Ex-MCAO Detective Sentenced 19 Years for Wife’s Murder in Mesa

John C. Byrd III, a former detective with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the second-degree murder of his wife, Elizabeth, in Mesa in 2024. Byrd pleaded guilty and apologized in court, acknowledging responsibility and expressing remorse for his actions, which involved strangling his wife during a heated argument. The victim's family rejected any mitigating consideration of Byrd's law enforcement career and emphasized the need for public protection. Byrd's defense cited mental health struggles and emotional turmoil, including a psychotic break and depression, as factors preceding the killing. After the murder, Byrd left the house, leaving their children behind with the victim's body, leading to a welfare check by police. Byrd was arrested the same day, and during questioning, he described a moment when "a switch just flipped" in him, leading to the fatal act.