Latest news with #BexarCounty
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man accused of murdering wife and hiding body for weeks said he wanted to 'go big' with first crime
A Texas man who allegedly slaughtered his wife and kept her decaying corpse in their home for weeks said he wanted to 'go big' with his first crime, police claim. Charles Byrd, 49, was arrested on Sunday after a concerned relative told police he 'may have done something' to his wife, Angela Byrd, 44, that ultimately killed her, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. Deputies then swarmed his home and were immediately greeted by the foul odor of rotting flesh. They soon came across what they believe to be Angela's dead body wrapped in plastic. While her family has been notified, Salazar said investigators are still waiting for the medical examiners to confirm the remains are Angela's. After a day-long manhunt, the alleged killer was apprehended about a mile from his house. '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,' Salazar began. 'Then blurted out the comment to our investigator, "go big or go home" and that was pretty shocking to me.' Footage shared by the sheriff's office showed Charles being escorted toward a cop car by police as his hands and ankles were cuffed. Meanwhile, a KSAT reporter questioned Charles about the horrifying situation. In response to her questioning, he mumbled: 'I'm so sorry. I loved my wife.' He also claimed he was having a 'mental break' and apologized to his children. Charles was officially charged with tampering with evidence with intent to impair a human corpse. At least one additional murder charge is pending, but investigators must wait for the medical examiner to rule Angela's death a homicide. Salazar also said 'several other arrests' were made in relation to Angela's case, but he did not name any of the other suspects or how they were allegedly involved. Investigators' had a chilling interaction with Charles, during which he explained 'a physical attack' on his wife that occurred around June 16. No further information about the nature of this altercation was revealed. 'He then over the last 30 days, 32 days if my math is correct, spent that entire time living in this residence with the corpse of Mrs. Byrd, at times taking certain steps to mask the odor,' he claimed. Charles also had allegedly lied to several family members about the source of the gut-wrenching scent. The sheriff also described Charles' demeanor as 'matter of fact' as he outlined the violent encounter between him and his wife. Charles remains at the Bexar County Jail. As of Sunday, when Salazar held a press conference, the suspect does not have a lawyer. He is also awaiting a mental health evaluation.
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
'Go big or go home': Disturbing confession from husband who allegedly murdered wife and concealed her body
A Texas man allegedly admitted to killing his wife and concealing her decomposing body in their home for a month, reportedly telling investigators he wanted to "go big or go home" with his first offense. Charles Byrd, 49, was apprehended on Sunday following a day-long search initiated after a family member contacted authorities, claiming Byrd had confessed to murdering his wife, Angela Byrd. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar shared the details during a press conference. Deputies found Angela Byrd, 44, deceased and wrapped in plastic inside the couple's home, where Byrd allegedly lived for weeks as the body decomposed, according to the sheriff. Salazar said a particularly disturbing comment from Byrd left a "huge impression" on the investigator. "He told the investigator he had never been in trouble with the law before and then blurted out the comment to our investigator, 'You know, go big or go home'," Salazar recalled. "It was a pretty disturbing remark." "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. I just found that very, very shocking." Byrd reportedly repeated his confession to a local reporter after being found at a vacant house about a mile away from the scene. "I'm so sorry. I loved my wife," he told KSAT, attributing his actions to a "mental break." Authorities said Byrd cooperated with the investigation and provided details about the violent incident that occurred on June 16. He also allegedly acknowledged that he expected the body would eventually be discovered. Byrd is currently facing charges for tampering with evidence involving a human corpse. Additional murder charges are pending as officials await the determination of Angela's official cause of death. "Once we get the ruling of the medical examiner, if indeed they are able to confirm that those remains are of Angela Byrd and if they are to confirm that she was indeed the victim of a homicide, then at that point, based upon some of the admissions that were made by Mr. Byrd, we will be seeking at least a murder charge on him," Salazar said. Byrd remains in custody at the Bexar County Jail and is undergoing a mental health evaluation. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas man charged over threatening Trump before he visited flood-ravaged zone: ‘I won't miss'
A Texas man has been charged after authorities claim he threatened President Donald Trump ahead of his arrival in the state, touring the flood-ravaged area, where more than a hundred people were killed. Robert Herrera, 52, is accused of posting a comment to Facebook, in response to a news story post regarding the president's upcoming visit, saying, "I won't miss," with a photo of Trump surrounded by agents after his assassination attempt last year in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors said a separate Facebook user replied to Herrera's handle, 'Robert Herrer,' writing, 'you won't get the chance, I promise,' to which 'Robert Herrer' responded, 'I'll just come for you.' 'Robert Herrer' then included a photo of an assault rifle and loaded magazines in that response, authorities claim. The San Antonio man was arrested Thursday night and is facing a federal charge of making threats against the president and interstate threatening communications. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for each charge. Herrera was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, according to jail records obtained by KSAT. It's not yet clear if Herrera has engaged legal representation. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas said in a statement Friday, 'This case is an example of great cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners committed to taking down anyone who would threaten the life of the president or anyone else.' He added, 'To be clear, these types of threats will not be taken lightly, and we will always take a swift, aggressive approach, as was done here.' It's been almost a year since the first assassination attempt against Trump. On July 13, 2024, Trump, who was the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination at the time, was at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a 20-year-old gunman fired at him. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, prompting Secret Service agents to shield him with their own bodies. As Trump was being swept away to safety, he raised his fist in the air and mouthed, 'Fight, fight, fight.' This week, the Secret Service said it suspended six staffers without pay or benefits following the attempt on Trump's life, which the deputy director admitted was an 'operational failure.' Herrera was arrested the same day Ryan Routh, who was charged over a second attempted assassination against Trump in September 2024, told a federal judge he wants to represent himself at trial. Prosecutors say Routh, 59, was in the brush with a rifle as Trump played golf at his Florida club on September 15, 2024. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Authorities say Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing him to flee. The suspect did not fire a single shot. Routh told District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday he wanted to fire his court-appointed defense team and represent himself at trial. The Herrera case is being treated 'as our highest priority' the Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Gibson for the San Antonio Field Office said. 'This is one of the countless reasons the Secret Service prides ourselves on forging and maintaining relationships with other law enforcement agencies,' he said in a Friday statement. The Secret Service, FBI, and San Antonio Police Department are investigating the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Texas man charged over threatening Trump before he visited flood-ravaged zone: ‘I won't miss'
A Texas man has been charged after authorities claim he threatened President Donald Trump ahead of his arrival in the state, touring the flood-ravaged area, where more than a hundred people were killed. Robert Herrera, 52, is accused of posting a comment to Facebook, in response to a news story post regarding the president's upcoming visit, saying, "I won't miss," with a photo of Trump surrounded by agents after his assassination attempt last year in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors said a separate Facebook user replied to Herrera's handle, 'Robert Herrer,' writing, 'you won't get the chance, I promise,' to which 'Robert Herrer' responded, 'I'll just come for you.' 'Robert Herrer' then included a photo of an assault rifle and loaded magazines in that response, authorities claim. The San Antonio man was arrested Thursday night and is facing a federal charge of making threats against the president and interstate threatening communications. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for each charge. Herrera was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, according to jail records obtained by KSAT. It's not yet clear if Herrera has engaged legal representation. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas said in a statement Friday, 'This case is an example of great cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners committed to taking down anyone who would threaten the life of the president or anyone else.' He added, 'To be clear, these types of threats will not be taken lightly, and we will always take a swift, aggressive approach, as was done here.' It's been almost a year since the first assassination attempt against Trump. On July 13, 2024, Trump, who was the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination at the time, was at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a 20-year-old gunman fired at him. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, prompting Secret Service agents to shield him with their own bodies. As Trump was being swept away to safety, he raised his fist in the air and mouthed, 'Fight, fight, fight.' This week, the Secret Service said it suspended six staffers without pay or benefits following the attempt on Trump's life, which the deputy director admitted was an 'operational failure.' Herrera was arrested the same day Ryan Routh, who was charged over a second attempted assassination against Trump in September 2024, told a federal judge he wants to represent himself at trial. Prosecutors say Routh, 59, was in the brush with a rifle as Trump played golf at his Florida club on September 15, 2024. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Authorities say Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing him to flee. The suspect did not fire a single shot. Routh told District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday he wanted to fire his court-appointed defense team and represent himself at trial. The Herrera case is being treated 'as our highest priority' the Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Gibson for the San Antonio Field Office said. 'This is one of the countless reasons the Secret Service prides ourselves on forging and maintaining relationships with other law enforcement agencies,' he said in a Friday statement. The Secret Service, FBI, and San Antonio Police Department are investigating the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hill Country flooding death toll rises to 32 as search continues for missing girls, other survivors
The official death toll from the catastrophic floods that hit the Texas Hill Country rose to 32 as of Saturday afternoon, officials announced during a news conference held with Gov. Greg Abbott and other local and federal officials. Among the 32 dead were 18 adults and 14 children. Five of those adults and three of the children remain unidentified. [In Texas region prone to catastrophic floods, questions grow about lack of warning] Twenty-seven girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian camp for young girls, were also still missing as friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating them. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned. 'The unknown is how many people were here locally visiting, on vacation, doing other things in the community that we just do not have numbers (for),' Dalton Rice, Kerrville city manager, said during a news conference Saturday morning. Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. He also officially requested that President Donald Trump declare the situation a federal disaster, allowing for more federal resources. Meanwhile, the threat of flooding around Texas remained, and local, state and federal officials urged caution. Officials in Georgetown have evacuated parts of the city as more rain is expected Saturday in south Central Texas. There is a possibility of an additional two to four inches over the area and some isolated pockets could see as much as 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service. A flood watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. The federal government joined state and local first responders in their rescue efforts which so far has resulted in the evacuation of more than 850 people. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the U.S. Coast Guard would work to evacuate people from the area while the Red Cross is assisting with reunification efforts, according to the Kerr County sheriff's office. As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water. At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it's been hard to reach people in need. 'The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we're here and ready to give everything out,' he said. Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up. But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice. 'I'm used to death. I've been around it a lot," Lawrence said. He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night. "I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,' he said. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. "Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!" About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warning. The private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation. 'These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings. Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area. One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. 'It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,' he said. However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding. "People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area." The Associated Press contributed reporting.
