For Celeste Beard, a woman who had been through 3 marriages and had two daughters, Steven Beard was the man who had everything she was looking for: stability, wealth, and being doted on. But when Steven was shot by a stranger right in their home, the secrets of this seemingly fairytale marriage began to unfold.
The Fairytale Marriage
Born on February 13, 1963, Celeste Beard had a difficult childhood. Celeste only met her biological mother once while frequently suffering abuse from her father, which led her to once contemplate suicide.
Growing up, Celeste also had no luck in love and went through a string of failed marriages. In her first marriage, she had twins and gave birth to two daughters – Jennifer and Kristina – before the age of 18.
In 1995, the 33-year-old woman who had been through 3 marriages was working as a waitress in Austin, Texas, USA. It was here that luck seemed to finally smile on her when she met self-made millionaire Steven Beard.
Steven was a 68-year-old “television mogul” with an estimated net worth of around $10 million. At this time, Steven had just gone through a grieving period after the death of his wife of 45 years.
Despite a 35-year age gap, the two quickly developed a romantic relationship and Celeste moved in with her millionaire boyfriend. Steven also agreed to adopt Celeste’s two daughters.
They married in February 1995. Steven’s family opposed the marriage and believed Celeste only married him for his money. Nevertheless, they began a lavish lifestyle together.
The Shocking Gunshot
Celeste now had it all. Steven doted on his new young wife deeply. He spoiled and lavished her with everything money could buy. They had two homes, one a mansion in Austin’s wealthiest neighborhood. The lives of her two daughters were also secure.
But in the early morning of October 2, 1999, Celeste’s fairytale life came crashing down when Steven was shot in the stomach while sleeping in their bed at home.
At that time, the 911 dispatcher received a frantic call from Steven himself. Though shot in the abdomen, the millionaire still had enough strength to call for help himself and beg for assistance.
When police arrived around 3 am, the home was completely dark. They rang the doorbell and banged on doors but received no response. The 911 operator also repeatedly called back Steven’s phone line. Police eventually spotted Steven through a window and immediately broke the glass door to gain entry.
As more officers arrived at the millionaire’s home, Celeste and her daughter Kristina finally emerged from a room in the mansion. “What are you all doing in my home? What’s going on?” Celeste asked an officer. Police were surprised that Celeste and her daughter hadn’t heard the door knocking or ringing phones.
When the officer informed her that her husband was bleeding profusely and a helicopter was on the way, Celeste immediately began screaming hysterically “Don’t let him die.” While her mother seemed frantic, the daughter Kristina remained very calm and composed.
Minutes later, a spent shell casing was found near the bed where Steven lay. Police knew this was the scene of a homicide.
The millionaire was rushed to the emergency room. Meanwhile, investigators began searching every room of the house.
The Bizarre Crime Scene
Celeste Beard – Steven’s 35-year-younger wife – claimed she had been sleeping in a separate room that night and had no idea what happened to her husband.
Although Steven’s wallet and some cash were missing, most other valuables remained untouched. Clothes were strewn all over the floor but detectives noticed an odd pattern in how drawers were rummaged through. It appeared to be an intentional act rather than looking for something specific.
At this point, police questioned whether this was a burglary or a staged murder made to look like a burglary.
Despite the grave injury, Steve fortunately survived but had to remain hospitalized for the next four months. Throughout that time, Celeste stayed by her husband’s side. “Steve always smiled whenever Celeste was there,” a close friend of the couple revealed.
The millionaire’s health seemed to recover well and he was discharged to continue recuperating at home under Celeste’s care. But just a few weeks after returning home, Steve passed away on January 22, 2000, from a blood clot believed to be a complication from the gunshot wound. Now the masked gunman who shot Steve also faced murder charges.
The Shocking Discovery
Celeste appeared very distraught over her husband’s death. The woman claimed Steve had done everything for her. “I loved him with all my heart,” Celeste stated.
However, as police dug deeper into the couple’s life, they uncovered previously unmentioned details.
Celeste and Steve’s marriage had once hit a rough patch when a bank employee alerted Steve that his wife had stolen cash and expensive jewelry from his safe deposit box. Those items had belonged to Steve’s first wife of 45 years who passed from cancer before he met Celeste.
Feeling betrayed, Steve filed for divorce. But the two eventually reconciled and Steve let it go. More issues soon arose though.
This was around the time Celeste had to check into a mental health facility, battling depression. There she met a fellow patient named Tracey Tarlton. The two women grew very close.
Right before Steve’s death, investigators had already narrowed down suspects potentially involved in the shooting. After learning from one of Celeste’s twin daughters that Tracey was her mother’s close friend, they paid this woman a visit and discovered she owned a handgun.
Further examination revealed this weapon matched the spent shell casing found at the scene of Steven’s shooting. Police knew they had found the shooter and arrested Tracey.
The Deceitful Love
The case took a different turn after Steven passed away, upgrading the charges against Tracey to murder. Initially, this woman refused to discuss Celeste’s role in the attack.
Meanwhile, Celeste frequently attended parties. In fact, just 6 months after Steven’s death, she remarried a fifth husband named Cole Johnson, raising even more suspicions. And this is when Tracey decided to reveal everything to the police.
According to Tracey, Celeste never loved her husband, often using unflattering terms when referring to him. Celeste hated Steven not just for his appearance but for how he treated her. Celeste said she was constantly “emotionally abused” by her husband – belittled, disrespected, and berated to the point of making her feel suicidally depressed.
So why didn’t Celeste just divorce him? Tracey said Celeste expressed deep fear, that Steven would hunt her down and she could never escape him. Celeste felt like a prisoner in her own home. So to get away from her husband, this woman devised her own way out.
Tracey revealed Celeste would take leftover vodka bottles of Steven’s and refill them with high-proof alcohol or crush sleeping pills into his food. Tracey said this was a slow poisoning of Steven.
The Manipulated Crime
Just days before the couple was set to embark on their extended European vacation, Tracey said Celeste couldn’t take it anymore. She came to Tracey in an almost manic state saying she wouldn’t survive this trip.
Tracey claimed Celeste made her fully believe the abuse from Steven would drive Celeste to suicide. “I wanted to help her,” Tracey stated. Two days later, Tracey drove to Steven’s mansion with a gun in hand.
But why would Tracey be willing to kill for a friend? Tracey said she and Celeste were more than just friends – they had an intimate lesbian relationship.
Then Tracey was shocked to learn Celeste had remarried a man named Cole Johnson whom she met at a bar. Tracey began to believe Celeste’s whole story was a lie. She wasn’t being abused by her husband at all, only married Steven for money, and faked feelings for Tracey. Tracey suspected she had been set up to commit murder. “From the beginning, she manipulated me,” Tracey said.
In March 2002, just days before the murder trial began, Tracey struck a deal with prosecutors. In exchange for a lighter sentence, Tracey would testify that it was Celeste who masterminded killing her husband. Two years after the millionaire’s death, his wife was arrested for his murder.
Prosecutors alleged Celeste had lured Tracey into shooting Steven so she could inherit his massive estate. However, this woman always maintained her innocence.
But Celeste’s fate was sealed when prosecutors played a recorded conversation where she admitted paying to have Tracey killed.
Tracey received a 10-year prison sentence followed by 12 years probation. She was released in 2011 and returned to live in San Antonio, haunted by her past actions. “There’s not a day I wake up and don’t feel ashamed for what I did,” Tracey stated.
Meanwhile, Celeste was sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2042.
