Who is John Byrd? Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Detective Arrested for Strangling his Wife to Death

Detective John C. Byrd III Arrested for Strangling Wife

John C. Byrd III, a detective with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCOA), has been arrested on charges of second-degree murder for allegedly strangling his wife, Elizabeth Byrd. Byrd, 47, reportedly had an argument with his wife that escalated to violence, resulting in her death. He is currently in custody with a bond set at $750,000.

Incident Details

The incident came to light when a friend of Elizabeth Byrd called the police around 5 p.m. on Wednesday after Elizabeth failed to show up for their regular gym class. Mesa Police responded to the couple’s home on East Irwin Avenue, near Baseline and Crismon roads, where they discovered Elizabeth’s body on the floor of the master bedroom.

A search was initiated for John Byrd, who was not at the residence and was not responding to phone calls. He was later found driving his wife’s car and taken into custody.

Confession and Background

In an interview with Mesa Police, Byrd admitted to strangling his wife. He explained that he had been struggling with mental health issues and was under significant stress from both his professional and personal life. During an argument with his wife, he claimed that “a switch just flipped,” leading to the fatal act.

John Byrd worked in the MCAO’s Investigation Division in the Family Violence and Trial West Bureau and previously spent five years as a detective with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.

Elizabeth Byrd was described by neighbors as a kind mother of three young children.

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