MESA, AZ – A detective with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, John C. Byrd III, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife. The investigation was triggered when a concerned friend contacted the Mesa police after the victim missed a routine gym class and failed to respond to calls. Adding to the alarm was Byrd’s sudden absence from their home around noon and the locked door to the victim’s bedroom.
After picking up the couple’s three children, the worried friend alerted the police, who responded to the scene and discovered the victim’s body on the floor of the master bedroom.
Byrd was eventually located driving his wife’s car in the vicinity of Power and Warner roads and was subsequently detained. In a follow-up interview at the Mesa police headquarters, Byrd admitted to being under stress due to his work and home life.
According to the court documents, Byrd confessed to strangling his wife during a heated argument that morning. Then, he said, he left the room, locking the door behind him to prevent the children from witnessing the scene.
At the time of the incident, Byrd was on medical leave from his position. Criminal defense attorney Russ Richelsoph, uninvolved with the case, noted that Byrd’s admittance can have significant implications in the case moving forward.
While Byrd’s guilt seems apparent, the primary focus of the case now might lie in exploring the motivations and possible mitigating factors that led to the act. This case, given the professional background of Byrd, is expected to attract high-profile attention.
Byrd’s bond has been set at $750,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, August 7.