Latest information: special prosecutor appointed

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey has been appointed as special prosecutor to represent the state of Alabama in the capital murder case against William Jody Byrd.While we are saddened that Mr. Ransom and the fine team of people at the office of the Bibb County District Attorney won't be with us to see this case through to the end, we're very grateful to have Ms. Casey on board and look forward to working with her entire office. For more information on Ms. Casey, please see this article written by Carol Robinson of The Birmingham News.

UPDATED Trial Information

William "Jody" Byrd remains free on bond while awaiting trial on a capital murder charge in the death of his wife, Desta Dodson Byrd. The judge in the case, Jack Meigs, granted another continuance in June. The trial is now scheduled to take place on October 22, 2012.

Trial date information for William "Jody" Byrd

Hi everyone. We apologize for the delay in providing this information to you, but here's the information we can share as of now:

William Jody Byrd was orignally scheduled to stand trial for the 1999 murder of his wife, Desta Dodson Byrd, on February 27, 2012. His defense attorney, William "Bill" Dawson, filed a motion for a continuance, and that motion was granted by Judge Jack Meigs. 

As of now, barring any further continuances, Byrd is scheduled to stand trial for capital murder on June 11, 2012. And although he was orginally denied bond, it was later granted by Judge Meigs and Byrd remains free at this time.

He will face the death penalty, if convicted.

Press Release from Bibb County District Attorney's Office 6/23/11

On Monday June 21, 2011 a special grand jury was convened in Bibb County, Alabama. The case against William Jody Byrd was presented. The grand jury returned an indictment against Byrd for one count of Capital Murder for the murder of his wife Desta Byrd. The murder of Desta Byrd occurred on February 25, 1999 at the couple’s home in Brierfield Estates. Byrd is being held in the Bibb County Jail without bond.

Press Release from Bibb County District Attorney's Office 5/28/11

PRESS RELEASE

On May 27, 2011 officers with the Alabama Bureau of Investigations, The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s office for the 4th Judicial Circuit arrested William Jody Byrd for the February 1999 murder of his wife, Desta Byrd. Byrd was taken in to custody at his place of employment without incident and booked in to the Bibb County Jail on Capital Murder charges, and he is being held without bond.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Ransom: “We’re glad that we were able to finally make an arrest in this case. It’s been a long time coming. We want to give Desta’s family some closure, and we want the person responsible to be held accountable.”