Inset: William Oddo III (Denton Police Department). Background: The vicinity of the 5200 block of Par Drive in Denton, Texas, where authorities claim William Oddo III resided with the deceased body of his fiancee for several weeks post-shooting (Google Maps).
A man from Texas admitted to authorities that he shot his fiancee in the head using a shotgun and then cohabited with her decaying body for more than a week. During this time, he reportedly stayed with the corpse “for approximately three days” before being driven away by the odor, as reported by police.
“His intention was to remain close to [the victim],” state the police in Denton as mentioned in William Oddo III’s arrest document, from a report by local Fox affiliate KDFW. Oddo allegedly disclosed this motive to detectives when prompted about why he tidied up the crime scene after shooting LaVera Wardell, 39, the previous month, according to the Denton Police Department.
Oddo, 52, claims Wardell ran at him with a knife while the two were arguing and he gunned her down in self-defense, according to the affidavit. He allegedly told detectives he chose not to call police because he “did not want to talk about the incident with anyone.”
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Authorities were dispatched to an apartment in the 5200 block of Par Drive on May 19 to conduct a welfare check after a caller reported a “very foul smell” coming from the residence, the affidavit says. Witnesses reported seeing Oddo speaking with Wardell on May 6 before she disappeared.
A search warrant was later obtained and Wardell’s body was discovered by police upon entering the apartment, but Oddo was gone. Wardell appeared to have suffered a traumatic injury to her head, with cops saying Oddo shot her once with the shotgun.
Investigators found evidence at the scene that shows someone used cleaning supplies to try and scrub away blood from the floor and walls. Items were also discovered that were allegedly used to mask the smell, according to KDFW.
“Detectives learned that Wardell lived at the residence with her fiancé, 52-year-old William Joseph Oddo III,” Denton Police said in a press release. “During the investigation, detectives discovered evidence of Oddo purchasing and using cleaning supplies to tamper with the crime scene.”
Authorities located and arrested Oddo on June 2 at a motel in Mount Pleasant on a felony warrant for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. He was later charged with murder and tampering with evidence.
Asked why he left the apartment, Oddo allegedly told detectives it was because of the smell. Cops believe Oddo killed Wardell on May 6 and stayed with her body until May 14, when witnesses reported seeing that his car was gone.
“It’s honestly heartbreaking,” a neighbor told KDFW. “I don’t know how it was right above the office. It’s the penthouse above the office and right next to the gym.”
Oddo was booked into the Denton County Jail last week and his bond was set at $160,000.
