Murder of Joel Osteen’s relative is again on the radar of Texas investigators | EUROtoday

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Texas authorities have reopened their investigation into the homicide of televangelist megachurch chief Joel Osteen’s aged great-aunt, who was discovered bludgeoned to dying inside her house practically 20 years in the past.

Johnnie Daniel, 84, was discovered overwhelmed to dying inside her house in August 2006 together with her face smashed and a replica of the New Testament and a pencil on her chest, Chron reported.

A hammer wrapped in a bloody towel was additionally discovered beside Daniel, who was the aunt of Osteen’s 91-year-old mom, Dodie Osteen.

Her great-nephew, Osteen, is thought for being the chief of Lakewood Church and is among the many most well-known televangelists within the nation.

Authorities charged a then-29-year-old Houston man, Edric Wilson, with Daniel’s homicide. At the time DNA proof linked him to Daniel’s killing, Wilson was already in custody on a separate aggravated assault cost.

Authorities have reopened their investigation into the brutal murder of Johnnie Daniel, whose great-nephew, Joel Osteen, runs Lakewood Church, a Houston-area megachurch

Authorities have reopened their investigation into the brutal homicide of Johnnie Daniel, whose great-nephew, Joel Osteen, runs Lakewood Church, a Houston-area megachurch (Getty)

Wilson, who was discovered mentally incompetent to face trial, in keeping with ABC 13, spent 18 years in jail.

The homicide cost was dismissed in August 2024 after authorities concluded “that the key piece of evidence linking him to the woman’s death, a DNA test result, was far weaker than they’d originally believed,” the Houston Chronicle reported on the time.

Wilson, then 47, pleaded responsible to the unrelated aggravated assault cost and was launched on parole in March 2025.

With their prime suspect within the case now free, investigators have reopened the case.

“The Johnnie Daniel case from 2006 remains open and very much active. It is currently assigned to our Homicide Unit,” mentioned Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland with the sheriff’s workplace.

“When or if HCSO discovers new evidence, prosecutors will assess the case and determine whether or not anyone should face charges,” mentioned Courtney Fischer, the chief of communications for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Lakewood Church is without doubt one of the largest megachurches in Texas.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/texas-megachurch-pastor-joel-osteen-aunt-murder-investigation-b2766012.html