An Arizona detective who has handled domestic violence cases is now accused of strangling his wife to death after “a switch just flipped” in him.
John Byrd, 47, was arrested on Wednesday for a second-degree murder charge after he told officials he strangled his wife to death, according to a probable cause document obtained by Newsweek.
Byrd worked for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, who told Newsweek they are “in the process of ending Byrd’s employment.”
Byrd told the Mesa Police Department he’s been dealing with “some mental issues lately and has been very stressed about his home and work life.”
Byrd said he and his wife were engaged in an argument when “‘a switch just flipped” in him, causing him to place his hands around her neck.
After he reportedly strangled her, he allegedly locked the door of the bedroom so their children could not see the body.
Officials found his wife dead after a friend reported her missing when she did not show up to a gym class they attend together. The friend also texted the couple’s 11-year-old son, who said he and his siblings had not seen their mother all day and the bedroom door was locked.
The friend took the children to her home after learning that Byrd had not been home since noon.
When police arrived at the residence, the attorney’s office was there to pick up Byrd’s work vehicle. Byrd was on medical leave from work.
Officials found the woman on the floor of the bedroom. They said the victim had no major visible injuries. Byrd was not at the residence and did not answer his phone when police called.
Detectives later detained Byrd after they found him driving a vehicle registered to the victim.
He is being held on $750,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case because Byrd was a Maricopa County Attorney’s Office employee.
“We have received a submittal from law enforcement in this matter and we will review it and make an appropriate charging determination,” Public Information Officer Mike Pelton told Newsweek. “Until that occurs, we don’t have anything further to add at this time.”
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said they “extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Byrd’s children and extended family.”
Who is John Byrd?
Byrd worked for the attorney office’s Investigations Division in the Family Violence and Trial West Bureau, according to the agency’s website.
He had worked for the office for over seven years.
“The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office sounded like the perfect job for my skill set. Due to my familial upbringing, I was raised to possess an authentic love for people. I learned the key to prosecutorial success is to love the community I serve,” Byrd said in an employee highlight.
Prior to that, he worked as a detective with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections for five years. He also worked as a Criminal Investigator with the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.
He said he enjoyed working in domestic violence prevention and awareness.
“Working in the family violence bureau allows me to do my part in bringing justice, healing, and self-empowerment to those who have suffered in silence under the domination of coercive control,” Byrd said.
He also engaged with the community, including participating in and fundraising for the Arizona Special Olympics and giving back to elementary and high school students. He developed a mentorship program at Solano Elementary School.
“During the program, several young people approached me and expressed the trauma they were experiencing because of absentee fathers,” Byrd said. “This was especially difficult to hear because I bared the same scars. However, being able to educate them about what trauma is and where it is located (in the body/brain), we were able to introduce and apply solutions that induced trauma integration.”
The attorney’s office said they were “thankful” for everything Byrd does for the office and the community.
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