PHOENIX (AZFamily)
— A former Maricopa County Attorney’s Office detective who murdered his wife in Mesa last year finally learned his punishment.
John C. Byrd III was sentenced to 19 years in prison with credit for time served. Before hearing his fate, he apologized in court to the family of Elizabeth Byrd, his wife.
He had written a letter that he could have read in open court but instead he got up and emotionally spoke, saying the man who killed his wife was not a healthy John Byrd and not the man he is today. He added he was incredibly sorry and prayed for the eventual forgiveness from Elizabeth’s family.
Along with the prison sentence, the judge imposed a lifetime no contact ban for John with his three young children and Elizabeth’s family.
He was initially scheduled to be sentenced for the murder of Elizabeth Byrd last Friday, but the hearing was briefly delayed when Byrd refused to appear. Once the judge ordered his presence, detention deputies transported him from the jail to the courthouse. By then, the hearing was starting nearly one hour late.
Several of Elizabeth’s family members spoke
during last week’s hearing
, including her brother, Rob Pecharich, who pleaded for the judge to hand down the maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.
“He’s made choice after choice before, during and after Liz’s murder that reveals a chilling clarity of thought and total disregard for human life, including the well-being of his own children,” he said.
We appreciate the difficult decision Judge Kiefer faced and are grateful for the seriousness with which he approached this case. We are especially thankful that so many community members were welcomed into the courtroom to honor Liz and the impact she had on their lives.
We are relieved by the lifetime no-contact order, which ensures John Byrd will never again communicate with his children. We also appreciate that the Court found more aggravating than mitigating factors in this case. While we had hoped for the maximum sentence of 22 years, we recognize that a 19-year sentence holds substantial weight and sends an important message.
John Byrd’s crime was a profound betrayal—not only of Liz and their children, but of the extended family, his colleagues, and the public he once swore to protect. As a career domestic violence detective, John was trained to recognize the warning signs of abuse, the risk of escalation, and the critical need for intervention. He had the tools, knowledge, and sworn duty to protect people like Liz. Instead, he became the perpetrator.
The inability to breathe is one of the most terrifying experiences a person can endure. According to Alliance for Hope International, “Strangulation is one of the most abusive and lethal ways to demonstrate power and control in domestic violence situations… It’s a very personal assault.” It’s a personal assault, because the abuser is watching their victim suffer. Liz died in fear, in pain, and likely terrified for her children’s safety.”
Rob Pecharich, Elizabeth’s brother
Following the victim impact statements, Byrd’s defense team offered mitigating factors, pointing out how John was suffering from mental health issues, had no criminal history, worked in law enforcement and showed remorse for his actions.
The defense continued to present its case when the hearing resumed on Thursday, describing his extreme “emotional turmoil” since his arrest and existing mental health issues, such as severe depression.
When John spoke in court, he detailed the confusion, frustration and remorse he felt losing himself.
The defense also said that John took a plea deal to accept responsibility and spare Elizabeth’s family from having to endure a lengthy trial.
He pleaded guilty
as charged to second-degree murder in April in connection with Elizabeth’s death last summer.
On July 31, 2024, Mesa police conducting a welfare check at the couple’s home found Elizabeth dead on the master bedroom floor. It was later determined she had been strangled to death.
John was arrested
later that day. During an interview with a Mesa police detective early the following morning, John said a “switch flipped in his head” during a fight, and he admitted to putting his hands around his wife’s neck and applying pressure.
At the time of Elizabeth’s murder, Byrd was already on medical leave from the MCAO, where he reportedly specialized in domestic violence-related cases.
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