Bernie Tiede’s Trial to be Moved

CARTHAGE (AP) – An East Texas judge has determined a trial must be moved for the man whose 1999 murder conviction inspired the dark comedy “Bernie.” The Dallas Morning News reports the court Tuesday ordered the January trial of Bernie Tiede be moved from Panola County to nearby Rusk County because of Tiede’s notoriety around his hometown of Carthage. He’s facing a new sentencing phase for the murder conviction and prosecution on theft charges. He was convicted of killing wealthy widow Marjorie Nugent, whose body was found in 1997 in her freezer. Relatives say Tiede spent $618,000 of Nugent’s money. He was released last year after the original prosecutor agreed Tiede was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment. A new prosecutor wants him returned to prison.