Undertaker who inspired film ‘Bernie’ released from prison

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CARTHAGE, Texas (AP) — A former mortician whose killing of a rich widow shook an East Texas town and
later inspired a movie was released on bond Tuesday after the district attorney who prosecuted him
agreed to let him out of a life sentence.
Bernie Tiede was set free after a judge who recommended his prison term be reduced set a $10,000 bond. 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.
Special Judge Diane DeVasto also agreed to let Tiede live with filmmaker Richard Linklater, who co-wrote
and directed 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.”
Nugent’s granddaughter, Dallas-area lawyer Shanna Nugent, said her family “is pretty much in shock” over
the development.
“I really wanted justice for Nanny,” she said, using a pet name for her grandmother. “This doesn’t really
feel like justice.”
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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