Bernie Tiede Freed from Prison Early

CARTHAGE (AP) — 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. 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. 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.