Milford Byrd was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the contract killing of his wife
According to court documents Milford Byrd was trying to get a divorce from his wife Debra Byrd however she would refuse. Milton would hire two of his hotel’s employees : Ronald Sullivan and James Endress to kill her. However on the day of the murder all three men would participate in the murder in which Debra Byrd was shot and then strangled
Milford Byrd would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
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Where Is Milford Byrd Now
Milton Byrd is incarcerated at Union Correctional Institute
Milford Byrd Case
Appellant and his wife, Debra, managed a motel in Tampa. Debra’s body was found on the floor of the motel office at approximately 7:00 a.m. on October 13, 1981. An autopsy revealed that Debra had suffered four non-fatal scalp lacerations, four non-fatal gunshot wounds, and scratches and bruises on the neck. The pathologist determined that the cause of death was strangulation and that death had occurred between 9:00 p.m. on October 12 and 3:00 a.m. on October 13.
During the interrogation on the morning of October 13, appellant told police that, on the night of the murder, he had gone to a gym and then to two bars. He stated that he returned home to the motel around 6:45 a.m., found his wife’s body and called the police. Later that morning appellant requested that a desk clerk at the motel contact a life insurance company with reference to an insurance policy on Debra’s life. Appellant was the sole beneficiary of the $100,000 policy. Five days later, on October 19, appellant personally carried a copy of Debra’s death certificate to the insurance company and twice inquired as to how long settlement of the policy claim would take.
Ronald Sullivan, a resident of the motel, was arrested for violation of parole on October 27 and was subsequently charged with Debra’s murder. After interviewing Sullivan the police decided that they had probable cause to arrest appellant. At 2:30 a.m. on October 28, the police arrived at the appellant’s residence at the motel where they awoke appellant and arrested him for the first-degree murder of his wife. Although the arresting officers had no arrest warrant when they went to appellant’s residence, it is undisputed that they had probable cause to arrest appellant. One of the arresting officers knocked on appellant’s door, identified himself to appellant through a window, and mentioned that he had previously spoken to him with regard to the death of appellant’s wife. After a few seconds appellant opened the door and stepped back. The detective then took a step inside, placed appellant under arrest for the murder of his wife, and advised him of his rights. In the motel room with appellant was his girlfriend, who was asked by the officers to accompany them to the police station. The woman voluntarily accompanied the officers.
At the police station appellant was again advised of his rights. He signed a written waiver of his rights at 2:55 a.m. Appellant neither admitted nor denied involvement in the crime until approximately 4:40 a.m. when he told the police he would tell them the truth if he could speak privately with his girlfriend. The detectives allowed appellant to spend some time alone with his girlfriend and, when questioning resumed, appellant’s girlfriend re-entered the interrogation room and appellant gave a confession.
