SAN ANTONIO — Charles Byrd has been sentenced to 35 years in prison in connection with the 2025 killing of his wife, Angela Byrd.
The sentence came after Byrd pleaded no contest Tuesday to the murder charge.
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Angela deserved to live her life free from violence, and her family deserved to have her home with them,” said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales. “Charles Byrd made the choice to take his wife’s life and then went to great lengths to conceal what he had done. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that horrific act and ensures that he will spend decades in prison. We will continue to stand with victims and their families and pursue justice for those whose lives have been forever changed by violence.
Just days before Byrd entered his no-contest plea, a judge rejected another request to delay the case. During a Sept. 10 hearing, Byrd’s attorneys asked for more time because an expert they planned to call would be traveling in Switzerland when the trial was scheduled to begin. Instead of postponing the case, the judge and attorneys worked out a schedule that would have allowed the expert to testify later in the trial.
The case dates back to Father’s Day, June 16, 2025, when authorities say Byrd strangled his wife, Angela, to death.
After the killing, Byrd wrapped Angela’s body in plastic and rugs and used chemicals, including lye and baking soda, in an attempt to hide the odor. Her body remained inside the couple’s South Bexar County mobile home for more than a month.
Byrd eventually told his oldest son what he had done. His son reported the confession to authorities and led investigators to Angela’s body. By then, Byrd was gone. Investigators used GPS information from his vehicle to track him to a friend’s home, where he was arrested.
Byrd’s defense attorney, Rafael Leal, previously said Byrd had already admitted to investigators that he killed his wife. The defense had planned to focus on why the killing happened and argue for a lesser sentence.
His trial had initially been scheduled for July before being pushed back to September.
Byrd’s defense attorney, Rafael Leal, previously said Byrd had admitted to investigators that he killed his wife and that the defense planned to focus on why the killing happened and argue for a lesser sentence.
Byrd had faced the possibility of up to 99 years or life in prison. He will now serve a 35-year prison sentence.