Texas Authorities Reopen Joel Osteen Relative's 2006 Murder Case After 18 Years

Authorities in Harris County, Texas, have reopened the investigation into the 2006 murder of Johnnie Daniel, the 84-year-old great-aunt of megachurch pastor Joel Osteen, after DNA evidence initially used to charge Edric Wilson was re-evaluated and found to be less conclusive than originally believed. Daniel was found brutally beaten in her home with a claw hammer nearby, and Wilson was initially charged with capital murder based on DNA matching evidence collected under Daniel’s fingernails. Wilson spent 18 years in jail and mental health facilities without trial before prosecutors dismissed the murder charge in 2024 and released him on parole in 2025, after new DNA testing significantly weakened the case against him. The Harris County Sheriff's Office emphasized that the case remains open and active, with investigators committed to pursuing new leads and evidence to secure justice for Daniel's family. The case's reopening highlights ongoing challenges in forensic evidence interpretation and the pursuit of justice in cold cases. Family members described Daniel as a kind and generous woman, deeply loved and mourned by her relatives and community.