16, her grandfather died. He snaps,' Cole said of the scene in the movie where Tiede shoots Marjorie. The main characters are Marjorie Nugent, a rich and notoriously mean widow, and her young companion . The premise was, The nicest guy in the world is driven to murder by a bitchy woman, says Marjories granddaughter, Shanna Nugent. Longview Bank and Trust replaced Marjorie as trustee of her late husband's fund. "That's what this whole case hinges on," said Jack Black. "I don't want him talking about the shooting That's enough," she said. And soon, Nugent and Tiede were seen on the scene -- the odd couple of Carthage. Frank Rosenthal And The Real Story Of Sam Rothstein From 'Casino', Archaeologists Uncover Animal Bones And Ancient Roman Snack Foods Beneath The Colosseum, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. "As a prosecutor, you got a man who's admitted he put four bullets in the back of a little old lady," said Van Sant. They made for an interesting pair and had tongues wagging throughout town. Despite the new evidence, Tiede was sentenced to 99 years to life. While there, he orders pizza for everybody on the widow's credit card. Bernie Tiede . Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth wrote the "Bernie" screenplay and brought it to Jack Black. Tiede shot Nugent in the back four times with a rifle on Nov. 19, 1996, and then stored her body in the deep freezer of her home until her . "I embalmed his body and got him ready for the funeral," Tiede explained. "And you have a community saying, 'Leave him alone,'" Van Sant noted. The film attracted attention to Tiede's case, and new evidence was discovered. "If I had gone to the police and then been proven wrong, I would have been laughed out of Carthage because people thought so much of Bernie," said Ruth Cockrell. Bernie killed Marge in November of 1996 and spent the next few months on a spending bender, says ID, investing in businesses, buying cars and even planes for people. And then, there's a group that wants no mercy.[11], At the resentencing trial, Tiede was sentenced to life in prison. Her granddaughter expressed shock that the release was granted, and claimed that Richard Linklater's 2011 film Bernie had influenced the legal system. "So a lot of death had occurred in our family," he said. Bernie: The Truth About Bernie Tiede And Marjorie Nugent's Relationship. But I don't like talkin' about them either," he told Peter Van Sant. Marjorie Nugent showered him with cash, clothing, cars -- even flying lessons and planes to go with it. "A little feisty lady comes up to me and she says, 'I bet there was some crazy stuff going on at that trial,'" said Linklater. This is the worst kind of criminal, she says of Tiede. [26], The resentencing trial began on April 6, 2016. She'll call when she gets back.'". "Doing good, doing a lot of good in Carthage," said Ruth Cockrell. "I think he is a killer. Van Sant asked Linklater. "I saw her to the gravesite. Tiede, now 55, was convicted in the slaying of Marjorie Nugent, 81, his companion, who was found dead in her freezer months after disappearing in 1996. Nevertheless, when Tiede became the constant companion of the meanest woman in Carthage Marjorie Nugent, 40 years his senior it was certainly a surprise. "You told one she had Alzheimer's, another she was in the hospital," Van Sant noted. I'm mean as an old settin' hen sometimes," she laughed. [23], Nugent's family learned about Tiede's release through media reports. Despite the magical intervention of Hollywood and the town's alleged feelings toward Marge, many (particularly the Nugent family) still believe Bernie acted in a premeditated way when he killed Marge. They moved back to Carthage in 1989 (just a year before my uncle died), buying a controlling interest. Afterward, he hides her body in a freezer to cover up the crime. "Yes, I'm aware of that. Primo said he worked with Nugent's husband, Rodney Nugent, on business ventures. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. But whatever Marjorie's affection for her granddaughters, the stakes were about to change. "She's 42 years older than you.". The end result, his loss of control over his emotions and behavior, is evidenced in his final actions toward Mrs. Nugent. After high school, Tiede started working in a funeral home, showing a particular talent for makeup and hair. Tiede had known Nugent for years and became her caretaker and travel companion after her husband died in 1990. And after watching the movie she got a hunch that the trial of Bernie Tiede had been a miscarriage of justice. It was there that the two met and forged their unusual bond. And Hollywood makes a movie out of him.. Bernie Tiede wasn't about to. "People in the community were comin' in and sayin' Bernie was a really good guy, if he killed her he had a reason for doin' it. So what was the real truth? When Marjorie Nugent's husband dies, he is the angel at her shoulder, creating the impression that no client has ever touched him quite so much as she has. A few days later, Tiede checked in on her at her house. She had given him power of attorney over her funds. "I mean, did he ever babysit your kids?" DALLAS (Reuters) - A jury on Friday sentenced a former mortician to return to prison for 99 years to life for murdering a wealthy East Texas widow and hiding her body in a freezer in a case that . But Tiede tells a different story, claiming that after five years attending to Marjorie Nugent, the relationship had soured. He was right in Carthage, at home, when the sheriff deputies showed up and brought him in for questioning. Now, what's as certain as his life sentence is this: deep in the heart of Texas, Bernie Tiede is loved. "He put me up at his apartment at his home.". It would just be part of what inspired director Richard Linklater and actor Jack Black to collaborate on the darkly comic movie, "Bernie.". Lisa Tanner would allege Bernie Tiede regularly forged Marjorie Nugent's signature, manually manipulated her bank accounts, altered her brokerage statements. "And we said, 'Who is this?' "I think it's the classic case of a kind of disassociated moment," said Richard Linklater. "And I go, 'What do you mean you don't know who we are?' A jury convicted Tiede of first-degree murder, and sentenced him to 50 years in prison. However, to say that Nugent was not well liked was a gross understatement. According to Rod, Tiede had alienated Nugent from her family, friends, and business associates of her late husband. Marjorie Nugent was the richest widow in an eccentric town full of rich widows. "He could do everything?" Bernie loves everybody. The trial of Bernie Tiede for murdering Marjorie Nugent was moved 50 miles away. [6] Tiede graduated from Cooper High School in 1976. He is not eligible for parole until August 3, 2029, which is the day after his 71st birthday.[37]. Over the years, however, opinions in Carthage changed, and most locals now favored Tiede serving his full sentence. First published on July 22, 2017 / 11:09 PM. "As I often do with the widows, widowers, check on 'em. to Egypt. Van Sant asked. Bernie Tiede is the son of Bernhardt Tiede (19121973), a native of Olegnow, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. "People get trapped," Van Sant commented. Despite town gossip, there was nothing sexual about it, Tiede said, thinking of Nugent more as a mother figure and a friend. "I get a call from my dad he and I drive down," Alexandria Nugent said. On November 19, 1996, Tiede shot Nugent once in the back with her .22-caliber rifle as she stopped to pet the dog in her garage, then shot her three more times. "It happened so often," Hollandsworth said, "he asked for a change of venue.". "I deserved time," Tiede said. "We believe my grandmother was in love with Bernie and believed that he was in love with her," said Alexandria Nugent. "Well, we were first cousins," she told Van Sant. Poor Bernie. He was temporarily released on bail in 2014, pending a resentencing hearing. "That's enough of that. So when Alexandria Nugent and the sheriff's deputies got to the house, she knew exactly where she wanted to go. She could be very vindictive. I'm just a people person. They related to me," said Davidson. Not because Danny Buck wants 20. Cole brought the findings to the D.A. Tiede reluctantly admitted to Cole that he had endured molestation by an uncle from the age of 12, with psychiatrists saying he experienced a dissociative episode during which he killed Nugent. "Personally, I think he's pure evil," said Shanna Nugent. Cf. Bernie Tiedes trial was moved 60 miles away because of the overwhelming support for him in Carthage. Taking great pride in his work, he was a consoling shoulder for the bereaved throughout the late 1980s and early 90s especially the elderly. Case closed. As unpopular as Nugent was, her son eventually grew suspicious. For the new sentencing trial, he was replaced by two prosecutors determined to put Bernie Tiede back behind bars. Washington, Baltimore, and then took a cruise down the East coast," Tiede reminisced. "Make her coffee. "We went to Germany England Scotland and Wales. You dont ever expect anyone in your family to be murdered, Nugent says. "Not as big as it once was, but it's here.". Marge, meanwhile, was often perceived as haughty and crotchety, per Texas Monthly, so the friendship that sprung up between the two may have been a surprise to some. " and all I wanted at that moment was my mom.". And then I got active in the school here in the drama department," Tiede said. The motion filed by Cole earlier in the week claims Marjorie Nugent's son, Rod Nugent, Jr., and an original administrator of Marjorie Nugent's estate were involved in a "scheme" to steal or embezzle money from the estate. Cole poured over the files, knowing that Tiede's life sentence hinged on Danny Buck Davidson's argument that the murder was premeditated. Van Sant asked. "We had lost contact with her. Alexandria Nugent recalled. "It was a complete lie.". And in February of 1999, Danny Buck Davidson told his tale to a jury who had never heard about Tiede. In 1991, Nugent altered her will, and disinherited her only child, Rod Nugent, leaving her entire $10 million estate to Tiede. "Lots of miracles have happened in my life," said Tiede. "And he said, 'Hey I never told you about this thing that I've been obsessed with, this story about this fellow Bernie Tiede," Black said. And I think he's the one person in the world in that era who could feel that for Marg, when no one else could," he replied. In 1999, Tiede was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Marjorie Nugent, his 81-year-old friend and companion. Now that a second jury has also given him a life sentence, Nugent says her family feels vindicated. In 1990 Tiede befriended Nugent at the funeral of her husband, a wealthy oilman and banker. Prosecutors began the day presenting evidence and calling witnesses. He noted several acts of his aunt's abusive behavior toward him in The New York Times article titled How My Aunt Marge Ended Up in the Deep Freeze.[30], On April 22, 2016, the jury of ten women and two men issued a new sentence of 99 years to life for Tiede. And he just kind of did this," Alexandria Nugent said, nodding. All of this both while Marjorie Nugent was alive, and after Tiede had killed her and stuffed her in her freezer. "She just wanted more and more and more of me around.". Nugent was incredibly wealthy and also a widower. "I had gone out to the house to make coffee. Besides most of the religious and conservative locals assumed Tiede was gay, which was never a problem. director Richard Linklater told Van Sant. Mom Drove Wife and Kids Off Cliff, the 'Hart Family Murders' Remain Chilling, Pa. Man Sentenced to Life for Bludgeoning Woman with Hammer, Then Strangling and Burning Her in Robbery Plot, 'True Crime Fan' Rene Zellweger on Playing Killer Pam Hupp: 'You Think You Know Her', Robert Durst's Murder Conviction Will Be Vacated on Legal Technicality, L.A. "My grandmother believed he loved her.". Van Sant asked. Until finally I said, 'OK, I won't leave you. Nugent hadnt seen her only son in years, or her grandchildren who had sued her over trust money. "I was acting in the plays.". And now, the Bernie Tiede story was about to take yet another bizarre twist that began right at the movie premiere. The two met at her husband's funeral in 1990, and became close friends. Hes presently incarcerated in Huntsville Texas, and not eligible for parole until August 3, 2029, the day after his 71st birthday. Two dramatic versions of Marjorie Nugent's murder have now been told. I think he takes it as his fate. Davidson. Sixteen years after he shot Marjorie Nugent dead, Bernie Tiede painted a picture for defense attorney Jodi Cole about how he felt that awful morning. She would eventually become a big part of Bernie Tiede's life, and how his story would be told. "Well Marjorie wasn't a huggy-type person," said Ruth Cockrell, who would come to know as much as anyone in Carthage about the friendship of Bernie and Marjorie. As years passed though, Nugent became more and more possessive, expecting 24-hour obedience, paging Tiede constantly. Tell me about that day and what from your perspective led to the tragedy?" Van Sant asked. Frozen solid, Nugent was transported to the coroners office in Dallas on the back of a pickup hooked up to a generator. Thats when Marjorie met Tiede, who was working at the funeral home which made the arrangements. Dissociative episode. "Put it on her desk. "He could connect that quickly," Van Sant commented. No one had anything bad to say about Bernie. In April 2012, it premiered in Linklater's hometown of Austin. She was just so controlling, she felt like she could own me, and I guess to some degree, she did, Tiede said. "So week after week, month after month passes, Marjorie's nowhere to be seen," said Van Sant. John served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves from 1973 - 1978. According to the Texas Tribune,. Then, learn about Dean Corll, the killer who terrorized Texas in the early 1970s. The two would grow close, taking trips around the world, and. I'd seen that.". A dissociative episode -- the new-age term would break the case against Bernie Tiede wide open. I don't want you to talk about the shooting," said Cole. [17] During his imprisonment, he was described by a prison official as a model prisoner.[18] He taught health classes and participated in the prison's choir. 9 of 12 10 of 12 ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 28--FILE--This is a 1996 file photo provided by the Panola County Sheriff's Department of Marjorie Nugent, right, and her former escort Bernie Tiede. This might be where a normal true crime story would end, but not this one. Bernie Tiede wasn't about to be turned away. He also points to accounts that Bernie's behavior in town after the murder didn't change, and that Bernie declined to call Marge's disposition toward him as "mean" at trial. I think as a society, we should protect the weak.. "That morning I felt like I wasn't a part of the shooting," Tiede said. And she said, 'Well, he's my friend,'" she continued. In May 2014, Davidson and a visiting Judge Diane DeVasto of Tyler allowed Tiede to be released from prison that month on $10,000 bail, after his attorney, Jodi Cole, had learned that Tiede had been sexually abused as a child for multiple years by an uncle. "Did you encourage her to do that? The body of Ms Nugent, who disappeared in 1996, was found in a freezer at her Carthage home, wrapped in a sheet and surrounded by packs of frozen corn and pecans. "We got pretty close," Ruth Cockrell replied. "Rod" Nugent, who had made his fortune in oil and banking. "I felt like I wasn't even there. If anyone asked, Tiede told them theyd just missed Nugent, or that she was taking a nap. "Which is the top max sentence. "The first bullet in her back makes her paralyzed, so she falls straight down onto the concrete. ", "Hollywood means, you know, lack of morality," Linklater told Van Sant. She says more than $3 million disappeared and Marjorie cut off communication with her family. He was very popular in the town. Tiede had met Nugent in 1990 at the funeral of her husband R.L. Van Sant asked Davidson. " On the show, CBS's 48 Hours viewers will learn how the relationship developed between Bernie Tiede and Marjorie Nugent, and how that . "In some ways did you feel trapped in this relationship, just as you had been trapped with your uncle?" I felt very much loved," said Tiede. "You know, all you can do is pray," Alexandria Nugent replied. Bernie Tiede, who was first convicted for the 1996 murder in 1999, was later granted an appeal based on the theory that he was in a dissociative state at the time of the killing due to abuse hed suffered earlier in life. My grandmother was a child of The Depression so you didn't waste food," Alexandria Nugent explained. "How could you come to my house, eat my food, and sing hymns, and my cousin over there in the deep freeze?" Nugent hopes beyond anything else that her familys story puts a spotlight on crimes against the elderly. pictured above left, with Jack Black) while awaiting a new trial. "He was very successful here at Hawthorn's and as a funeral director overall," said Shamburger. "And I ended up attending the trial and started thinkin' maybe there's a movie here," he told Van Sant. So when a grieving, vulnerable widow came to the Hawthorn Funeral Home, Tiede saw an opportunity to do what he did best. And another thing, newly widowed 74-year-old Marjorie Nugent was loaded with cash - as much as $6 million. And Tiede's uncle, under oath, denied ever having molested Bernie. Some folks even suggested Tiede was next door to the angels. The case became famous thanks to a 2011 movie, Bernie, directed by Richard Linklater.

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