Background: News footage shows the San Antonio, Texas home where Angela Byrd’s body was discovered (KSAT). Inset: Charles Vandoil Byrd (Bexar County Sheriff’s Office).
A Texas man reportedly admitted to killing his wife more than a month ago, claiming to local reporters that he had a “mental break.”
On Sunday, Charles Vandoil Byrd, 49, was apprehended following the discovery of his wife, Angela Byrd, 44, in a decomposing state at his residence the previous day. KSAT managed to question Charles Byrd as he was leaving the courthouse on Monday after his initial court appearance. Captured on video, he admitted to having a “mental break” and confessed to killing his wife, expressing remorse by saying, “I’m so sorry. I loved my wife.” Following the hearing, his bond was established at $200,000.
An arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT details that sheriff’s deputies visited the residence after a relative expressed concern, suggesting Charles Byrd “may have done something” to his wife. Despite efforts to locate him over the weekend, authorities were unable to apprehend him until Sunday.
Police reported that when they arrived at the Byrds’ home on Saturday, they detected a strong odor of decomposition on the property. Inside the residence was a decomposed body, wrapped in plastic, carpet, and blankets and secured with ratchet straps. While police believe the body was Angela Byrd, the medical examiner will confirm the body’s identity and cause and manner of death following an autopsy.
Until then, Charles Byrd has been charged with tampering with evidence with intent to impair a human corpse. He was found by the police outside the home with his hands raised, according to the affidavit.
During a press conference, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said that Charles Byrd cooperated with police when he was questioned and reportedly admitted that he and his wife had a physical altercation on June 16 that allegedly “led to her death.”
According to Sheriff Salazar, Charles Byrd lived with the body in his home for weeks and attempted to handle the smell with household products. According to the affidavit, the relative who spoke to police said that Charles Byrd reportedly confessed to killing his wife. The same relative also told police that they had smelled the odor of decomposition at the Byrds’ residence.
KSAT reported that Charles Byrd, who had been employed as a janitor at a school district in San Antonio, Texas, was fired following his arrest. A spokesperson from the school district said that Charles Byrd did not have direct contact with the students while he was still employed.
Charles Byrd is being held at the Bexar County Jail on $200,000 bond. Salazar said that he will likely face “at least a murder charge” once the autopsy results are released.
