What happened on the day an Arizona detective allegedly strangled wife to death?

MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — A man who previously investigated murders found himself intertwined in a case of his own: facing charges for killing his wife and leaving their three young children parentless.

John Byrd worked as a detective for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Now, for the first time, his wife’s family and best friend have shared what happened that day and how they’re trying to move forward in Elizabeth Byrd’s memory.

“This is our high school yearbook…1999!” Kim Moody said as she thumbed through the book.

Preserved in these pages was the start of a lifelong friendship.

“That was when we graduated; look how young we are!” Kim said with a huge smile on her face. “Just etched in every little moment of my life was Liz.”

Now in her 40s, Moody took every life step with Elizabeth Byrd by her side.

“College and then getting married and then having kids and sharing motherhood together - it was really special,” Moody said.

“She gave everyone the best of her, and I don’t know how you do that, but she did.” Kim was there when Liz met the love of her life at the University of Arizona: John Byrd.

“What was your perception of John?” asked true crime correspondent Briana Whitney.

“When Liz met John, I think she knew she was going to marry him. She loved him; he loved her,” Kim said.

John was a detective with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, specializing in domestic violence. Liz cared for their three young kids and worked part-time teaching fitness classes in and around the Mesa area.

On July 31, Liz and Kim were supposed to attend their fitness class together.

“She didn’t text that morning, so I texted a few times and something just felt wrong,” she said.

Kim got ahold of the Byrd’s oldest son, who’s 12. He told her his mom and dad weren’t home, and their bedroom door was locked, leaving him, his now 9-year-old sister and 4-year-old brother alone without explanation.

“The moment I heard they were alone, I got in my car. I said to them, ‘Pack a bag. I’m coming to get you, were having a sleepover!’ Because I didn’t want to panic, but I knew something was wrong,” Kim recalled.

“I imagine at some point you try to contact John?” asked Briana.

“I did,’ Kim said,

“Did he answer?” asked Briana.

“No. Nope,” Kim shook her head. Liz’s parents soon called the police for a welfare check.

Officers found Liz dead in the bedroom from strangulation; John was nowhere to be found.

“Get to the kids, how are the kids, what are we going to do with the kids, how do we explain this to the kids? How quickly can we get to them to hug them, reassure them, grieve with them?” Liz’ older brother, Rob Pecharich, recalled after learning about his sister’s death.

Rob was stunned by what they learned next. Officers tracked down John Byrd, who confessed to killing his wife during an argument.

John told police he took a medical leave from work and was struggling with mental health issues, but told them at that moment that “a switch just flipped.”

“At no point did Liz express to family and friends that she was worried for her safety,” Rob said. “We just didn’t see this coming.”

More confusing to their family: John worked in law enforcement and was recently recognized for his work in domestic violence prevention.

“Given John’s career.... makes all of this a lot more hard to handle,” Rob said. “You think hypocrite. You think, was it all an act?”

John Byrd was arrested for second-degree murder. He now sits in a jail cell, the same place he sent criminals to for years. “What does justice look like for you?” asked Briana.

“I think for me justice means that my family gets answers,” said Rob.

In the meantime, Liz’s family and friends have been left to pick up the pieces of a shattered life with even heavier shattered hearts, grappling with what was and what is now.

“That’s not the man I knew. And so, that’s hard because I’ve lost that too,” said Kim.

“The world lost somebody who lived her life trying to make others’ lives better, and that’s heartbreaking,” Rob said through tears. “Liz would be telling us take care of my babies. Make sure they’re okay, make sure they laugh, make sure they are loved.”

While Liz is gone, parts of her are not. Family and friends promise her children will always feel her love; seeing so much of Liz in the three of them.

“She’ll always be with them because the best of her is still living on through them, “said Kim.

All three kids are now being cared for by Liz’s parents, brother, and other close family and friends stepping in to help.

As of now, John Byrd’s trial is set for late December, though it could get pushed until 2025.

If you or somebody you know is struggling with mental health or a victim of domestic violence, please visit these resource links below.

Mental health resources:

• National Suicide and Crisis Hotline
• AZ DES Behavioral Health Resources
• 211 Health Care and Mental Health

Domestic violence resources:

• Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
• AZ DES Support for Victims of Domestic Violence
• Domestic & Sexual Violence Resources

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