Ex-MCAO Detective John Byrd Pleads Guilty to Wife's Murder

John Byrd, a former detective with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his wife, Elizabeth Byrd, which occurred on July 31, 2024. Byrd admitted to strangling Elizabeth following a heated argument at their home in Mesa, Arizona. After the incident, he locked the bedroom door to prevent their children from discovering the scene. Byrd was arrested after being located driving his wife's car and has been charged with second-degree murder. He is facing a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 25 years, with sentencing scheduled for June 13. At the time of the murder, Byrd was on medical leave from the MCAO, where he specialized in domestic violence cases.