'Go Big or Go Home': Husband Jailed for 35 Years After Wrapping Decomposing Wife in Plastic

Charles Vandoil Byrd from Texas has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading no contest to the murder of his wife. State District Judge Benjamin Robertson in the 226th District Court of Bexar County sentenced the 50-year-old on Tuesday, 15 September.

The sentencing comes 15 months after Charles murdered his wife, Angela Byrd, and left her decomposing body wrapped in plastic inside their home for more than a month.

State District Judge Robertson initially hesitated to accept the agreement. He stated, 'If there is closure, I don't think 35 years is enough.' The judge ultimately accepted the deal after Byrd agreed to waive his right to appeal. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison, with credit for more than 400 days already served.

Wife's Body Left to Rot for Over a Month

Angela was murdered by her husband on 16 June 2025. A later autopsy determined her cause of death was strangulation. Her decomposing remains were found inside the couple's home the following month, on 19 July.

According to investigators, the remains were wrapped in plastic and other materials. Charles also reportedly attempted to mask the smell of the corpse as it decomposed by using chemicals, including lye and baking soda.

Authorities were alerted after Charles told his oldest son that he had killed Angela. Deputies subsequently went to the home, where they detected the odour of decomposition and found her remains wrapped in plastic.

Charles States 'Go Big or Go Home'

Charles was arrested one day later, on 20 July. He allegedly told investigators that he murdered his wife during an argument, as he believed that she was expecting another man. The confrontation allegedly escalated into violence, ending with Charles strangling Angela to death.

Byrd also told investigators that he had never previously committed a crime before the killing. He then said, 'Go big or go home.'

Judge Hesitates Over 35-Year Plea Deal

The sentencing agreement became contentious when Judge Robertson questioned whether the proposed punishment provided sufficient closure for Angela's family. Robertson addressed the court, saying that he did not think 35 years was enough.

'I know that the Bexar County way is 35 and 40 regularly handed out for murders. I'm not happy with the Bexar County way, and I don't know that our community is happy with the Bexar County way,' he added.

Judge Robertson also referenced the defendant's remark to the investigator after his arrest, stating, 'We'll see whether he goes home or whether the jury will go big. That's where I am. So, what do we want to do?'

Angela's mother, Melodie Hearn, also addressed Byrd during the sentencing hearing, telling him that her daughter had trusted him to love and protect her. She described the impact of the killing on Angela's family.

Charles' decision to waive his right to appeal ultimately allowed the plea agreement to proceed.

The case could otherwise have gone to trial, where Charles faced a potential sentence ranging from five to 99 years if convicted of the murder charge. The judgment requires him to serve at least half of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole and prohibits him from possessing firearms after his release.