Texas authorities have reopened their investigation into the murder of Joel Osteen’s elderly great-aunt, who was discovered bludgeoned to death inside her home nearly two decades ago.
Johnnie Daniel, 84, was found beaten to death in her home in August 2006, with her face smashed and a copy of the New Testament and a pencil on her chest, according to Chron.
A hammer wrapped in a bloody towel was discovered beside Daniel, the aunt of Osteen’s 91-year-old mother, Dodie Osteen.
Her great-nephew, Osteen, is the leader of Lakewood Church and one of the country’s best-known televangelists.
Authorities charged Edric Wilson, a 29-year-old Houston man, with Daniel’s murder. Wilson was already in custody on another aggravated assault charge when DNA evidence linked him to Daniel’s death.
According to ABC 13, Wilson was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and served 18 years in prison.
The murder charge was dropped in August 2024 after authorities discovered “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,” according to the Houston Chronicle.
Wilson, then 47, pleaded guilty to an unrelated aggravated assault charge and was released on parole in March 2025.
Investigators have reopened the case now that their primary suspect is no longer in custody.
“The Johnnie Daniel case from 2006 is still open and very active. “It is currently assigned to our Homicide Unit,” said Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland of the Sheriff’s Office.
“When or if HCSO discovers new evidence, prosecutors will assess the case and determine whether or not anyone should face charges,” said Courtney Fischer, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s chief of communications.