Man decapitated ‘trophy’ spouse earlier than stealing beer and getting arrested for drink driving
Jared James Dicus, the Texas man who brutally murdered and decapitated his wife Anggy Diaz just four months after their wedding, was found dead in his prison cell
Law enforcement reported that Dicus confessed to murdering Anggy Diaz(Image: WCSO)
A man who brutally decapitated his newlywed wife just four months after their wedding has been found dead in his prison cell. The 24-year-old, who had spent just over a year into his 40-year sentence, reportedly ended his own life in grim circumstances.
Jared James Dicus, who has been convicted of the brutal murder and beheading of his wife, was to be released from prison at the earliest when he would turn 63. However, his time in prison was cut short.
On the night of January 16, staff at the Wainwright Unit in Houston County in Texas found Dicus hanging in his single-person cell.
Despite efforts by medical personnel, he was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene just before 11pm. According to news reports, prison officials have not disclosed details about his conduct prior to his death.
The Texan was sentenced to 40 years in prison in August 2024 after pleading guilty to the horrific killing of his wife, Anggy Diaz, 21, the Daily Mail reported. The couple had only been married since October 2022, but Dicus ended her life in a violent attack on January 11, 2023, just four months after their wedding.
The crime took place in a small cottage located behind the home of Dicus’ parents near Magnolia, Texas, roughly 45 miles northwest of Houston. It was Dicus’ own parents who reportedly discovered the gruesome scene after he entered their house and made a chilling statement that prompted them to check on Diaz.
There, they found her body next to the bed, surrounded by blood and suffering from multiple stab wounds. The horror deepened when police arrived and located her severed head in the shower, along with the blood-stained kitchen knife used in the killing, as per the Daily Mail.
Waller County Sheriff Troy Guidry described the scene, stating: “Everything happened on the property. And all parts and pieces were recovered and submitted for evidence.”
Dicus’ disturbing actions continued even after the crime. Hours following the murder, he was caught on surveillance footage at Chepes Meat Market, a shop where Diaz previously worked before becoming a fitness coach.
He was seen reportedly casually stealing a beer. Dicus reportedly entered at 11.40am, took a beer from the fridge, walked out without paying, and drank it in the parking lot.
Authorities were alerted after Dicus’ parents called for help, leading to the full extent of the crime being uncovered. Investigators later revealed that the couple’s relationship had been troubled, with Sheriff Guidry noting that officers had responded to multiple domestic violence calls at the residence.
Dicus’ unstable behaviour was evident even before the murder; just two months prior, he was arrested for driving under the influence. Court documents show he threatened officers and jail staff and broke windows in a fit of rage, resulting in him being restrained in a chair.
Friends of Diaz said she was a hardworking immigrant from Nicaragua who balanced two jobs to support her mother’s cancer treatment. Despite difficulties in their marriage, the couple maintained a happy appearance on social media.
Two weeks before her death, Diaz reportedly posted a holiday photo with Dicus on Instagram, wishing followers a “happy merry Christmas ”. Dicus commented: “Merry Christmas my beautiful wife, my trophy.”
Her final Instagram post, a photo of her lunch, was uploaded just hours before her death.
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