Bonds over $2 million set for murder suspect

A Beaumont man has been arrested for murder after the discovery of a woman’s body in an apartment June 24, according to the Beaumont Police Department (BPD). 

Howard Celestine, 42, was arrested less than an hour after officers responded to the Stone Hearst Apartments, 1650 East Lucas Dr., to assist the Beaumont Fire and EMS with a deceased woman with injuries indicating a homicide at 11:15 a.m. The woman was identified as Lizzie Odom, 61, Celestine’s girlfriend. BPD confirmed Odom suffered multiple stab wounds. 

While BPD detectives and Jefferson County Crime Lab staff began investigating at the scene, at 11:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to a disturbance to the area of Landis Drive and Eveningview Lane. 

“The suspect had rammed a vehicle into a home and the caller advised that the suspect had just killed someone off East Lucas Drive and was attempting to kill her, as well,” BPD Public Information Officer Haley Morrow shared. “Our officers recognized that this may be connected.” 

Morrow said the suspect fled on foot, but officers apprehended him from a backyard in the 600 block of Eveningview Lane. It was, Morrow added, “a pretty volatile situation (but) our officers were able to get him into custody.” 

According to BPD, investigation revealed Celestine stabbed and killed Odom during a disturbance at the Stone Hearst apartment, then took Odom’s car to his ex-girlfriend’s house and attempted to kill her, also. 

After interviewing with BPD detectives, Celestine was booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility for murder and aggravated assault, with endangering a child charges pending related to a child at the second residence, Morrow added. Jail records list Celestine’s bond for murder, a first-degree felony, set at $1.5 million, and $800,000 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony. There's also a $2,500 bond for terroristic threat of family/house, a Class A misdemeanor. According to Morrow, Celestine had a warrant on a terroristic threat charge involving the ex-girlfriend. 

“Family violence is one of the most dangerous situations for, not only the victims but also for officers responding,” said Morrow. “We’re grateful that we got him into custody and perhaps bring a little bit of justice for the victims in this case.”