Ex-Officer Amber Guyger Denied Parole in Sleeping Man Murder but Could Still be Paroled

Photo of Botham Jean, Left, and Ex-Officer Amber Guyger sourced from the Atlanta Tribune.

The family of college graduate and accountant Botham Jean had been afraid that his killer would be set free on parole on his birthday, but ex-officer Amber Guyger was denied parole and will continue to serve out her 10-year sentence until she is eligible for parole again in October of 2026. She was also ordered to pay Jean’s family $100,000 million after losing a civil trial in November of 2024. After taking a man’s life in the manner in which she did, Amber Guyger does not deserve parole and should be civilly liable, as she is.

Why She Doesn’t Deserve Parole

On September 06, 2018, then-officer Amber Guyger, who was off-duty at the time, walked into the Dallas apartment of 26-year-old Botham Jean and shot him to death on his living room sofa. Her defense had been that she’d mistaken Jean’s apartment for her own. On the witness stand, she cried and reflected on how she gave Jean orders that Jean did not comply with. It seemed lost to her still that she’d murdered a man in his home.

Although some might argue Guyger made an innocent mistake, she made a terrible decision that cost a man his life. Imagine resting on your sofa after a long, hard day’s work only for an armed woman to barge into your home barking orders and shooting.

Because Jean was unarmed in his own home and posed no danger, Guyger’s use of force was excessive and unjustifiable.

Guyger had the opportunity to step back outside of the apartment and call 911. Even if she had thought someone had illegally entered her home, she never reported seeing a weapon or having been threatened in any way. On the contrary, she shot a man who was resting in a vulnerable position. Because Jean was unarmed in his own home and posed no danger, Guyger’s use of force was excessive and unjustifiable. The jury agreed. For this heinous action, Amber Guyger doesn’t deserve to be set free a second sooner than the end of her complete sentence.

The Takeaway

Ex-officer Amber Guyger was denied parole, and she should have been for taking the life of an innocent Jean Botham, a hard-working, talented accountant. Her petition for parole was unsuccessful, but she has another shot in 2026. It is important to remember what she did and how many steps it took her to get there. Botham Jean’s family lost a powerful, determined man who was simply living his best life. Nobody deserves that.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block, who also works an Adjunct College Professor. Join the email list to get notifications on new articles and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human. Subscribe and share.