A Somerset, Texas man has been charged with murder after authorities say he lived for more than a month with the body of his wife, Angela Byrd, hidden in their home.
Charles Vandoil Byrd, 49, was initially arrested by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday for evidence tampering after deputies found Angela’s decomposed body wrapped in plastic at the couple’s residence. A relative had contacted authorities, concerned after weeks of not seeing Angela and noticing a foul odor coming from the home.
When questioned, Byrd claimed the smell was due to a septic issue. However, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, Byrd later confessed to killing Angela on June 16, claiming the murder stemmed from an argument over alleged infidelity. He admitted to strangling her with one hand while biting her face, drawing blood, and watching her die.
“This was his first arrest,” Salazar said. “He actually used the phrase ‘go big or go home.’ Even for seasoned law enforcement officers, that’s an incredibly disturbing thing to hear about someone murdering their spouse and then living with her body for 32 days.”
Murder charges were delayed until the Bexar County Medical Examiner could confirm Angela Byrd’s identity. Byrd now faces a murder charge, along with two counts of evidence tampering—one for concealing the body and another for allegedly destroying a truck and a cell phone. His total bond has been set at $650,000.
Sheriff Salazar pointed to the case as part of a troubling rise in domestic violence-related killings. In 2024, 10 out of the 19 homicides investigated by the sheriff’s office were tied to domestic violence.
“If you know someone involved in a domestic or dating violence situation, urge them to leave,” Salazar said. “These situations don’t just resolve — they escalate, often fatally. It’s a preventable crime, but only if steps are taken to get out.”
The investigation remains active, and authorities say additional charges may be filed if others are found to have helped Byrd avoid arrest.
