Ex-Dallas Cop Amber Guyger Released on Parole for Murder of Neighbor Botham Jean
Guyger served seven years of a 10-year sentence for the 2018 killing, which occurred when she entered Jean's apartment believing it was hers.
Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger has been released on parole after serving seven years of her 10-year sentence for the murder of her neighbor, Botham Jean. Guyger, 38, walked out of the Christina Melton Crain Unit in Gatesville on Friday, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She will complete the remainder of her sentence in the community.
A jury found Guyger guilty in October 2019 of murdering Jean, a 26-year-old unarmed Black man, after she mistakenly entered his apartment on Sept. 6, 2018, believing it was her own. Jean was reportedly watching television at the time.
Guyger, who was off-duty but in uniform, testified that she believed Jean was a burglar and feared for her life. She had parked on the wrong floor of her apartment complex after a 15-hour shift. Her key did not work, but the door opened, and upon seeing Jean, she drew her weapon and fired.
Jean's family expressed frustration with Guyger's early release, although their primary grievance was with the initial 10-year sentence. "We were opposed to her early release because we wanted her to at least do a maximum amount of time, the full 100%," said Lee Merritt, an attorney for the family, to NBC News. "But we realized that that was not always something that we were not guaranteed so it’s frustrating. But for the family, the frustration came at the point where she was sentenced to [just] 10 years, not just the release today."
One of Guyger's trial attorneys, Robert L. Rogers, stated last month that she had been remorseful during her incarceration and had plans for housing and employment upon her release. "She’s been remorseful. She’s stayed remorseful. She’s still remorseful," Rogers told WFAA-TV.
The Texas parole board approved Guyger's release on Oct. 1, despite a previous parole denial in September 2024. The Dallas Police Department acknowledged the decision might evoke strong emotions, stating, "Our thoughts remain with the Jean family and all those impacted by his loss."
The Jean family released a statement through their attorney at the time of the parole approval, noting, "Releasing Ms. Guyger after seven years makes that loss feel even smaller in the eyes of the system. It is not smaller."
Guyger had been a four-year member of the Dallas PD when the shooting occurred. The jury found her guilty of murder after less than a day of deliberations.