Bernie Tiede and the murder of Marjorie Nugent
Morbid23 Nov 2023

Bernie Tiede and the murder of Marjorie Nugent

When 39 year old Bernie Tiede confessed to the murder of his friend and companion, 81 year old Marjorie Nugent in November 1996, the revelation came as a shock to the small town of Carthage, Texas. The two had been inseparable friends since the death of Nugent’s husband in 1990 and as far as anyone in Carthage could tell, Nugent couldn’t have picked a more devoted companion than Tiede. Yet as the details of the crime began to emerge, a strange story began to take shape—Tiede’s supposed motive for the murder was to gain access to Nugent’s fortune, but what he did with that money once he had access defied the logic and expectations of greed.

The story of Bernie Tiede and Marjorie Nugent should have ended with the trial and conviction of Tiede, but a few years later, Bernie’s story became the subject of a big Hollywood film, shining a spotlight on the story and raising new questions about the extent of Bernie’s responsibility for the murder. Tiede remains a rarity in the history of American crime: a sympathetic killer almost no one in town wanted to see convicted.

Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring me the Axe podcast, for research assistance

References

Associated Press. 1997. "Man indicted in death of banker's widow." Austin American-Statesman, August 29: 91.

—. 1999. "Shreveport man testifies about 'inappropriate kiss' he witnessed between murder suspect and victim." Marshall News Messenger, February 3: 6.

—. 1998. "Mistrial declared in confessed widow killer case; trial moved." Odessa American, October 28: 16.

Bernhardt Tiede, II v. The State of Texas. 2002. 12-99-00182-CR (Twelfth District Court of Appeals (Tyler, Texas), November 2).

Cieply, Michael, and David Montgomery. 2014. "Murderer who inspired the film 'Berni' is released to the director's garage." New York Times, May 8.

Grissom, Brandi. 2014. "Over 15 years, a town's stance on a convict shifts." New York Times, February 9.

Halmark, Bob. 2012. Carthage residents react to Bernie movie. March 8. Accessed June 13, 2023. https://www.kltv.com/story/17106798/carthage-residents-react-to-bernie-movie/.

Hollandsworth, Skip. 1998. "Midnight in the Garden of East Texas." Texas Monthly, Janaury.

Jacobs, Janet. 1997. "Slaying, arrest stun town." Longview News-Journal , August 21: 1.

—. 1998. "Deputy testifies about Tiede's arrest, confession." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 7.

—. 1999. "Emotions run high in Tiede trial." Longview News-Journal, February 7: 1.

—. 1999. "Tiede found guilty of murder." Longview News-Journal, February 10: 1.

—. 1998. "Tiede returns to court." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 1.

—. 1999. "Tiede sentenced to life in prison." Longview News-Journal, February 12: 1.

—. 1997. "Homicide shocks Carthage residents." Marshall News Messanger, August 20: 5.

—. 1997. "Tiede's troubles mount as new charge is filed." Marshall News Messanger, August 22: 1.

—. 1997. "Officials freeze Tiede's finances as murder investigation continues ." Marshall News Messenger, August 24: 9.

Jennings, Diane. 2012. "Austin attorney takes interest in Bernie Tiede's murder case." Dallas Morning News, August 7.

Longview News-Journal. 1998. "Confession gives details into slaying." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 1.

Marshall News Messenger. 1999. "Carthage man's trial set to begin in San Augustine." Marshall News Messenger, February 1: 1999.

—. 1999. "Tiede sobs as photos shown in court." Marshall News Messenger, February 4: 3.

—. 1999. "Videotape upsets Tiede jury." Marshall News Messenger, February 5: 2.

Rhodes, Joe. 2012. "A wacky Lonestar murder mystery." New York Times, April 15: SM40.

Texas Tribune. 2016. "Bernie Tiede painted as victim, calculating killer." Texas Tribune, April 6.

—. 2016. "Jury sentences Bernie Tiede to 99 years or life." Texas Tribune, April 22.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episoder(821)

Listener Tales 11

Listener Tales 11

It's a really fun Listener Tales tonight, guys! Join us as we fight off a half goat/half man demon, summon the Jeepers Creepers demon, time travel in Australia, say goodbye to that bitch in a bonnet, ...

23 Mar 202056min

The West Memphis 3 Part 4

The West Memphis 3 Part 4

It's finally here....the conclusion of our month-long coverage of the West Memphis 3. In this last episode, we talk about Damien, Jason and Jessie's lives in prison, the movement to free them, John Ma...

23 Mar 20201h 36min

The West Memphis Three part 3

The West Memphis Three part 3

We are in the home stretch with one of the most frustrating and horrifying cases we can remember. In this part of our 4 part series, we cover the trials of Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin and Dami...

16 Mar 20201h 38min

Spooky Roads Volume 3

Spooky Roads Volume 3

It's another installment of Spooky/Fucked up Roads! Tonight we talk about a neglectful mother from beyond, a Bunnyman, an exotic light that will have you feeling insecure and a road raging ghost who i...

15 Mar 202047min

The Blackburn Cult Mini Morbid

The Blackburn Cult Mini Morbid

Tonight's episode is a dive into a cult started by a saucy mother/daughter duo who were sometimes sisters! Come on in for a rapture that never comes, some DIY mummies and some seriously sketchy charac...

9 Mar 202042min

West Memphis 3 Part 2

West Memphis 3 Part 2

BREVITY IS NOT MY STRONG SUIT. So here we are in Part 2 of our deep dive into the twisted tale of the West Memphis 3. In this episode we take a look into Damien, Jason and Jessie's lives as well as t...

8 Mar 20201h 33min

Listener Tales 10

Listener Tales 10

It's another installment of Listener Tales! These are some of our favorite episodes and you guys really didn't diappoint this time around. Tonight we talk about possible killer clowns, a creepy stepmo...

2 Mar 202056min

The West Memphis Three Part 1

The West Memphis Three Part 1

This is going to be a doozy of a series, weirdos. Tonight, we start our deep coverage of the West Memphis Three case. Part 1 will cover the tragic murders of 8 year olds Christopher Byers. Michael Moo...

2 Mar 202059min

Populært innen Humor

rss-spartsklubben
papaya
enkel-servering
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
harm-og-hegseth
tusvik-tnne
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
tore-og-haralds-podkast
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
misjonen-med-antonsen-og-golden
rss-snorre-med-gaute
wolfgang-wee-uncut
hanna-de-heldige
jan-thomas-og-einar-blir-venner
verdens-verste
rss-det-alle-snakker-om-med-siri-og-kim
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen