MILFORD W BYRD Death Row Case Summary

[chris]

DC Number:  085488 Name:  BYRD, MILFORD W Race:  WHITE Sex:  MALE Hair Color:  BROWN Eye Color:  BROWN Height:  5'10'' Weight:  191 lbs. Birth Date:  09/11/1949 Initial Receipt Date:  08/18/1982 Current Facility:  UNION C.I. Current Custody:  MAXIMUM Current Release Date:  DEATH SENTENCE

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Aliases:
MILFORD W BYRD	MILFORD WADE BYRD

Current Prison Sentence History:
Offense Date	Offense	Sentence Date	County	Case No.	Prison Sentence Length
10/12/1981	1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT.	08/13/1982	HILLSBOROUGH	8110517	DEATH SENTENCE

Note: The offense descriptions are truncated and do not necessarily reflect the crime of conviction. Please refer to the court documents or the Florida Statutes for further information or definition.

Incarceration History:
Date In-Custody	Date Out-of-Custody
08/18/1982	Currently Incarcerated

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[chris]

Circumstances of Offense:

Milford Byrd was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, Debra Byrd, on 10/12/81.

Debra Byrd was found strangled to death at the Tampa motel that the she and her husband managed on the morning of 10/13/81. Medical examiners discovered that Debra had suffered from many non-fatal wounds including scalp lacerations, bruises and four gunshot wounds.

According to the statements he made to police, Byrd claimed he had gone to the gym and to a couple of bars the night of the murder, and upon returning home at 6:45 a.m., he found his wife dead. Soon after the murder, Byrd was inquiring about his wife’s $100,000 life insurance policy and how long it would take to settle the claim.

On 10/27/81, Ronald Sullivan, who resided at Byrd’s motel, was arrested for a parole violation and subsequently charged with Debra’s murder. Stemming from Sullivan’s statements to police, Byrd was arrested in connection with Debra’s murder on 10/28/81. Police officers arrested Byrd on probable cause, without a warrant.

At the police station, Byrd claimed that he would make a statement about the murder if he could speak to his girlfriend privately. Detectives relented, and after speaking with his girlfriend, Byrd relayed the following information about Debra’s murder: Byrd had fallen in love with his current girlfriend, and Debra refused to grant him a divorce. Byrd confessed that he approached Sullivan and his roommate, James Endress, about killing his wife. Byrd offered them $5,000 each to arrange the murder and make it look like a robbery. Byrd claimed that he was not present when the murder was committed.

Sullivan turned State’s evidence in exchange for a negotiated plea and testified against Byrd at his trial. Sullivan claimed that Byrd was, in fact, present at the time of the murder and that he, Endress and Byrd all took turns choking Debra.

Codefendant Information:


Ronald Sullivan was sentenced to 10 years for Second-Degree Murder on 06/24/83 for his role in the murder of Debra Byrd.

James Endress was sentenced to life in prison for First-Degree Murder on 10/20/83.

[bizwoman]

I never thought about Wade as a 'high profile' killer.. but then again, I don't know him that well.. haven't spoken to him in 13 yrs...

Brenda, his sister.

[chris]

Originally Posted by bizwoman

I never thought about Wade as a 'high profile' killer.. but then again, I don't know him that well.. haven't spoken to him in 13 yrs...

Brenda, his sister.

Pretty much anyone that receives a death sentence will for their crime will be considered a high profile case. The factors that play into the decision to seek the death penalty make it that way.

Sorry to see your brother on death row =(