Joe Harker
A husband who has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife and hiding her body for a month told investigators it was his first crime, and you 'go big or go home'.
In a press conference, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar explained that a relative of 49-year-old man Charles Byrd had called them over a concern that 'he may have done something' to his wife Angela, 44.
The sheriff explained that deputies investigated Charles Byrd's home and 'very quickly smelled the distinct odour of decomposition' and found what they believed to be human remains wrapped up in plastic. Officers recovered what they believe are the remains of Angela Byrd, and said that while a medical examiner hadn't yet confirmed it, they thought there was a 'distinct possibility' it was her.
They are also hoping the medical examiner will be able to tell them whether the woman was a victim of homicide.
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Charles Byrd was found hiding in a house around a mile away from his home and he was arrested by deputies.
Sheriff Salazar claimed that Byrd told officers of a 'physical confrontation' with his wife on 16 June 'which he believes led to her death', alleging that in the following month, he lived with his wife's corpse and tried to mask the smell of decomposition.
"One of the things that left a huge impression on me was when he detailed to the investigator that he had not been arrested before, he had never committed a crime before," the sheriff explained in a press conference.
"Then made, blurted out the comment to our investigator 'go big or go home', and that was pretty shocking to me to hear that he used that to describe what we believe to be at this point evidence of the murder of his wife.
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"He made a very flippant comment to the effect of 'go big or go home' being his first time committing a crime, I just found that very shocking."
Sheriff Salazar said that Byrd had been booked in for tampering with evidence with intent to impair the investigation of a human corpse.
He added that the investigation hadn't yet reached the point where Byrd had been charged with murder, but that they would be waiting for the medical examiner's verdict.
However, the sheriff said that if the medical opinion was that the woman died by homicide, then 'based upon some of the admissions made by Mr Byrd', they'd be seeking to charge the man with murder.
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Salazar claimed that Byrd 'did several different things' to try and cover the smell of a dead body, including the use of 'household substances' as well as covering the corpse in plastic and blankets.
During the press conference, the sheriff claimed that Byrd did not ask for legal representations and was 'very matter of fact' about the details of the case.