Amber Guyger Eligible for Parole Five Years After Killing Botham Jean

Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer convicted of murdering 26-year-old Botham Jean in his own apartment in 2018, is now eligible for parole, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The eligibility falls on what would have been Jean’s 33rd birthday.

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Jean was shot and killed on Sept. 6, 2018, when Guyger mistakenly entered his apartment, believing it was her own. The case sparked national outrage and calls for justice. Guyger was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

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Guyger’s repeated appeals were denied by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2022. If she serves her full sentence, her projected release date would be Sept. 29, 2029.

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During the trial, Guyger testified that after a 13-hour shift, she parked on the wrong floor of her apartment complex and entered Jean’s unit, mistaking it for her own. Despite visual cues, including Jean’s red doormat and an open-air garage on the floor where she parked, Guyger claimed she was disoriented and failed to recognize the signs.

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The defense argued that Guyger believed she was acting in self-defense, thinking Jean was an intruder in her home. However, the prosecution highlighted missed indicators and inconsistencies in her story, leading the jury to find her guilty of murder.

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Guyger’s case remains a focal point in discussions about police accountability and the use of deadly force. As she becomes eligible for parole, the case continues to resonate, five years after Botham Jean’s tragic death.

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