Former police officer Amber Guyger granted parole 7 years after conviction for murder of Botham Jean

Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger has been granted parole seven years after her conviction for murdering Botham Jean, according to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Guyger, now 38, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in October 2019 for the Sept. 6, 2018 shooting.

The board confirmed its decision on Oct. 1, 2026, marking her second attempt at parole. Her first request, filed in 2024, was denied after strong opposition from Jean’s family and local officials. Guyger also appealed her conviction in 2022 which was upheld.

Board Cites Conduct and Program Completion For Amber Guyger’s Parole

The parole board said Guyger’s record showed no documented pattern of violent or assaultive arrests or convictions. It also noted her satisfactory institutional adjustment and her completion of programs designed to help her secure stable employment after release. These factors contributed to the board’s approval.

Officials have not announced an official release date. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice will determine when Guyger leaves prison.

Botham Jean’s Family Expresses Disappointment

Jean’s family said in a statement they were still processing the decision. They requested privacy as they continue to grieve and thanked supporters who have honored Jean’s memory.

“To the many well-wishers who continue to say Botham’s name, honor his life, and carry his memory forward, the family extends their heartfelt gratitude for your continued love and support.”

Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the family, condemned the ruling as “deeply disappointing” and argued that the 10‑year sentence was already minimal compared with the life lost.

“Botham’s family and the community strongly opposed this parole. They stood up again and again to ask that the full sentence be served. A 10-year sentence was already a fraction of what was lost. Releasing Ms. Guyger after seven years makes that loss feel even smaller in the eyes of the system. It is not,” Merritt said in a statement.

Case Continues to Shape Public Debate

Jean, a 26‑year‑old accountant from St. Lucia, was eating ice cream in his apartment when Guyger entered and shot him. Guyger testified she mistakenly entered his unit after parking on the wrong floor and believed Jean was an intruder. A jury rejected her defense and convicted her of murder.

Jean’s killing drew national attention and intensified conversations about police accountability. Appellate judges upheld Guyger’s conviction in 2022, and a civil jury later ordered her to pay Jean’s family $98.6 million in damages.

Guyger will serve the remainder of her sentence under supervision once released. The case remains a defining moment in Dallas and continues to influence discussions about justice and reform.